Image processing with searching of image data

Details Image processing with searching of image data Image processing with searching of image data

1998-03-09

2001-06-12

Vu, Kim (Department: 2172)

Data processing: database and file management or data structures

Database design

Data structure types

C707S793000, C707S793000, C709S219000, C345S215000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06247009

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which manages a plurality of image data in an image storage unit, and searches for the image data managed in the image storage unit, and its control method.
Conventionally, when an image processing apparatus, which manages image data obtained by reading natural images using, e.g., a scanner, searches for image data, since it is hard to realize an image recognition technique for image data, a search directly using the image data cannot be made. For this reason, it is a common practice to add a word combination and keyword which indicate that image data upon reading image data, and to use the word combination and keyword added to the image data upon searching for image data. The search results of the image data are normally sorted and displayed in the order of attributes such as search matching rates, date, and the like obtained by the search.
However, in place of the sort & display function of the search results based on information inevitably encountered upon searching by the conventional image processing apparatus, a function that can sort and display search results on the basis of criteria that the many users show interest in, or by giving higher priority to frequently viewed images, i.e., on the basis of values added in the order that reflects the interests of the users, has been demanded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus, which can sort the search results of image data in the order that reflects the users' interests, and its control method.
In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, an image processing apparatus having a function of searching for image data, comprises:
voting means for allowing a searcher to vote for image data; and
search means for searching for image data in accordance with a voting result at the voting means.
In order to achieve the above object, a control method for an image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, a control method for an image processing apparatus having a function of searching for image data, comprises:
the voting step of allowing a searcher to vote for image data; and
the search step of searching for image data in accordance with a voting result in the voting step.
In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, an image processing apparatus for managing a plurality of image data in an image storage unit, and searching for the image data managed in the image storage unit, comprises:
holding means for holding a management table which manages information indicating image data, and the number of times the image data was found upon search in correspondence with each other in units of image data managed in the image storage unit;
input means for inputting a search condition;
search means for searching for image data matching the search condition input by the input means; and
display means for acquiring the numbers of times the image data was found upon search by the search means from the management table, and sorting and displaying the image data obtained by the search means on the basis of the acquired numbers of times the image data was found upon search.
Preferably, the holding means further holds an index for managing the total numbers of times of input of search conditions input by the input means in units of identical search conditions.
Preferably, the display means acquires the numbers of times the image data was found upon search by the search means from the management table, acquires the total number of times of input of the search condition, and sorts and displays the image data obtained by the search means on the basis of the acquired numbers of times the image data was found upon search and the total number of times of input.
Preferably, when the search condition is input by the input means, the display means displays a questionnaire window for acquiring information associated with a user.
Preferably, the input means comprises:
accept means for accepting replies of the user to the questionnaire window when the questionnaire window is displayed by the display means; and
storage means for storing the replies of the user accepted by the accept means.
Preferably, contents of the questionnaire window include at least an age and hobby of the user.
Preferably, the display means sorts and displays the image data obtained by the search means on the basis of the replies of the user stored in the storage means.
In order to achieve the above object, a control method for an image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, a control method for an image processing apparatus for managing a plurality of image data in an image storage unit, and searching for the image data managed in the image storage unit, comprises:
the holding step of holding a management table which manages information indicating image data, and the number of times the image data was found upon search in correspondence with each other in units of image data managed in the image storage unit;
the input step of inputting a search condition;
the search step of searching for image data matching the search condition input in the input step; and
the display step of acquiring the numbers of times the image data was found upon search in the search step from the management table, and sorting and displaying the image data obtained in the search step on the basis of the acquired numbers of times the image data was found upon search.
In order to achieve the above object, a computer readable memory according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, a computer readable memory that stores a program code for controlling an image processing apparatus for managing a plurality of image data in an image storage unit, and searching for the image data managed in the image storage unit, comprises:
a program code of the holding step of holding a management table which manages information indicating image data, and the number of times the image data was found upon search in correspondence with each other in units of image data managed in the image storage unit;
a program code of the input step of inputting a search condition;
a program code of the search step of searching for image data matching the search condition input in the input step; and
a program code of the display step of acquiring the numbers of times the image data was found upon search in the search step from the management table, and sorting and displaying the image data obtained in the search step on the basis of the acquired numbers of times the image data was found upon search.
As described above, according to the present invention, an image processing apparatus which can sort search results of image data in the order that reflects the users' interests, and its control method can be provided.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.


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