Picture image filing apparatus

Claim 2

A picture image filing apparatus, comprising: means (2) for optically reading a picture on an original document (1) to convert the resulting image of the picture into an analog electrical signal; means (3) for converting said analog electrical signal into a digital signal; a first memory means (5) for storing said digital signal as picture image data; a keyboard means (4) for inputting a signal for designating a retrieval data region (12) in said picture on the original document (1) and for inputting retrieval data; a device (6) responsive to the signal which designates the retrieval data region (12) inputted from said keyboard means (4) for separating picture image data corresponding to the retrieval data region from the remainder of the picture image data; a pattern recognizing means (7) for performing a character/pattern recognisition process on said separated signal; a second memory means (8) for storing, as retrieval data, the recognized character/pattern data supplied thereto; means (10) for searching the storage contents of said second memory means (8) on the basis of retrieval data inputted through said keyboard means (4) to retrieve a desired picture image having the same stored retrieval data as the inputted retrieval data; and means (9) for reading out of said first memory means data of the desired picture image and for reproducing the picture image as a visual image.

Claim 3

A picture image filing apparatus, comprising: means (2) for optically reading a picture on an original document (1) to convert the resulting image of the picture into an analog electrical signal; means (3) for converting said analog electrical signal into a digital signal; a first memory means (5) for storing said digital signal as picture image data; means (6,7) for separating a first set of picture image data corresponding to a known specific region in said picture on the original document (1) and for performing a character/pattern recognition process on said first set of picture image data to thereby produce, as a data signal designating a retrieval data region of said picture on the original document, a character/pattern obtained as a result of said recognition process; a device (6) responsive to the data signal which designates the retrieval data region for separating a second set of picture image data corresponding to the designated retrieval data region in said picture on the original document; a pattern recognizing means (7) for performing a character/pattern recognition process on the second set of picture image data; a second memory means (8) for storing retrieval data corresponding to the character/pattern data recognized in said pattern recognizing means; a keyboard means (4); means (10) for searching the storage contents of said second memory means (18) on the basis of retrieval data inputted from said keyboard means (4) to retrieve a desired picture image having the same stored retrieval data as the inputted retrieval data; and means (9) for reading out of said first memory means the data of said desired picture image and for reproducing the desired picture image as a visual image.

Claim 4

A picture image filing apparatus, comprising: means (2) for optically reading a picture on an original document (1) to convert the resulting image of the picture into an analog electrical signal; means (3) for converting said analog electrical signal into a digital signal; a first memory means (5) for storing said digital signal as picture image data; means (6,7) for separating a first set of picture image data corresponding to a known specific region in said picture on the original document (1) and for performing a character/pattern recognition process on said first set of picture image data to thereby produce, as a data signal designating a retrieval data region of said picture on the original document, a character/pattern obtained as a result of said recognition process; a device (6) responsive to the data signal which designates the retrieval data region for separating a second set of picture image data corresponding to the designated retrieval data region in said picture on the original document; a pattern recognizing means (7) for performing a character/pattern recognition process on the second set of picture image data; a second memory means (8) for storing retrieval data corresponding to the character/pattern data recognized in said pattern recognizing means; a keyboard means (4); means (10) for searching the storage contents of said second memory means (18) on the basis of retrieval data inputted from said keyboard means (4) to retrieve a desired picture image having the same stored retrieval data as the inputted retrieval data; and means (9) for reading out of said first memory means the data of said desired picture image and for reproducing the desired picture image as a visual image.

Claim 5

A picture image filing apparatus comprising: reading means (2) for optically reading an original document (1) to generate image data representing an image on said document; storage means (5,8) for storing said image data together with retrieval data for use in later retrieving said image data from said storage means; selection means (4,6,7) for selecting, from said image data, at least one retrieval data signal representing said retrieval data and for providing said retrieval data to said storage means.

Claim 6

A picture image filing apparatus comprising: reading means (2) for optically reading an original document (1) to generate image data representing an image on said document; storage means (5,8) for storing said image data together with retrieval data for use in later retrieving said image data from said storage means; selection means (4,6,7) for selecting, from said image data, at least one retrieval data signal representing said retrieval data and for providing said retrieval data to said storage means.

Claim 7

A picture image filing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said selection means comprises: keyboard means (4) for entering a selection signal indicating a particular image area containing said at least one retrieval data signal; and means (6,7) responsive to said selection signal for selecting the image data corresponding to said particular imag area as said retrieval data.

Claim 8

A picture image filing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said selection means comprises recognition means (6,7) for recognizing said at leat one retrieval data signal and encoding said at least one retrieval data signal prior to storage.

Claim 9

A picture image filing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said selection means comprises: means (6,7) for detecting selection data among said image data; means (6,7) responsive to said selection data for generating a selection signal indicating a particular image area containing said retrieval data; and means (6,7) responsive to said selection signal for selecting said retrieval data signals from said image data.

Claim 10

A picture image filing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said storage means comprises an image memory (5) for storing said image data and a file management memory (8) for receiving and storing said retrieval data.