JPH05290093A - Picture signal processing method/device, picture data base and information retrieval terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use a transmission channel and to reduce cost by storing the components of plural space frequency bands so as to restore a picture. CONSTITUTION:A picture data base 1 accumulating picture (still picture) data, an information retrieval terminal 20 inputting the retrieval request of information and displaying retrieved data on the picture, a moving picture, a graphic and a sentence in a display, a picture data input terminal 11 inputting picture (still picture) data which is made into a digital signal by sampling and analog- digital conversion at a prescribed frequency and an addition data input terminal 12 inputting the-registration command of picture data and information on the picture are provided. A picture signal is stored by dividing it into plural bands in space frequency areas. Reading and transmission are executed in accordance with the name of the picture, which is included in picture request data from a reception-side and an address generated based on read order designation information on either external designation (area) or the space frequency band, and the picture is restored by using data which is read on the reception-side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image signal processing method for efficiently accumulating and transmitting still image data, and an apparatus, an image database and an information retrieval terminal directly used for implementing this method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image data management system capable of registering various still image (hereinafter simply referred to as image) data in a database and reading out desired image data as needed. An example of this image data management system will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of the image data management system, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration in more detail, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of band division.

In FIG. 9, 50 is an image database for storing image data, 60 is an image search terminal for inputting a search request for image data and displaying the searched image data on a display, 70 is the image database 50 and the image search terminal. It is a network for communicating with 60.

The network 70 includes an image database 5
There may be various forms including a wide area network such as LAN or ISDN depending on the physical distance between 0 and the image search terminal 60. The data transmission rate on the network is several tens of KBPS to 10 MBPS, which is lower than the data rate processable by the image signal processing circuit unit by one digit or more. Therefore, the display speed of the image on the image retrieval terminal is determined by the data transmission rate of the network.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 51 is an image data input terminal for inputting image data converted into a digital signal by sampling at a predetermined frequency and analog-digital conversion. Reference numeral 52 is an image data registration command and information relating to an image (name). , Source, description, keyword, number of vertical and horizontal pixels, etc.).

Reference numeral 53 denotes a subband encoder that receives image data input and divides the image data into a plurality of bands on the horizontal and vertical frequency axes, and outputs image data for each band. Reference numeral 54 denotes an output of the subband encoder 53. The coded data memory 55 stores the image size data of the image to the sub-band encoder 53, the data indicating the address for storing the data to the memory 54, and the control signal input terminal 5
2 is a memory control circuit that stores information related to the image input from FIG.

Reference numeral 61 is a search input terminal for inputting an image search request, and 62 is a network 7 from the image database 50.
A sub-band decoder that receives the band-divided image data transmitted via 0 and restores the original image, 63 is a display memory that stores the image data output from the sub-band decoder, and 64 is an image search An image search control circuit for receiving a request, communicating with the image database 50, and outputting a control signal to the subband decoder, and 65 is a memory 63.
2 is a display for displaying analog image data output from the.

Next, the operation will be described. When the image database 50 is constructed, the sub-band decoder 53 divides the image data digitized by a part (not shown) into a plurality of bands by passing it through a two-dimensional (horizontal and vertical) spatial frequency band filter. The image data of is output. The number of vertical and horizontal pixels (included in the image-related information) necessary for the above signal processing is also input to the subband decoder 53.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of band division.
In FIG. 11, the spatial frequency component of the image is divided into two in each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and as a result, is divided into four spatial frequency bands. In the figure, (L, L), (L,
The meaning of symbols such as (H) is that the first term in () represents the horizontal spatial frequency band, the second term represents the vertical spatial frequency,
L and H mean a low frequency component and a high frequency component, respectively.

For example, the (L, L) component is a reduction component of horizontal and vertical spatial frequencies, and an image restored only from this component has a blurred outline as compared with the original image, and a fine pattern is not restored. The subband decoder 53 reduces the sampling frequency after band division (in this example, the sampling frequency is halved both horizontally and vertically). Therefore, the amount of data does not change before and after subband coding.

The encoded data memory 54 stores the band-divided image data output from the subband encoder 53 at an address supplied from the memory control circuit 55.

At the time of image retrieval, it operates as follows. When an image search request is input from the search input terminal 61 of the image search terminal 60 together with a keyword indicating the image name or content, the image search request is transmitted to the image database 50 via the image search control circuit 64 and the network 70. To be done. When the memory control circuit 55 receives the image search request, it searches the data in the memory 54 and if there is only one search result, the image data memory 54 outputs (L, L), (L, H). , (H, L), (H, H) components in this order, and the network 7 together with information (name, source, description, vertical and horizontal pixel numbers, etc.) related to the image.
The images are sequentially transmitted to the image search terminal 60 via 0.

In the image retrieval terminal 60, the signal is received and the subband decoder 62 restores the image data from the (L, L) component in the order of reception. That is, the interpolation filter is applied after the sampling frequency is doubled in the horizontal and vertical directions. The characteristics of the interpolation filter are a reduction pass type when the input data is the reduction component (L) and a high pass type when the input data is the high pass component (H). The display memory 63 stores the input data at different addresses for each of the four spatial frequency bands, adds the components of the four bands that are the data of the same pixel at the time of reading, converts the components into an analog image signal, and displays the display 65. Output to.

The image search control circuit 64 receives data other than the image in the signal sent from the image database 50, outputs the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the image to the subband decoder 62, and displays the name on the display 65. Outputs information such as information and sources upon request. A blurry image appears on the display 65 at first ((L, L) component), and the sharpness is gradually increased to finally obtain the original image. At this time, when the search requester sees the blurred image and determines that the image is different from the requested image, the search requester can input a cancel or re-search request to cancel the transmission of unnecessary image data.

When there are a plurality of search results, only the (L, L) components of those images are sequentially transmitted to the image search terminal. The search requester looks at the images restored from the (L, L) components that appear in sequence on the display 65,
Select the image you want. From the image database 50, the components other than (L, L) for the image are the image search terminal 6
0 to obtain the original image. By performing such processing, the time required for selecting an image is reduced and unnecessary information is not transmitted.

As described above, in the conventional image data management system, the image is band-divided in the spatial frequency domain and the result is stored, and the reading and the transmission start from the low frequency component and finally the high frequency component. This is done for the region components. Therefore, the receiving side can grasp the schematic image of the entire image in a short time by the low frequency component, and when the received image is the desired image, the high frequency component can be received to obtain a complete image. If the received image is not the desired image, a re-search request can be issued without waiting for the completion of reception of the high frequency component.

[0018]

However, in this conventional apparatus, when the image data is displayed on the receiving side display in combination with the character information or the graphic, it is hidden by the combined character information or the graphic. Data that is not displayed may be transmitted first. In this case, it takes time until the entire image is displayed.

Further, when it is planned to cut out and use only a specific area in the original image from the beginning, a part of the transmitted image data is not used and is wasted. In other words, the transmission channel is occupied by the transmission of unnecessary image data that is not actually used and the transmission of data by other users is hindered, and the receiver must pay the unnecessary transmission cost. There was a problem that it had to be.

Further, although the receiving side may want only a specific frequency component of the image, for example, a high frequency component, the conventional device cannot obtain an image using such a specific frequency component or sends an unnecessary frequency component. There was also the problem of being caught.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and in an image signal processing method for performing signal processing for storing and transmitting still image data, it responds to an image search request. The purpose is to specify the outline of the image data to be read and set the read order for at least one of the spatial frequency bands to enable transmission from high priority data or only necessary data. And

A device used directly for carrying out this method,
Another object is to provide an image database on the transmitting side and an information retrieval terminal on the receiving side.

[0023]

An image signal is divided into a plurality of bands in a spatial frequency domain and stored, and read and transmitted are the name of an image included in image request data from a receiving side and an outline. The designation (area) and at least one of the spatial frequency bands are performed according to the address generated based on the read order designation information, and the receiving side is provided with means for storing the image data in a band-divided state, The image is restored by using the data read from the storage means.

That is, in the method of the present invention, the still image data digitized and stored in the image database is
In an image signal processing method for sending out in response to a search request from an information search terminal via a communication network, the image data is divided into a plurality of bands in a spatial frequency domain, and the processed data is at least an image name, An image signal processing, characterized in that the information retrieval terminal receives the image data and restores the image data by designating the reading order while memorizing the reading order for at least one of the outer shape designation and the spatial frequency band. Method.

The image database used in this method divides the input image signal into L and M (L and M are integers of 2 or more) bands on the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axes of the image, respectively. Together with the band dividing means for reducing the sampling frequency of the data, the coded data storage means for accumulating the output data of the band dividing means, a write address is generated when the data is stored in the coded data storage means, and at least the image And the encoding control means for generating a read address in response to a data transmission request including a read order designation relating to the outer shape designation and at least one of the spatial frequency bands.

Here, in the image database, orthogonal transform means for spatially dividing the band-divided data of each band into blocks composed of a plurality of pixels and performing orthogonal transform on each block, and the amount of data are reduced. The encoding control means can specify the reading order and the data compression.

Further, the information retrieval terminal used in this method multiplies the sampling frequency of the output data of the front storage means for accumulating the received data and the output data of the front storage means to obtain the band-divided image data in the image database. A band restoring unit for restoring, a display data storing unit for storing the output of the band restoring unit and outputting the data to a display unit, and a coding control unit of the image database, and at least an image name and , An image data transmission request including a read order designation regarding at least one of the outer shape designation and the spatial frequency band, and the data relating to the image data required by the front storage means, the band synthesis means, and the display data storage means. It can be configured by including an information search control means for generating an address.

The information retrieving terminal is provided with a data decompressing means for performing a reverse process corresponding to the data compression and an inverse orthogonal transforming means for performing a reverse process to the orthogonal transforming means. Can also be configured to generate data or addresses relating to image data required for these means.

[0029]

From the information contained in the image data stored in the image database, it becomes possible to send and receive only the necessary parts for the area of the original image and the spatial frequency. The transmission order can also be set on the receiving side.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of an image information retrieval system used directly for carrying out an image signal processing method according to the present invention,
2 is a schematic diagram of the image signal processing device, FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the image database thereof, and FIG. 4 is a detailed diagram of the information retrieval terminal.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an image database for storing image (still image) data, 2 is a moving image database for storing moving image data, and 3 is graphic data. Figure database for accumulating text, 4 for a text database for accumulating text data, 20 for inputting a search request for information, and for displaying searched images, moving images, graphics, text data. An information retrieval terminal 30 to be displayed on the display is a network for communicating between the information retrieval terminal 20 and the database. As the network 30, as described in the description of the prior art, various types such as a high-band network such as LAN or ISDN depending on the physical distance between the image database 50 and the image retrieval terminal 60. Can be in the form of

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 is an image data input terminal for inputting image (still image) data converted into a digital signal by sampling at a predetermined frequency and analog-digital conversion, and 12 is image data. It is an additional data input terminal for inputting a data registration command and information relating to an image (name, source, content description, keyword, number of vertical and horizontal pixels, etc.).

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 13 denotes a sub-band encoder as a band dividing means, which receives an image data input and divides the image data into a plurality of bands on the horizontal and vertical frequency axes and divides each band. The image data of is output. Reference numeral 14 is a DCT encoder as an orthogonal transform means. This DCT encoder 1
4 receives the output of the sub-band encoder 13 and divides the image data for each band into blocks each consisting of vertical and horizontal 8 pixels (64 pixels in total) in space, and orthogonally exchanges each block, for example. Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT: Disc)
rete cosine trasform).

Reference numeral 15 is an encoded data memory as an encoded data storage means, which has a storage capacity more than double the number of pixels required for the display section, that is, the display 28 described later, and D
The output of the CT encoder 14 is stored. Reference numeral 16 is a data compressor for performing an information amount reduction process on the image data output from the encoding data memory 15, and a function for applying a weighting coefficient (including 0) to the image data and Huffman. It has an encoding function.

Reference numeral 17 is an encoding control circuit, which is required for signal processing with respect to the subband encoder 13 and the DCT encoder 14 on the basis of information regarding an image input via the additional data input terminal 12. Output image dimensions etc.,
Writing data to the encoded data memory 15,
The read address is output, the information reduction algorithm or the designation of the target reduction rate is output to the data compressor 16 in response to the search request, and the additional data input terminal 12 is also output.
It also stores information about the image input from the.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 is an information retrieval request input terminal, and 22 is a data decompressor capable of applying Huffman composite processing to image data input via the network 30. Reference numeral 23 is a DCT decoder as an inverse orthogonal transform means, which receives the output of the data decompressor 22 and performs an inverse discrete cosine transform. Reference numeral 24 is a pre-memory for storing the output of the DCT decoder 23, and 25 is a sub-band decoder as a band restoring means for restoring the band-divided data using the output of the pre-memory 24. Reference numeral 26 is a display memory as a display data storage means, which stores the image data output from the subband decoder 25 at different addresses for each spatial frequency band, and adds them when reading out and outputs them.

In response to the information retrieval request, 27 communicates with the image database 1 and the data decompressor 22 and DC.
T decoder 23, pre-memory 24, subband decoder 2
5. An information retrieval control circuit for outputting a control signal to the display memory 26, and a display 28 for displaying analog image data output from the display memory 26. Reference numeral 29 is a text, figure, and moving picture data processing circuit as an information retrieval control means, and outputs data (text, figure, moving picture) other than image (still picture) data from the corresponding data base. It retrieves and outputs to the display 28.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the image (still image) data base 1 is constructed, the sub-band encoder 13 passes the two-dimensional (horizontal, vertical) spatial frequency band filter through the image data digitized in a portion not shown. , The horizontal and vertical directions are each divided into two and divided into four spatial frequency bands, and the image data for each band is divided.
Output.

The image data is composed of a luminance signal Y and two color difference signals I and Q, and the same processing is performed for each signal. The operation is the same as that described in the section of the description of the conventional technique, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Note that the subband encoder 13 extracts the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the image necessary for performing this processing from the information regarding the image input from the additional data input terminal 12.

The DCT encoder 14 is the subband encoder 13
The image is divided into blocks each consisting of vertical and horizontal 8 pixels for each of the four spatial frequency bands, and DCT is applied to each block. For division, the vertical and horizontal pixel count data of the image output from the encoding control circuit 17 is used. Regarding DCT, "multidimensional signal processing of TV images"
(Author: Takahiko Fukibuki, 1998, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun) 25
Since pages 2 to 256 and the like are known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The processing for the luminance signal Y and the two color difference signals I and Q is the same, and the amplitude data of a total of 64 pixels in each of the vertical and horizontal 8 pixels is converted into the amplitudes of 64 two-dimensional spatial frequency components. Convert. It should be noted that this conversion does not lose the information originally provided in the image (provided that there is no error in the calculation process).

The encoded data memory 15 stores the output of the DCT encoder 14 at the address designated by the encoding control circuit 17. The encoding control circuit 17 applies these addresses to at least signals (Y, I, Q), spatial frequency bands ((L, L), (L, H), (H, L), (H,
H)) and blocks are generated so as to have continuous values. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing addresses of the encoded data memory 15 as a two-dimensional plane, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the writing order of each block, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing addresses on the spatial frequency plane. For example, the data of all the blocks of the (L, L) component of the luminance signal Y are continuously written from the address A1 in FIG. The order of writing each block and the data in the block follows a predetermined rule.

That is, the writing order of each block is, as shown in FIG. 6, starting from the upper left block of the image, performing horizontal scanning, and ending with the lower right block.
The portion surrounded by the dotted line in the figure is one block.

The data in the block is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), zigzag scanning starts from the amplitude value of the DC component on the spatial frequency plane, and both horizontal and vertical spatial frequencies end with the amplitude value of the maximum component. By adopting the above address generation method, an address can be generated by a simple calculation method when a read request accompanied by designation of an area and an order is met.

Next, in this way, the image database 1
The operation of using the image data stored in the encoded data memory 15 in the information retrieval terminal 20 will be described. From the search input terminal 21, if the desired image has been determined, enter or select the image name or registration number, and if the target image is not clear, enter the keyword. Search for.

In the latter case, as is apparent from the above configuration, the same image retrieval as the image data management system described in the prior art can be performed. Here, the former case in which the effects of the present invention are exhibited will be described. As an example, it is assumed that a search request item regarding a certain geographical feature is selected from the menu prepared by the information search terminal 20.

As a first step, the information retrieval control circuit 27 first confirms the layout on the display 28 from the data relating to the above items stored in itself.
It is assumed that the layout designation content is that the left half of the screen is the text window and the right half is the image window as shown in FIG.

In the second step, the information retrieval control circuit 26 takes in the registration number of the text data from the data relating to the above items, and for the image data, the registration number, the reading order designation, and the display procedure. Take in. In the third step, the text database and the image database 1 are displayed.
Data transmission request is output.

At this time, the image data selected is the image of the terrain photographed from the artificial satellite, and the size of the image stored in the image database 1 (converted by the number of pixels). ) Is larger than the screen of the display 28 as shown by A in FIG. Also, what is actually displayed on the display 28 in correspondence with the text data is the portion B shown by the dotted line in the figure, and the image data on the right side according to the scroll of the text data. Shall be scrolled to display. At this time, the reading order designation output to the image database A is as follows, for example.

S1. For the area displayed first,
The (L, L) components of the luminance signal Y are all blocks, and the color difference signal I
(L, L) components of all blocks, and (L, L) of the color difference signal Q
The L) component is output in the order of all blocks. Then, (L, H), (H, L), and (H, H) of each signal are output in the same order. S2. For the block row on the right of the above area, the signal and the spatial frequency band are output in the same order as 1. S3. 2. The above operation is repeated to output all the data displayed on both sides.

Upon receiving the transmission request, the coding control circuit 17 generates a read address of the coding data memory 15, and since no information reduction is designated, the data compressor 16 outputs the image data. The function to apply the weighting coefficient (including 0) does not operate, and only the Huffman coding function operates. Therefore, the image data read out from the encoded data memory 15 is the data compressor 1.
After being Huffman-encoded in 6, the data is input to the data decompressor 22 in the information retrieval terminal 20 via the network 30.

Huffman coding is a type of reversible coding and is intended to reduce the amount of data without loss of information by reducing the redundancy of data. The image quality is not deteriorated by the digitization process.

The data decompressor 22 subjects the input signal to Huffman decoding processing and outputs it. When receiving the signal, the DCT decoder 23 performs inverse DCT in block units.
The pre-memory 24 stores the output of the DCT decoder 23.

Here, the step of restoring the image data is made to correspond to the reading order designations S1, S2, S3 and T
Description will be made in three stages of 1, T2, and T3.

At the stage of T1, the sub-band decoder 25 first reads the front memory 24 for all the transmitted areas.
(L, L) of the luminance signal Y which is the image data stored in
The components are read out, the sampling frequency is doubled in the horizontal and vertical directions, and then the interpolation filter is applied. At this time, the characteristics of the interpolation filters are both low-pass type.

The output of the interpolation filter is stored in the display memory 26 at an address set for each band component. After the same processing is applied to the data of the other band components (the characteristics of the interpolation filter are switched depending on whether the input data is the low band component or the high band component as described in the description of the prior art). ),
It is stored in the display memory 26. The information retrieval circuit 27 generates an address of the display memory 26.

When reading from the display memory 26,
The data of four bands for one pixel are added and then output to the display 28. Therefore, for the luminance signal Y, only the (L, L) component is output first, and then the (L, H), (H, L), and (H, H) components are sequentially added and output. At the end of the T1 stage,
First, the restoration work is completed for the area displayed in the image window.

At the stage of T2, when all the data of all the blocks on the right side of the region handled at the stage of T1 are stored in the pre-memory 24, the data of the entire region obtained by enlarging the sub-band decoder 25 is expanded. The display memory 26
Update the stored contents of. The operation at the stage of T3 is the same as that at the stage of T2.

The above processing steps are expressed as follows when the data successively stored in the display memory 26 is expressed as "image". First, a vague black and white image in the area corresponding to the image window ((L, L) component of the luminance signal Y)
Appears, and the color arrives at it ((L, L) of the color difference signals I and Q)
Component), then turn into a crisp image (Y,
(L, H), (H, L), (H, H) components of I and Q signals). When the change ends, a continuous image extends to the right side of the image.

The information retrieval control circuit 27 synchronizes the display of text data with the display memory 26 for displaying image data.
Generate an address to read from the display 2
Control is performed so that the contents displayed in the text window on 8 and the image window correspond to each other.

In the above description, the case where the data is transmitted by giving priority to the image area has been described, but in the present invention, it is clear from the configuration that the priority or the reduction of the information is designated also with respect to the image quality. it can. When the priority designation regarding the image quality is used, only the outline component of the image is presented (only the high frequency component of the spatial frequency is used), the mosaic screen is presented (the DCT block to be transmitted is designated), etc. The screen presentation can be realized.

Conventionally, such an effective screen presentation has been realized by storing the entire image data on the receiving side and then performing signal processing. However, according to the present invention, the receiving side only specifies the data transmission order. And unnecessary image data does not occupy the network.

When the image window is small and only the low spatial frequency components in the image information are sufficient, (L,
Only the L) component needs to be designated for transmission. Further, when the image quality deterioration can be ignored, the information of the required frequency band can be designated by issuing a cut command for the high frequency component in the DCT output, so that the network can be occupied by the transmission of unnecessary information. Absent.

It should be noted that the number of divisions of the spatial frequency band, the number of pixels of the DCT block, the capacity of the display memory, the type of image signal, and the order of data transmission described in the above description of the embodiments are not limited to these. It does not depend on the purpose of the system.

At the stage of T2, all the data of all the blocks on the right side of the area handled at the stage of T1 are stored in the front memory 24.
The subband decoder 25 is applied to the "new block sequence and the data of several block sequences on the left side thereof" at the time when the data is stored in, and the output is written to the display memory 26 to reduce the signal processing amount. It is also possible.

As another embodiment of the present invention, when the function of reducing the amount of data is not required and only the priority designation regarding the image area and the spatial frequency band is to be realized, the configuration shown in FIGS. The DCT encoder 14, the data compressor 16, the data decompressor 22, and the DCT decoder 23 may be deleted.

[0068]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, the image database side divides the image into a plurality of spatial frequency band components and then stores the data as data, while the information retrieving terminal side for restoring the image Is configured to receive the data via the network and store the components of the plurality of spatial frequency bands, and to restore the image using the data in the storage means. By designating the transmission order regarding the spatial frequency band and the spatial frequency band, the transmission channel is not occupied by the transmission of unnecessary data, the transmission channel can be effectively used, and the transmission cost can be reduced.

The image database used in this method divides the input image signal into L and M (L and M are integers of 2 or more) bands on the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axes of the image, respectively. Together with the band dividing means for reducing the sampling frequency of the data, the coded data storage means for accumulating the output data of the band dividing means, a write address is generated when the data is stored in the coded data storage means, and at least the image And an encoding control unit for generating a read address in response to a data transmission request including a read order designation relating to the outer shape designation and at least one of the spatial frequency bands (claim 2). ).

Here, in the image database, the data of each band that has been further band-divided is spatially divided into blocks composed of a plurality of pixels, and the orthogonal transformation is performed on each block, and the amount of data is reduced. The encoding control means can specify the data compression as well as the reading order specification (claim 5).

Further, the information retrieval terminal used in this method multiplies the sampling frequency of the output data of the pre-storage means and the pre-storage means for accumulating the received data, and obtains the band-divided image data in the image database. A band restoring unit for restoring, a display data storing unit for storing the output of the band restoring unit and outputting the data to a display unit, and a coding control unit of the image database, and at least an image name and , An image data transmission request including a read order designation regarding at least one of the outer shape designation and the spatial frequency band, and the data relating to the image data required by the front storage means, the band synthesis means, and the display data storage means. It can be configured by including information retrieval control means for generating an address (claim 3).

The information retrieving terminal is provided with a data decompressing means for performing a reverse process corresponding to the data compression and an inverse orthogonal transforming means for performing a reverse process to the orthogonal transforming means, and the information retrieval control means. Can be configured to generate data or addresses relating to image data required for these means (claim 6).

Further, by combining these image databases and the information retrieval terminal, an image information retrieval apparatus directly used for carrying out the method of the present invention can be obtained (claims 4 and 7).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an overall configuration of an information search system using an image signal processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image signal processing device.

[Fig. 3] Detailed view of the image database

[Fig. 4] Detailed view of the information retrieval terminal

FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining a write address to an encoded data memory.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the order of blocks to be stored in an encoded data memory.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the order of data in one block stored in an encoded data memory.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed on the display of the information search terminal.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of a conventional device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of spatial frequency division.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image database 13 Subband encoder as band dividing means 14 DCT encoder as orthogonal transform means 15 Encoded data memory 16 Data compressor 17 Encoding control circuit 20 Information retrieval terminal 22 Data decompressor 23 As inverse orthogonal transform means DCT decoder 24 Pre-memory 25 Band restoration means Sub-band decoder 26 Display memory 27 Information retrieval terminal 28 Display

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image signal processing method for transmitting still image data converted into a digital signal and stored in an image database in response to a search request from an information search terminal via a communication network, wherein the image data is spatial frequency domain. The information retrieval terminal divides the processed data into a plurality of bands, and stores the processed data so that the read order for at least the image name and at least one of the outline specification and the spatial frequency band can be specified. And receiving the image data to restore the image data. 2. The image database used in the image signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein the input image signals are L and M (L and M are 2 or more, respectively) on the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axes of the image. Band division means for dividing the data into a plurality of bands and reducing the sampling frequency of the data, encoded data storage means for accumulating the output data of the band division means, and storing the data in the encoded data storage means. Coding control means for generating a write address and generating a read address in response to a data transmission request including a name of an image and a read order designation regarding at least one of an outline designation and a spatial frequency band is provided. An image database featuring. 3. The information retrieval terminal used in the image signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-storage means for accumulating received data and the sampling frequency of the output data of the pre-storage means are multiplied, and the data is stored in the image database. A band restoring unit that restores band-divided image data, a display data storing unit that stores the output of the band restoring unit and outputs the data to a display unit, and communicates with the encoding control unit of the image database. The image data transmission request and the information retrieval control means for generating the data or the address relating to the image data required by the front storage means, the band synthesizing means, and the display data storage means, and the image data. The request to send is at least the name of the image,
An information retrieving terminal including a reading order designation relating to an outer shape designation and at least one of spatial frequency bands. 4. An image signal processing device comprising an image database for storing and transmitting still image data converted into digital signals, and an information retrieval terminal for receiving transmission data of the image database via a network, The image database divides the input image signal into L and M (L and M are integers of 2 or more) bands on the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axes of the image, respectively, and reduces the sampling frequency of the data. Band division means, encoded data storage means for accumulating output data of the band division means, a write address is generated when data is stored in the encoded data storage means, and at least an image name and outline designation And a request to send data including a read order specification for at least one of the spatial frequency bands. And an encoding control unit for generating a read address, wherein the information retrieval terminal multiplies a sampling frequency of output data of the pre-storage unit and the pre-storage unit to accumulate the received data in the image database. A band restoring unit that restores band-divided image data, a display data storing unit that stores the output of the band restoring unit and outputs the data to a display unit, and communicates with the encoding control unit of the image database. , At least the image name,
An image data transmission request including a read order designation relating to the outer shape designation and at least one of the spatial frequency bands is output, and the data or address relating to the image data required by the front storage means, the band synthesis means, and the display data storage means. An image signal processing device, comprising: 5. The image database used in the image signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein L and M input image signals are provided on the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axes of the image, respectively. An integer number of bands and a band dividing unit for reducing the sampling frequency of the data, and receiving the output of the band dividing unit, spatially composed of a plurality of pixels for the L · M number of bands of data. Orthogonal transformation means for dividing into blocks and performing orthogonal transformation on each block, coded data storage means for accumulating the output data of the orthogonal transformation means, and output of the coded data storage means A data compression unit for reduction, and a write address is generated when data is stored in the encoded data storage unit, and at least an image name, an outline designation and A code for generating a read address in response to an image data transmission request including a read order designation relating to at least one of the spatial frequency bands and a designation relating to data compression, and outputting a command relating to reduction of data amount to the data compression means. An image database, comprising: 6. An information retrieval terminal used in the image signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein the received data is input, and the data decompression means performs the reverse processing of the reversible compression processing performed by the data compression means, and the data decompression means. An inverse orthogonal transforming means for receiving the output of the means and performing a process opposite to that of the orthogonal transforming means, a pre-storing means for accumulating the output of the inverse orthogonal transforming means, and a sampling frequency of the output data of the pre-storing means. And a band restoration unit that restores band-divided data in the image database, a display data storage unit that stores the output of the band restoration unit and outputs the data to a display unit, and While communicating with the encoding control means to output the image data transmission request, the data decompression means, the inverse orthogonal transformation means, the front storage means, the band synthesizing means, and the display data are also displayed. And an information retrieval control means for generating data or an address relating to image data required in the data storage means, wherein the image data transmission request is at least the image name and at least one of the outer shape designation and the spatial frequency band. An information retrieval terminal including a reading order designation regarding and 7. An image signal processing apparatus comprising an image database for storing and transmitting still image data converted into digital signals, and an image signal processing apparatus comprising an information retrieval terminal for receiving transmission data of the image database via a network, The database divides the input image signal into L and M (L and M are integers of 2 or more) bands on the horizontal and vertical spatial frequency axes of the image, respectively, and reduces the sampling rate of the data. Orthogonal transform that receives the output of the band splitting unit and spatially divides the data of each of the L and M bands into blocks composed of a plurality of pixels and performs an orthogonal transform on each block. Means, an encoded data storage means for accumulating output data of the orthogonal transformation means, and an output of the encoded data storage means Data compression means for reducing the amount of data, and a write address is generated when data is stored in the encoded data storage means, and reading is performed for at least the image name and at least one of the outer shape designation and the spatial frequency band. The information retrieving device is provided with an encoding control unit that generates a read address in response to an image data transmission request including an order designation and a data compression designation, and outputs a command relating to a data amount reduction to the data compression unit. The terminal receives the received data, performs a process reverse to the lossless compression process performed by the data compressing unit, and receives an output from the data decompressing unit, and performs a process reverse to the orthogonal transforming unit. Inverse orthogonal transforming means, pre-storing means for accumulating the output of the inverse orthogonal transforming means, and sampling of output data of the pre-storing means A band frequency, and a band restoration unit that restores band-divided data in the image database, a display data storage unit that stores the output of the band restoration unit and outputs the data to a display unit, and the image. It communicates with the encoding control means of the database and outputs an image data transmission request including a designation of the image and a reading order designation regarding at least one of the outline designation and at least one of the spatial frequency bands. An image signal processing apparatus comprising: a conversion unit, a front storage unit, a band synthesizing unit, and an information search control unit that generates data or an address relating to image data required by the display data storage unit.