Abstract: Various recording apparatuses and methods, each capable of repeatedly attaching the same meta-data as information related to binary data to a plurality of binary data to generate a plurality of binary data having meta-data. A first recording apparatus generates binary data by image sensing and also generate meta-data as information related to the binary data. This apparatus can repeatedly attach the same meta-data generated to the generated binary data to easily generate a plurality of binary data having meta-data. A second recording apparatus loads and uses binary data instead of generating it and can generate meta-data and repeatedly attach the same meta-data to a plurality of loaded binary data to easily generate binary data having meta-data.

Abstract: There is provided a binary data storage method and device and a storage medium which, upon duplicating binary data stored in an external storage medium into a data storage device, is capable of generating inside the data storage device a folder having a name which is appropriate for the data without the user having to perform manipulations or confirm the content of the data.

Abstract: An image as a basis of a mosaic image is segmented into M×N areas by the process shown in FIG. 4 (S300), and the image characteristics of the segmented areas (S301), and those of source images (S305) are obtained. When the source image is a moving image, the image characteristics of that moving image are obtained from those of a plurality of still images in the moving image (S304). Source images corresponding to the segmented areas are determined (S309) and pasted (S310), thus generating a mosaic image.

Abstract: In searching for a desired image from an external storage device which stores a plurality of images, similarity between a designated search source image and each of the plurality of images is calculated on the basis of the feature amount of the designated search source image and the feature amounts of the plurality of images. A similar image is extracted from the plurality of images on the basis of the calculated image similarity. In calculating the similarity, an image is segmented into a plurality of regions, different weights are set for the respective regions, and the similarity is calculated using the set weights.

Abstract: A plurality of image data are stored in a hard disk device in correspondence with their image feature amounts. An image is input using an input window. A CPU computes the image feature amount of the input image. The CPU also computes image similarity on the basis of the computed image feature amount and those of image data stored in the hard disk device. A list of image data as search results are displayed on a display unit on the basis of the computed image similarity. Image data stored in the hard disk device are read out into the input window.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus in which attachment of removable memory card is detected and it is determined whether or not binary data is stored in the memory card. If it is determined that binary data is stored in the memory card, it is further determined whether or not meta data is stored in the memory card. If it is determined that the meta data is stored, the meta data is added to the binary data. If it is determined that no meta data is stored, meta data registration processing is started, and addition processing is performed after registration of the meta data. On the other hand, if it is determined that no binary data is stored, the registration processing is started to register the meta data in the memory card.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus for forming a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images, dividing a first image that is the basis of the mosaic image into a plurality of tile areas, comparing each tile area with each of the material images, selecting a material image that most resembles the tile area in terms of color or luminance and pasting this material image to the tile area, thereby creating a mosaic image.

Abstract: Binary data to which meta-data is to be appended, and meta-data to be appended to the binary data are loaded. The meta-data has an XML format. The loaded meta-data is connected after the loaded binary data. The data synthesized in this manner is output as a single file as a whole. In this file data, since header information remains the same as that before connection of the meta-data, binary data can be reproduced by an existing browser or the like. A binary file with meta-data can be discriminated by checking if data in a correct XML format is present at the end of data.

Abstract: Binary data to which meta-data is to be appended, and meta-data to be appended to the binary data are loaded. The meta-data has an XML format. The loaded meta-data is connected after the loaded binary data. The data synthesized in this manner is output as a single file as a whole. In this file data, since header information remains the same as that before connection of the meta-data, binary data can be reproduced by an existing browser or the like. A binary file with meta-data can be discriminated by checking if data in a correct XML format is present at the end of data.

Abstract: Since a plurality of image data are stored in a single file, high-speed access to image data and easy management of image data are allowed, and information that pertains to each image data can be acquired from a source outside the image file. As an arrangement for this purpose, an image data area (202) continuously stores a plurality of compressed image data. An index area (204) stores reference information to a source outside the file, which pertains to each of the plurality of image data stored in the image data area (202), in the order the plurality of image data are stored. A feature amount data area (203) stores feature amount data obtained from the images stored in the image data area (202). Furthermore, an image information area (201) stores header information including information indicating the start position of each area.

Abstract: Binary data to which meta-data is to be appended, and meta-data to be appended to the binary data are loaded. The meta-data has an XML format. The loaded meta-data is connected after the loaded binary data. The data synthesized in this manner is output as a single file as a whole. In this file data, since header information remains the same as that before connection of the meta-data, binary data can be reproduced by an existing browser or the like. A binary file with meta-data can be discriminated by checking if data in a correct XML format is present at the end of data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program for implementing the image processing method, and a recording medium recording the program, which when images are arranged concentrically with respect to a circular label, attains to automatically arrange the images so as to be contained within a circle through automatic adjustment of the sizes, arrangement intervals, distances from a center, and angles of the images in accordance with the number of images selected, are arranged so that a secondary storage stores a plurality of image data, image selection processing achieved through execution of a program stored in a primary storage by a CPU effects processing for selecting a plurality of image data from the secondary storage, and image arrangement processing achieved through execution of a program stored in the primary storage by the CPU generates post-arrangement image data for arrangement where multiple images based on the plurality of image data selected by the image selection processing

Abstract: In the retrieval of images that resemble a target image from a plurality of images, the image feature quantity of the target image is calculated when the target image is specified. The feature quantity is calculated upon removing an unnecessary area from the specified target image, and retrieval of resembling images is performed using the feature quantity that has been calculated. The unnecessary area is determined automatically based upon a change in luminance in directions vertically and horizontally of the periphery of the target image. Thus, the calculation of feature quantities from which unnecessary portions in an image have been eliminated can be executed with ease and more effective retrieval of resembling images can be carried out.

Abstract: A plurality of images and a feature of each of these images are stored in one image file. An attribute information area stores attribute information necessary to read out and display the images stored in the image file. A feature data area continuously stores features of the images stored in the image file. An image data area continuously stores image data of the images stored in the image file. Since one image file has the attribute information, the feature data area continuously storing the features of all images, and the image data area continuously storing all images, high-speed access to the image data and simple management of the image data are realized.

Abstract: A plurality of image data are stored in a hard disk device in correspondence with their image feature amounts. An image is using an input window. A CPU computes the image feature amount of the input image. The CPU computes image similarity on the basis of the computed image feature amount and the image feature amounts of the stored image data.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing method, apparatus and storage medium for forming a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images. The method includes dividing an image, which is the basis of the mosaic image, into a plurality of tile areas, obtaining an image characteristic of each tile area obtained by division, calculating distances between the image characteristics of each of the tile areas and image characteristics of respective ones of the plurality of material images, selecting material images corresponding to each of the tile areas in dependence upon result of calculation of the distances, forming a mosaic image by pasting the selected material images to the corresponding tile areas, and subjecting this mosaic image to filtering processing, thereby generating a mosaic image in which the joints between tile areas are no longer noticeable.

Abstract: There are provided an image processing method and apparatus for generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images in a mosaic pattern. The number of material images is increased on the basis of a plurality of stored material images, material images added by capturing a moving image, or the like, and a mosaic image with higher image quality is generated based on such material images.

Abstract: First control controls execution of a process for inputting an image drawn by the user using an input window, and a process for computing the image feature amount of the input image. Parallel to the first control, second control controls execution of a process for storing a plurality of image data in correspondence with their image feature amounts, a process for computing image similarity on the basis of the computed image feature amount and those of the stored image data, and a process for displaying a list of image data as search results on the basis of the computed image similarity. Also, communications between the first control and the second control are controlled.

Abstract: To generating a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images, an original image is divided into tiles and a material image having a characteristic similar to that of an image in each tile is applied to the tile. If more than one version of image data having different resolutions is provided as the image data for the material image, a low-resolution version of the image data is used to calculate a characteristic quantity of the image. Thus, the amount of time required to generate the mosaic image can be reduced.

Abstract: Upon forming a mosaic image by combining a plurality of material images, an original image of the mosaic image is segmented into M×N areas. The image characteristics of these segmented areas are calculated, and a material image corresponding to each segmented area is determined on the basis of the calculated image characteristics while inhibiting a single material image from being repetitively selected for a plurality of areas. By generating the mosaic image in this way, an expected texture pattern due to a specific combination of material images can be prevented from being formed.