Abstract: A plurality of images are classified into hierarchical categories. A degree of importance for each of the categories is set according to at least one of: the number of images therein, the number of images in an upper-level category, the number of categories related to the category, the number of hierarchical levels below the category, and the number of hierarchical levels from the uppermost level to the level of the category.

Abstract: An image evaluation apparatus is provided comprising printing status judgment means for judging a printing status of a target image assigned with an evaluation value and evaluation value changing means for appropriately changing the evaluation value based on information representing the printing status. An image evaluation method and a program for causing a computer to execute the image evaluation method are also provided. Therefore, the evaluation value can be assigned to the image, reflecting an intention and preference of a user at the time of selection of an image for printing.

Abstract: An image server transmits reference image data to a mobile telephone having a display device on which the reference image is displayed. A wavelength vs. luminance characteristic of the displayed reference image is measured by a radiance measurement unit, and a correction parameter for the mobile telephone is calculated based upon the measured wavelength vs. luminance characteristic. Processing for calculating correction parameters is executed with regard to other mobile telephones as well. If an image-data transmit request is issued by a mobile telephone, the image data is corrected using the correction parameter that corresponds to the mobile telephone. The corrected image data is transmitted to the mobile telephone. Since a correction suited to the mobile telephone is carried out, an excellent image is displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone.

Abstract: Image data that has undergone JPEG compression is subjected to variable-length encoding to obtain orthogonal transform coefficients. The resolution (size) of the compressed image data is acquired and, based upon the resolution of a target reduced image and the acquired resolution, some orthogonal transform coefficients to be used in an inverse transform are decided from among the orthogonal transform coefficients. The orthogonal transform coefficients decided are subjected to an inverse transform and a first reduced image is obtained. If the resolution of the obtained first reduced image is not the target resolution, the amount of data constituting the reduced image data is adjusted to obtain a second reduced image that is the target. As a result, a desired image is obtained in rapid fashion.

Abstract: Color distribution of the colors of pixels of an image is generated in an RGB color space. The color space is modified so that the length of each of an R-axis, G-axis, and B-axis in the RGB color space satisfies the ratio of 3:4:2. Color distribution is generated in the modified color space. The modified color space is divided, based on the color distribution, into a predetermined number of regions, which is less than the number of colors of the image, by using median cut algorithm. A color, which is a median in each of the divided regions, is selected as a representative color.

Abstract: A matrix of processing object frame data and a matrix of temporally consecutive next frame data of the processing object frame data, are prepared as matrices for error diffusion processing. An error generated at a pixel position in a frame, which is represented by the processing object frame data, is diffused to a corresponding pixel in a frame represented by the temporally consecutive next frame data of the processing object frame data.

Abstract: Even if an email attached with a moving image is sent to a terminal that is not capable of moving image display, pseudo moving image display can be carried out in high quality on the terminal. An email reception unit receives the email, and a model judgment unit judges the model of the terminal as a destination of the email. If the destination terminal cannot display the moving image, a moving image conversion unit generates a multimedia image data in a multimedia format from moving image data representing the moving image. An image attaching unit attaches the moving mage data or the multimedia image data to main content of the email, and an email transmission unit sends the image-attached email to the destination terminal.

Abstract: A continuous frame-by-frame image display as a reduced-color moving image can be carried out in high quality on a high-resolution display device of a mobile terminal or the like. A request reception unit receives a moving image transfer request from the terminal, and a model judgment unit judges the model of the terminal. A moving image format conversion unit converts moving image data into a format corresponding to the model. If the terminal cannot carry out moving image display but can display a multimedia image wherein frames are continuously displayed one by one in high quality, a moving image conversion unit converts the moving image data into multimedia image data. At this time, a data size limit and the like of the terminal are considered. An image transmission unit sends the multimedia image data to the terminal.

Abstract: Processing for obtaining processed compressed moving image data can be carried out efficiently through image enhancement processing on compressed moving image data. In a moving image processing unit of a relay server in a mobile phone system, a division unit divides compressed moving image data attached to an e-mail into a target part to be corrected and a non-target part not to be corrected. A decoding unit decodes the target part to generate decoded data. A correction unit carries out image enhancement processing on the decoded data, and obtains corrected decoded data. An encoding unit encodes the corrected decoded data, and obtains encoded corrected data. A combination unit combines the encoded corrected data with the non-target part, and obtains processed compressed moving image data.

Abstract: An image server transmits reference image data to a mobile telephone having a display device on which the reference image is displayed. A wavelength vs. luminance characteristic of the displayed reference image is measured by a radiance measurement unit, and a correction parameter for the mobile telephone is calculated based upon the measured wavelength vs. luminance characteristic. Processing for calculating correction parameters is executed with regard to other mobile telephones as well. If an image-data transmit request is issued by a mobile telephone, the image data is corrected using the correction parameter that corresponds to the mobile telephone. The corrected image data is transmitted to the mobile telephone. Since a correction suited to the mobile telephone is carried out, an excellent image is displayed on the display screen of the mobile telephone.

Abstract: An image-attached mail transiting apparatus has a mail receiving portion for receiving an image-attached mail transmitted from a transmitting terminal that transmits the image-attached mail to which an image picked up by an installed miniature camera is attached, a mail control portion for extracting an attached image from the image-attached mail, then instructing an image processing portion how to process the attached image, and then substituting a processed image for the original attached image of the image-attached mail, an image processing portion for performing the process indicated by the mail control portion to the image, and a mail transmitting portion for transmitting the image-attached mail to the receiving terminal, whereby the mail control portion discriminates a type of the transmitting terminal, and the image processing portion performs image processing according to the type.

Abstract: Gain coefficients g1 to g4 of image data to undergo a sharpness correction and a high-frequency component F of the overall image are calculated. The gain coefficients g1 to g4 are decreased in value the larger the high-frequency component F of the overall image and increased in value the smaller the high-frequency component F of the overall image. In a situation where the high-frequency component F of the overall image is large and it is feared that noise will be emphasized by applying a sharpness correction, the gain coefficients for the sharpness correction are reduced. This assures that noise will not be emphasized even if the sharpness correction is applied.