United States Patent (19)
`Fujisawa et al.
`
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,021,989
`Jun. 4, 1991
`
`(54) DOCUMENT BROWSINGAPPARATUS
`WITH CONCURRENT PROCESSING AND
`RETREVEL
`(75) Inventors: Hiromichi Fujisawa, Tokorozawa;
`Atsushi Hatakeyama, Kokubunji;
`Masaaki Fujinawa, Tokyo; Eiichi
`Hadano, Hachioji, all of Japan
`73) Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
`(21) Appl. No.: 593,260
`(22) Filed:
`Oct. 1, 1990
`
`63)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Continuation of Ser. No. 42,703, Apr. 27, 1987, aban
`doned.
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`30
`Apr. 28, 1986 (JP)
`Japan .................................. 61-967O6
`Sep. 10, 1986 JP
`Japan ................................ 61-21594
`51) Int. C. .............................................. G06F 3/153
`52) U.S. C. ................................. 364/900; 364/927.2;
`364/943; 364/948.3
`58) Field of Search ................................ 364/200,900
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,949,375 4/1976 Ciano .................................. 364/200
`4,159,417 6/1979 Rubincan ........................... 340/706
`4,513,390 4/1985 Walter et al. ....................... 364/900
`4,571,700 2/1986 Emry, Jr. et al. .................. 364/900
`4,734,856 3/1988 Davis .................................. 364/300
`4,742,467 5/1988 Messerich et al. .....
`..... 364/200
`4,755,809 7/1988 Ikegami et al. ..................... 340/709
`Primary Examiner-Lawrence E. Anderson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Antonelli, Terry, Stout &
`Kraus
`ABSTRACT
`57
`An apparatus for document browsing, specifically for
`document retrieval systems. The browsing apparatus
`enables users to see multiple document pages on the
`same screen at the same time in a first mode and to see
`a bundle of pages on a screen in a second mode. The
`images shown on the screen are produced internally
`according to the user's commands. The pages may be
`flipped in either direction and selected pages may be
`marked for later printing instructions.
`
`12 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`O
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`53
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`54O
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`55O
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`55
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`56O
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`-EXPANSION
`UNIT
`
`PROCESSOR
`MEMORY
`
`RETREVA
`UNIT
`ADAPTOR
`
`DISPLAY
`MODE
`SELECTION
`UNT
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`LOCATION
`CONTROL
`UNIT
`
`DISPLAY
`UNT
`ADAPTOR
`
`
`
`
`
`LARGE
`STORAGE
`ADAPTOR
`
`IMAGE
`MANAGEMENT
`MEMORY
`
`BUFFER
`MANAGEMENT
`MEMORY
`
`HIGH-SPEED
`BUFFER
`MEMORY
`
`DISPLAYED
`MAGE
`NUMBER
`MEMORY
`
`
`
`57
`
`58O
`
`59C
`
`59
`
`592
`
`-1-
`
`Amazon v. Audio Pod
`US Patent 9,319,720
`Amazon EX-1058
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 1 of 17
`Sheet 1 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`5,021,989
`
`F.G.
`FIG.|
`
`
`
`Ol
`
`-2-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 2 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`iC}fotaO21|
`
`FI
`
`Ic€Old
`
`¢Old
`
`AXApéldl+
`
`-3-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 3 of 17
`Sheet 3 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`5,021,989
`
`3
`133)
`
`3
`133
`S
`I32
`
`FIG.4
`
`o
`3!
`
`$
`
`-4-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 4 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`F.G. 5
`
`
`
`43O
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`-5-
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`

`

`USS. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 5 of 17
`Sheet 5 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`5,021,989
`
`F.G. 6
`FIG. 6
`
`
`
`5
`
`IS|
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`-6-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 6 of 17
`Sheet 6 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`5,021,989
`
`F. G. 7
`FIG. 7
`
`
`
`
`
`-7-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 7 of 17
`Sheet 7 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`5,021,989
`
`
`
`
`
`-8-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 8 of 17
`Sheet 8 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`5,021,989
`
`
`
`
`
`-9-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 9 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`FIG. O
`
`
`
`-10-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 10 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`
`
`RETREVAL
`UNIT
`
`3OO
`
`
`
`LARGE
`STORAGE UNIT
`
`IMAGE
`PROCESSING UNIT
`
`DISPLAY
`CONTROL UNIT
`
`FIG. 3
`
`35O
`
`36O
`
`TERMINAL
`CONTROL
`UNT
`
`CENTRAL
`PROCESSING
`UNIT
`
`RETREVAL
`PROCESSING
`UNIT
`
`3 O
`
`/ \
`
`37O
`
`
`
`EXTERIOR
`CONTROL SIGNAL
`INPUT UNIT
`
`IMAGE
`PROCESSING
`UNT ADAPTOR
`
`38O
`
`39O
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`-11-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 11 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`OIG
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`
`
`TIO HINOO
`
`||NTU
`
`BOJOWN
`
`O99
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`| GGOGG
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`
`
`Ot79
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`|99
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`O@G
`
`
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`269
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`| 69
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`O69
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`|219
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`-12-
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 12 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`F.G. 5
`
`START
`
`LOAD EXPANDED
`
`DISPLAY INITIAL
`SCREEN MAGE
`
`
`
`NPUT EXTERIOR
`CONTROL SIGNAL
`
`7|O
`
`72O
`
`73O
`FLIP PAGE IN
`NORMAL ORDER
`
`FLIP PAGE IN
`REVERSE ORDER
`
`ENLARGE DISPLAYED
`IMAGE
`
`LOAD EXPANDED
`IMAGE
`
`74O
`
`75O
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`76O
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`77O
`
`END
`
`-13-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 13 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`
`
`8O
`
`PAGE FLIPPING IMAGE ADDRESS
`
`8
`
`82
`
`83
`
`-14-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 14 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`FIG. 7
`
`9 FIRST PAGE IMAGE ADDRESS
`
`
`
`FIRST PAGE MAGE DATA
`
`92 SECOND PAGE IMAGE ADDRESS
`
`92O
`
`SECOND PAGE IMAGE DATA
`
`93O
`
`N-TH PAGE IMAGE DATA
`
`-15-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 15 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`
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`
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`
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`2
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`22
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`5O 22O
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`2O
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`2O3
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`F. G. 9
`
`p
`
`DOCUMENT
`
`-16-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 16 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`FIG. 20
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`-17-
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 4, 1991
`
`Sheet 17 of 17
`
`5,021,989
`
`F.G. 22
`
`
`
`
`
`MODE
`PAC
`RG N
`
`R2P
`R3P
`
`NMX
`MK ( )
`MK (2)
`
`MK (NMK)
`
`RD (2)
`
`RD (NRD)
`
`-18-
`
`

`

`1.
`
`5
`
`O
`
`s
`
`DOCUMENT BROWSINGAPPARATUS WITH
`CONCURRENT PROCESSING AND RETRIEVEL
`This application is a continuation of application Ser.
`No. 042,703, filed on Apr. 27, 1987, now abandoned.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to an apparatus for
`sequentially displaying a plurality of pages, and in par
`ticular, to an image display apparatus suitable for the
`user to search for a desired image by visually confirm
`ing each image while sequentially browsing through a
`great amount of images.
`In the prior art technology, as described in JP-A-58
`84365, the images are only displayed in an overlapped
`fashion with a slight difference therebetween to confirm
`the number of the classified images. Considerations
`have not been given to the points that the overlapped
`display is used to search for a plurality of images and to
`flip pages containing images in either directions,
`namely, in the forward and backward directions so as to
`display the pages. A retrieval operation in which the
`user visually confirms each page to search for a desired
`image while browsing through a great amount of im
`25
`ages requires a bidirectional sequential image display
`quite easily comprehensible for the operator in which
`the retrieved images are displayed in the forward flip
`ping order and/or in the backward flipping order.
`Moreover, in an image retrieval, each page of image
`30
`is required to be read from a mass storage device such as
`an optical disk so as to be displayed on a display appara
`tus. A certain period of time (1-2 seconds) is necessary
`to read a desired image from a mass storage device such
`as an optical disk. In order to instantaneously (0.1 sec
`35
`ond) display the page in response to an indication from
`the operator like in the case where the reader flips pages
`of a book, the images from the optical disk are required
`to be temporarily stored in a high-speed buffer memory
`such as a semiconductor memory.
`Furthermore, in the image retrieval operation, it is
`also important to have information indicating the cur
`rent number of image pages that have been loaded from
`the optical disk to the high-speed buffer memory such
`as a semiconductor memory.
`Therefore, this enables to provide the operator with
`information that the image to be found can be instanta
`neously displayed or a certain time is required before
`the image is displayed, thereby reducing the psycholog
`ical uneasiness of the operator. As described above,
`50
`according to the prior art technology, the retrieval of a
`plurality of images has not been sufficiently considered.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to
`provide a method suitable for an operation to search for
`a desired image from a plurality of pages of images in
`which the desired image can be instantaneously and
`correctly identified according to an image in the mind
`of the operator who knows the approximate location of
`60
`the page in a document in advance.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`a display method enabling the operator who may be
`only visually checking the displayed screen to judge
`whether the pages are flipped or turned in the forward
`direction or backward direction.
`Still another object of the present invention is to
`provide a display method enabling the operator to
`
`5,021,989
`2
`judge the amount of image pages that have been trans
`ferred from a mass storage device such as an optical disk
`into a high-speed buffer memory such as a semiconduc
`tor memory. Moreover, even while a search for an
`image is being carried out through a visual inspection of
`images in the high-speed memory, other images are
`transferred from the mass storage device into the high
`speed buffer in concurrence with the search operation,
`thereby increasing the retrieval efficiency,
`These objects can be achieved by changing the dis
`play mode depending upon the direction of page flip
`ping when a plurality of images are sequentially dis
`played. Moreover, the amount of the page images
`loaded into the high-speed buffer memory can be
`known by sequentially displaying a portion of the image
`when it is transferred from the mass storage device into
`the high-speed buffer memory. Here, it is important that
`the plural images are displayed in a 3-dimensional fash
`ion. This method makes the retrieved images displayed
`in the manner similar to those of a book, which prevents
`erroneous recognition of the position of a page cur
`rently looking at, the direction of the page flipping, and
`the contents of the image.
`The concurrent operations of the visual search for an
`image with high speed page flipping and the transfer of
`images to the high-speed buffer load to a reduction of
`the wait time necessary to display the next image re
`trieved and hence the psychological burden on the
`operator is minimized.
`Next, the basic method for implementing the func
`tions above will be described with reference to a dia
`gram.
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display
`screen in the display mode according to the present
`invention. A display screen 101 includes a start point
`marker 102 indicating the position of the first image
`retrieved, an image 103 currently displayed, and a par
`tial image 104 indicating a portion of the image trans
`ferred from a mass storage device into a high-speed
`buffer memory allowing an instantaneous display of an
`image.
`The display screen 101 of FIG. 1 shows a display
`state in which several pages have been flipped in the
`forward direction beginning from the first image page.
`The display process will be concretely described with
`reference to FIG.2. When the retrieval is started, a start
`point marker 112 is first displayed. Next, when the first
`image retrieved is transferred from the mass storage
`device and is stored in the high-speed buffer so as to be
`ready for the display, the image 113 is immediately
`displayed. The display point 113a of the first image 113
`is at a position 112a indicated by the start point marker
`112, which is brought into contact with the image 113.
`The display point of the first image will be described
`more precisely. A point of the start marker 112 is as
`sumed to be a base point. For example, in the example of
`FIG. 2, a point 112a is assumed as the base point. The
`origin of the image 113 is set to a point 113a at the
`lower-left corner of the image.
`The first image 113 is displayed at a point where the
`origin of the image matches with the base point.
`The second image is displayed when the second
`image is transferred from the mass storage device into
`the high-speed buffer memory at a point where the
`origin of the second image is apart from the base point
`112a by Ax and Ay in the vertical and horizontal direc
`tions, respectively (Ax, Ay > 0). However, all the
`screen of the second image is not displayed, i.e. only the
`
`45
`
`55
`
`-19-
`
`

`

`15
`
`5,021,989
`4.
`3
`the usage thereof in future, thereby enabling to browse
`portion 114 of the second image not overlapping with
`or traverse through a document without imposing any
`the first image is displayed. Each time an image from
`psychological load on the operator.
`the mass storage device is stored in the high-speed
`In summary, the object of the present invention is to
`buffer memory, only the partial image 114 is displayed
`provide a system which enables the user to handle with
`with the origin of the image being shifted by Ax and Ay.
`The operation of the page flipping in the forward
`a sense of physical existence the document electroni
`cally stored, and which can be quite easily operated.
`direction will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
`To achieve the object, according to the present in
`When effecting the page turning operation in the
`vention, there is provided a function which displays a
`forward direction, the entire area 123 of the first image
`plurality of portions of each document in a screen of a
`is painted with the color identical to that of the back
`10
`ground (white in an ordinary case) and then the second
`terminal based on information about a logical structure
`image 123' is displayed. In this operation, the second
`of the document and a function which effects a page
`flipping operation in an arbitrary direction for each
`image 123' is not entirely displayed, namely, only the
`portion independently of each other. Moreover, there is
`remaining portion of an image 124, displayed when the
`provided a function which displays an enlarged image
`image from the mass storage device is stored in the
`high-speed buffer memory, may be displayed.
`of each portion to be inspected in more detail.
`Furthermore, pages of documents are displayed in
`In addition, the entire area of the first image need not
`be necessarily painted with a background color,
`the screen like the physical pages of a document, which
`also provides the operator with a sense of turning pages
`namely, only the area of the first image not overlapping
`with the second image may be displayed by use of the
`at a high speed. The pages can be turned in the forward
`background color.
`or backward direction and there is also provided a func
`tion to display an enlarged image of a portion according
`The page flipping operation in the backward direc
`to an instruction. Moreover, a function to mark a page
`tion will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Assume
`that the third image 133 is currently being displayed.
`of interest is available, namely, according to an indica
`When executing the page flipping operation in the back
`tion from the user, the document page currently being
`25
`displayed is internally and externally marked.
`ward direction, it is only necessary to simply display the
`That is, a mark is assigned as data to the page in the
`second image 133' in the area where the second area
`was displayed before.
`system for the future use, and at the same time, a mark
`is graphically added to the page in the screen. A plural
`FIGS. 5-6 show display screens displayed under
`ity positions of each document may be marked, and
`conditions of Ax = 0, Ay)0 and Ax>0, Ay=0, respec
`30
`tively,
`naturally, the mark can be deleted.
`In addition, there is provided a function to use the
`Here, the start point marker may be set to an upper
`right corner of the display screen with the conditions of
`mark information thus added. More concretely, first, an
`automatic page flipping function is supported to auto
`Ax<0 and Ay(0; moreover, like in the cases of FIGS.
`matically turn pages up to the next marked page. In
`2-3, conditions may be set as Ax = 0, Ay(0 or Ax<0,
`35
`Ay=0.
`response to an indication from the user, the document
`images in the screen are automatically flipped up to the
`A variation of the basic principle will be described
`next marked page. The user can also indicate the page
`with reference to FIG, 1.
`For an image of an ordinary document, the periphery
`turning direction i.e. the forward or backward direc
`of the image is white in many cases. Consequently,
`40
`tion.
`when a black frame is applied to the profile of the image
`As the second function, it is possible to print only the
`marked page.
`of the document, the display image becomes further
`comprehensible. In this operation, in place of a display
`The third function enables to display a plurality of
`of the partial image 104 not overlapping with the first
`marked pages on the same screen.
`image, it may only be necessary to display a portion of
`Through implementation of these functions, the ob
`45
`ject described above ca be accomplished.
`the black frame not overlapped.
`Next, a description will be given of the principle and
`Furthermore, in the page turning operation in the
`operation of the display modes according to the present
`forward direction, in place of an operation to draw by
`use of the color of the background only an area of the
`invention.
`first image not overlapping with the area of the second
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a simulta
`50
`neous display of a plurality of pages of a document. A
`image, only a portion of the first black frame not over
`display content 711 is an example displaying four por
`lapping with the area of the second image may be
`tions of a document e.g. a patent specification. In this
`drawn by use of the background color.
`example, areas 721-724 respectively display "Claims", a
`The image 103 to be displayed may include, in addi
`tion, the image of a photo, a graphic image, an image
`portion of the text, a diagram, and "Brief Description of
`55
`representing a document generated by a word proces
`the Drawings". The partition of these four parts are a
`concrete example of the logical structure of a docu
`sor or the like by use of character codes.
`Still another object of the present invention is to
`ent,
`provide a method enabling the operator to instanta
`According to the system of the present invention,
`there is provided an independent page flipping function
`neously judge whether or not each document retrieved
`for each page in addition to the display configuration. A
`which consists of a plurality of pages is the desired
`display content 712 is a state obtained by turning the
`document. To this end, the document is required to be
`displad in a manner similar to that applied to the
`page of the area 722. The user can execute this function
`handling of a document written in paper. Particularly, a
`by indicating an area and a flipping direction. More
`browsing function is required to browse various loca
`over, as shown in the display content 713, there is also
`65
`provided a function to display an enlarged image of an
`tions of the document.
`arbitrary area and a function to restore the screen to the
`Moreover, still another object of the present inven
`tion is to provide a function to mark browsed pages for
`simultaneous display screen.
`
`-20-
`
`

`

`10
`
`30
`
`35
`
`20
`
`5,021,989
`6
`5
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display
`Incidentally, arrow marks 731 and 732 indicate transi
`diagram of the display mode (AX, Ay > 0) according to
`tions between display modes and correspond to the
`functions of the display system according to the present
`the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the display
`invention. Namely, the arrow marks 731 and 732 indi
`contents while the page images are loaded to the high
`cate the page flipping function for each area and the 5
`speed buffer memory;
`enlarged image display function.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting the display
`FIG. 8 is a diagram showing document images in a
`contents in a process to turn pages in the forward direc
`3-dimensional fashion for explaining the high-speed
`page flipping function which turns the image pages like
`tion;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram depicting the display
`the pages of a book. According to an indication from
`contents in a process to flip pages in the backward di
`the user, the display mode can be changed from the
`display 711 to the display 715. In the display mode 715,
`rection;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the display
`the document pages being displayed can be turned in
`mode when Ax = 0 and Ay>0;
`the forward or backward direction at a high speed ac
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display
`cording to an indication from the user. The display 716 15
`shows a screen obtained as a result of the page flipping
`mode when Ax)0 and Ay=0;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a structural
`operation in the forward direction. Furthermore, at an
`arbitrary point of time, a page image being displayed
`simultaneous display of a plurality of pages;
`FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram depicting a display in
`can be enlarged and displayed as shown in the display
`a 3-dimensional manner and a high-speed page flipping
`717.
`operation;
`Next, the mark function will be described with refer
`FIG, 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the
`ence to FIG. 9. A display content 941 is a display ob
`mark function;
`tained when the user issues a mark indication while all
`FIGS. 10-11 are diagrams schematically depicting
`pages are being displayed. A black rectangular mark
`the display contents to flip pages at a high speed;
`925 indicates that the pertinent page has been marked.
`25
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the overall con
`A display 942 shows a screen in which the mark is
`figuration of an embodiment of the present invention;
`assigned again after the page is turned in the forward
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a retrieval unit
`direction. As shown in this diagram, the mark can be
`configuration of an embodiment of the present inven
`assigned to the page currently being displayed. In a
`display 943, there is illustrated a display mode in which
`tion;
`FIG. 14 is a block diagram depicting the configura
`a desired position is marked as described above and the
`tion of an image processing unit of the embodiment
`pages are flipped in the backward direction until the
`according to the present invention;
`first page appears at the top of the pages. As described
`above, a plurality of marks can be assigned at arbitrary
`FIG. 15 is a processing flowchart of the embodiment
`positions.
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the structure
`Moreover, as shown in a display 944 of FIG. 9, the
`of a high-speed buffer management table of the embodi
`pages thus marked can be simultaneously displayed. In
`ment according to the present invention;
`this operation, N pages (N is 4 in the example in FIG.9)
`FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram depicting the memory
`beginning from the top of the marked page are dis
`layout of the high-speed memory of the embodiment
`played; furthermore, the N pages to be displayed may
`be shifted. For example, N pages of image may be simul
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the configu
`taneously displayed beginning from the second marked
`ration of a system of the embodiment according to the
`page, the third marked page, or M-th marked page.
`The system of the present invention supports a func
`present invention;
`tion to automatically turn pages so as to display a
`FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating the format
`45
`marked page. The user can instruct to automatically
`of a table storing the document retrieval information;
`FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram depicting the table
`turn pages in the forward or backward direction from
`the page currently displayed to the next marked page.
`format of data used to manage document images;
`FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the format of
`FIG, 10 is a diagram illustrating the intermediate
`a table for storing the page property;
`screens of an operation to turn pages in the forward
`FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display
`direction (from a smaller page number to a greater page
`mode table prescribing the display contents; and
`number). If the portion to be subjected to the page
`FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a set of spe
`flipping is limited only to an upper portion of each page
`(height = AH), a higher-speed flipping operation can be
`cial keys used to input instructions of the user.
`achieved. FIG. 11 shows an intermediate screen when
`55
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`the pages are turned in the backward direction (return
`EMBODIMENTS
`ing direction). For the operations of FIGS. 10-11, the
`A description will be given in detail of an embodi
`display contents when the flipping operation is com
`ment according to the present invention.
`pleted are as illustrated in the display 716 and the dis
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration
`play 715 of FIG. 8, respectively.
`of an embodiment of the image display system for ex
`A function to print only the marked pages is effected
`plaining the display apparatus of the present invention.
`by referencing the marked page information internally
`The system primarily includes a retrieval unit 300, a
`recorded,
`large storage unit 400, an image processing unit 500, and
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`a display control unit 600.
`Next, the configuration of each unit will be described
`The present invention will be apparent from the fol
`lowing detailed description taken in conunction with
`in detail. First, as shown in FIG. 13, the retrieval unit
`the accompanying drawings in which:
`300 comprises a control bus 310, a retrieval guide dis
`
`SO
`
`65
`
`-21-
`
`

`

`O
`
`15
`
`5,021,989
`8
`7
`memory 571 transfers to the buffer management men
`play screen 320, a keyboard 330, a terminal control unit
`ory 590 pairs of a first block address of image data in
`340, a central processing unit 350, a retrieval processing
`optical disk 812 and a number of blocks of image data as
`unit 360, an exterior control signal input device 370, an
`many as there are the pages of document retrieved. At
`exterior control signal input unit 380, and an image
`the same time, the 1st page image address 911 of FIG.
`processing unit adaptor 390.
`17 is set to the page flipping image address 811.
`Furthermore, the image processing unit 500 includes
`The initial image display will be described with refer
`as shown in FIG. 14 an image bus 510, an image com
`pression-expansion unit 520, an image processor mem
`ence to FIGS. 1, 14, 16, and 17. As shown in FIG. 14,
`like the generation and storage of data as components in
`ory 530, a frame data memory 531, a retrieval unit adap
`the image processor memory 530 according to the
`tor 540, a display mode selection unit 550, a display
`method of document browsing of the present invention,
`location control unit 551, a display unit adaptor 560, a
`the frames to be applied to a plurality of expanded im
`large storage adaptor 570, an image management mem
`ages are generated and stored in the frame data memory
`ory 571, a display frame memory 580, a buffer manage
`531 and are transferred to the high-speed buffer mem
`ment memory 590, a high-speed buffer memory 591, and
`ory. Next, to input a page of image as the initial image,
`a display image number memory 592.
`an instruction associated with data of the page 1, speci
`The overall processing flow will be described with
`fied by the page flipping image address 811, the first
`reference to FIG. 15. The overall processing flow in
`block address of image data in optical disk 812 and the
`cludes an expanded image load 710 to load information
`number of blocks of image data 813 of FIG. 16, is issued
`about a plurality of pages of a document retrieved from
`and is then sent from the buffer management memory
`the retrieval unit 300 to the image processing unit 500,
`20
`590 to the image compression-expansion unit 520. On
`an initial screen image display 720 to effect image pro
`receiving the instruction, the image compression-expan
`cessing and image display of the start point marker in
`sion unit 520 reads out the compressed image data via
`the initial screen, an exterior control signal input 730 to
`the large storage adaptor 570, effects an expansion pro
`achieve an input of information for controlling the page
`cessing on the image data so as to change the size
`flipping processing and the like, a forward page flipping
`25
`thereof to a quarter of the original image not com
`740 to turn document images in the forward or normal
`pressed, and transfers the image data to the high-speed
`direction, a backward page flipping 750 to turn docu
`buffer memory 591 in the order of data shown in FIG.
`ment images in the backward or reverse direction, a
`display image enlarge operation 760 to display enlarged
`17. Here, the size of the original image is assumed to be
`identical to that of the display screen 101. At the same
`document image and to flip the enlarged image, and an
`30
`time, the 2nd page image address 921 of FIG. 17 is
`expanded image load 770 to load a plurality of docu
`outputted to the 2nd page information 820 of FIG. 16 of
`ment images retrieved into the high-speed buffer mem
`the buffer management memory 590. And then, data
`ory 591. The forward page flipping 740, the backward
`containing 0's is transferred from the image processor
`page flipping, the display image enlarge operation 760,
`memory 530 via the display unit adaptor 560 so as to
`and the expanded image load 770 are designed to be
`35
`clear the image display apparatus. Next, the image of
`processed in parallel.
`the 1st page is selected by use of the display mode selec
`Next, these processing will be described in detail.
`tion unit 550 and the instruction is outputted to the
`The expanded image load 710 of FIG. 15 will be
`buffer management memory 590, the high-speed buffer
`described with reference to FIGS. 13, 14, 16, and 17.
`memory 591, and the display image number memory
`First, according to the content displayed in the retrieval
`592. The 1st page image from the high-speed buffer
`guide display screen 320 of FIG. 13, an image to be
`memory 591 is transferred to a position of the image
`retrieved is selected from the keyboard 330. In this
`display apparatus determined by the display location
`operation, a plurality of pages of images are retrieved in
`many cases. The specified retrieval condition is sent to
`control unit 551 based on the information from the
`display image number memory 592. At the same time,
`the retrieval processing unit 360 to search for the perti
`45
`the start point marker 102 is transferred from the image
`nent image number. The central processing unit 350
`processor memory 530 to the image display apparatus,
`delivers via the image processing unit adaptor 390 to the
`thereby displaying the initial image including the start
`image management memory 571 an instruction to ex
`tract the image having the pertinent image registration
`point marker and the 1st page image 103 of FIG. 1.
`Next, the exterior control signal input of FIG. 15 will
`50
`number.
`FIG. 16 shows the data layout in the buffer manage
`be described with reference to FIGS. 13-15. As shown
`in FIG. 13, this processing is executed to input informa
`ment memory 590. The buffer management memory
`tion controlling the page flipping processing, namely,
`590 includes information 810 for each page comprising
`a page flipping image address 811 indicating the first
`the control information items such as the speed, direc
`tion, and enlargement for the page flipping operation
`address of the image data in the high-speed buffer mem
`55
`are transmitted from the exterior control signal input
`ory 591, a first block address 812 of image data in opti
`device 370 to the display mode selection unit 550 via the
`cal disk indicating the first block of image data in the
`exterior control signal input unit 380, and the image
`optical disk, and a number of blocks of the image data
`processing unit adaptor 390. Based on the information,
`810 indicating the size of the image data; namely, this
`the display mode selection unit 550 achieves a process
`memory 590 contains the information items 810 as many
`ing selection for the forward page flipping 740, the
`as there exist image pages. Memory blocks 820 and 830
`backward page flipping 750, the display image enlarge
`are for the second page and the third page, respectively.
`ment 760, and the expanded image load 770 and speci
`FIG 17 shows the data layout in the high-speed
`fies the processing objective page.
`buffer memory 591. The buffer memory 591 is used to
`Next, a description will be given of the forward page
`st