Abstract: An image retrieval system that provides secured image data in response to a query specified by a user. The system includes a data retrieval unit, an encryption unit, and an output unit. The data retrieval unit is configured to retrieve image data relevant to the specified query from a collection of image data. The encryption unit is configured to encrypt at least a portion of the retrieved image data according to the specified query. The output unit is configured to output the at least partially encrypted image data to the user. The image data represents an image formed of one or more regions each having a keyword associated therewith. The encrypted portion is decryptable by the user only when the user is authorized to view the entire image.

Abstract: A disclosed image display apparatus for displaying multiple images on a single screen includes a magnification unit configured to, in response to a zooming operation on the screen, magnify distances between centroids of first group images included in the multiple images and magnify the first group images; and a display control unit configured to display in a space of the magnified distances one or more images different from the multiple images. A magnification rate of the distances between the centroids has a nonlinear relationship to a magnification rate of the first group images, and within an extent of the nonlinear relationship, the magnification rate of the distances between the centroids has a predetermined range in which the magnification rate of the first group images is larger than the magnification rate of the distances between the centroids.

Abstract: An image decoder comprises a code decompression/decoding unit that decodes code data produced through compression and encoding of image data, a power supply state detection unit that detects a current state of a power supply of the image decoder, and a controller that controls the code decompression/decoding unit based on the current state of the power supply so as to reduce power consumption in performing decompression and decoding of the code data.

Abstract: An image retrieval system that provides secured image data in response to a query specified by a user. The system includes a data retrieval unit, an encryption unit, and an output unit. The data retrieval unit is configured to retrieve image data relevant to the specified query from a collection of image data. The encryption unit is configured to encrypt at least a portion of the retrieved image data according to the specified query. The output unit is configured to output the at least partially encrypted image data to the user. The image data represents an image formed of one or more regions each having a keyword associated therewith. The encrypted portion is decryptable by the user only when the user is authorized to view the entire image.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, first code data including multiple sets of code data in which image data of multiple static images are compressed and encoded, are synthesized. The first code data are converted into second code data that are compressed and encoded to be a single code data sequence where a motion image aligns the static images in chronological order as consecutive frames. In addition, the second code data may be converted into the first code data.

Abstract: A disclosed image display apparatus for displaying multiple images on a single screen includes a magnification unit configured to, in response to a zooming operation on the screen, magnify distances between centroids of first group images included in the multiple images and magnify the first group images; and a display control unit configured to display in a space of the magnified distances one or more images different from the multiple images. A magnification rate of the distances between the centroids has a nonlinear relationship to a magnification rate of the first group images, and within an extent of the nonlinear relationship, the magnification rate of the distances between the centroids has a predetermined range in which the magnification rate of the first group images is larger than the magnification rate of the distances between the centroids.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, using distortion amount information showing how much a decoded image is degraded from an original image when data are eliminated from the data sequence is read from a code sequence in which the original image is compressed and encoded, an occurrence of an error in each unit of the code sequence is detected. A distortion amount of the decoded image against the original image is calculated when the code sequence is decoded after the data are eliminated from the code sequence by using the distortion amount information concerning the data in which the error is detected. Then, the decoding of the code sequence is cancelled based on a calculation result.

Abstract: An image decoder comprises a code decompression/decoding unit that decodes code data produced through compression and encoding of image data, a power supply state detection unit that detects a current state of a power supply of the image decoder, and a controller that controls the code decompression/decoding unit based on the current state of the power supply so as to reduce power consumption in performing decompression and decoding of the code data.

Abstract: An image sending apparatus is provided, in which the image sending apparatus comprises an analyzing syntax of code sequence data, a generation unit generating another code sequence data from the code sequence data by using the analysis result, a unit to measure the load of the generation unit; a unit to generate a parameter corresponding to the load, wherein the generation unit generates the another code sequence data by using the parameter such that the data amount of the another code sequence data to be sent is adjusted according to the load.

Abstract: An image decoder comprises a code decompression/decoding unit that decodes code data produced through compression and encoding of image data, a power supply state detection unit that detects a current state of a power supply of the image decoder, and a controller that controls the code decompression/decoding unit based on the current state of the power supply so as to reduce power consumption in performing decompression and decoding of the code data.

Abstract: A plurality of image production processing parts each of which generates drawing data for image drawing processing from image drawing instructions obtained through data compression. A dividing part which divides the given image drawing instructions into a plurality of sets of image drawing instructions without decompressing them in such a manner that each set of image drawing instructions can be processed by any of the plurality of image producing processing part without referring to any other set of image drawing instructions. A distributing part which distributes the plurality of sets of image drawing instructions to the plurality of image production processing parts.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, first code data including multiple sets of code data in which image data of multiple static images are compressed and encoded, are synthesized. The first code data are converted into second code data that are compressed and encoded to be a single code data sequence where a motion image aligns the static images in chronological order as consecutive frames. In addition, the second code data may be converted into the first code data.

Abstract: An image sending apparatus is provided, in which the image sending apparatus comprises an analyzing syntax of code sequence data, a generation unit generating another code sequence data from the code sequence data by using the analysis result, a unit to measure the load of the generation unit; a unit to generate a parameter corresponding to the load, wherein the generation unit generates the another code sequence data by using the parameter such that the data amount of the another code sequence data to be sent is adjusted according to the load.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, using distortion amount information showing how much a decoded image is degraded from an original image when data are eliminated from the data sequence is read from a code sequence in which the original image is compressed and encoded, an occurrence of an error in each unit of the code sequence is detected. A distortion amount of the decoded image against the original image is calculated when the code sequence is decoded after the data are eliminated from the code sequence by using the distortion amount information concerning the data in which the error is detected. Then, the decoding of the code sequence is cancelled based on a calculation result.

Abstract: An image decoder comprises a code decompression/decoding unit that decodes code data produced through compression and encoding of image data, a power supply state detection unit that detects a current state of a power supply of the image decoder, and a controller that controls the code decompression/decoding unit based on the current state of the power supply so as to reduce power consumption in performing decompression and decoding of the code data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for inputting image data from an external image input device and outputting the inputted image data to an external image output device after processing the data, the image processing apparatus including a data compression device for compressing the inputted image data by a variable-length data compression method. An image data storing device stores the inputted image data therein. A control device controls the apparatus, such that, when a size of an output image of the inputted image data is larger than a predetermined size, the data compression device compresses the inputted image data by the variable-length data compression method and the image data storing device stores the compressed image data therein, and, when the output image of the inputted image data is equal to or smaller than the predetermined size, the image data storing device stores the inputted image data therein without data compression.

Abstract: A plurality of image production processing parts each of which generates drawing data for image drawing processing from image drawing instructions obtained through data compression. A dividing part which divides the given image drawing instructions into a plurality of sets of image drawing instructions without decompressing them in such a manner that each set of image drawing instructions can be processed by any of the plurality of image producing processing part without referring to any other set of image drawing instructions. A distributing part which distributes the plurality of sets of image drawing instructions to the plurality of image production processing parts.

Abstract: A color image data compressing apparatus comprising a color space converting section for receiving RGB data and outputting data for lightness and chromaticity, a plurality of space converting sections each for converting the data from actual space to a coefficient in each specified transform space, a plurality of quantizing sections each for quantizing the coefficient, and a coding section for coding the quantized data, in which the degree of quantization of the coefficient data is changed according to data for lightness.

Abstract: An artificial halftone processing apparatus for binarizing input image information on the basis of the densities of pixels and combining a plurality of sets of resultant binary data to produce multi-level tone information. A matrix for halftone processing is variable in size or arrangement to store a plurality of pixel data in a memory together. Halftone processing is executed in an optimal manner for a particular kind of figure to be drawn.

Abstract: A straight line drawing control apparatus includes a first first-in first-out memory for inputting coordinate data indicative of coordinates of a straight line to be drawn in synchronism with a first write clock and inputting write data relating to luminance and/or color of the straight line in synchronism with a second write clock and for outputting the coordinate data in synchronism with a first read clock and outputting the write data in synchronism with a second read clock. The coordinate data, the write data and the first and second write clocks are supplied from an external device. The apparatus further includes a second first-in first-out memory for inputting flag data indicating a change of the write data in synchronism with the first clock and for outputting the flag data in synchronism with the first read clock, and a controller for generating the first read clock and for generating the second read clock only when the flag data is supplied from the second first-in first-out memory.