Apparatus, method, and program for selecting images in a photo album

Claim 2

An image editing apparatus comprising: display means for carrying out various kinds of display; image display control means for displaying a catalog of images on the display means; template display control means for displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with condition specification information to a header of the template data, the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; selection reception means for receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; image sifting means for sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and image selection means for receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 3

An image editing apparatus comprising: display means for carrying out various kinds of display; image display control means for displaying a catalog of images on the display means; template display control means for displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with a plurality of sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the plurality of the sets of the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; selection reception means for receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; image sifting means for sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with at least one of the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to a set or sets of condition specification information among the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and image selection means for receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 4

An image editing apparatus comprising: display means for carrying out various kinds of display; image display control means for displaying a catalog of images on the display means; template display control means for displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with a plurality of sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the plurality of the sets of the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; selection reception means for receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; image sifting means for sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with at least one of the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to a set or sets of condition specification information among the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and image selection means for receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 5

An image editing apparatus comprising: display means for carrying out various kinds of display; image display control means for displaying a catalog of images on the display means; template display control means for displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having image insertion areas and added with sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the sets of condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in each of images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas or an image quality of the each of the images, the template also added with correspondence information representing correspondence between the sets of condition specification information of the respective image insertion areas for causing the images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas with relevance to each other; selection reception means for receiving selection of any one of the image insertion areas in the template displayed on the display means; image sifting means for sifting first appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a first set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for a predetermined one of the image insertion areas with reference to the first set of condition specification information for the predetermined image insertion area in the case where the predetermined image insertion area has been selected, and for sifting, in the case where another one of the image insertion areas is selected after selection of an image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area, second appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a second set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for the other selected image insertion area according to the correspondence information which refers to the second set of condition specification information for the other selected image insertion area corresponding to the first set of condition specification information for the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area; and image selection means for receiving selection of images, among the first appropriate images and the second appropriate images, to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas.

Claim 6

An image editing apparatus comprising: display means for carrying out various kinds of display; image display control means for displaying a catalog of images on the display means; template display control means for displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having image insertion areas and added with sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the sets of condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in each of images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas or an image quality of the each of the images, the template also added with correspondence information representing correspondence between the sets of condition specification information of the respective image insertion areas for causing the images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas with relevance to each other; selection reception means for receiving selection of any one of the image insertion areas in the template displayed on the display means; image sifting means for sifting first appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a first set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for a predetermined one of the image insertion areas with reference to the first set of condition specification information for the predetermined image insertion area in the case where the predetermined image insertion area has been selected, and for sifting, in the case where another one of the image insertion areas is selected after selection of an image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area, second appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a second set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for the other selected image insertion area according to the correspondence information which refers to the second set of condition specification information for the other selected image insertion area corresponding to the first set of condition specification information for the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area; and image selection means for receiving selection of images, among the first appropriate images and the second appropriate images, to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas.

Claim 7

An image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with condition specification information to a header of the template data, the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insert ion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 8

An image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with condition specification information to a header of the template data, the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insert ion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 9

An image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with a plurality of sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the plurality of the sets of the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with at least one of the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to a set or sets of condition specification information among the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 10

An image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with a plurality of sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the plurality of the sets of the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with at least one of the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to a set or sets of condition specification information among the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 11

An image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having image insertion areas and added with sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the sets of condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in each of images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas or an image quality of the each of the images, the template also added with correspondence information representing correspondence between the sets of condition specification information of the respective image insertion areas for causing the images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas with relevance to each other; receiving selection of any one of the image insertion areas in the template displayed on the display means; sifting first appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a first set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for a predetermined one of the image insertion areas with reference to the first set of condition specification information for the predetermined image insertion area in the case where the predetermined image insertion area has been selected, and for sifting, in the case where another one of the image insertion areas is selected after selection of an image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area, second appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a second set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for the other selected image insertion area according to the correspondence information which refers to the second set of condition specification information for the other selected image insertion area corresponding to the first set of condition specification information for the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area; and receiving selection of images, among the first appropriate images and the second appropriate images, to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas.

Claim 12

An image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having image insertion areas and added with sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the sets of condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in each of images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas or an image quality of the each of the images, the template also added with correspondence information representing correspondence between the sets of condition specification information of the respective image insertion areas for causing the images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas with relevance to each other; receiving selection of any one of the image insertion areas in the template displayed on the display means; sifting first appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a first set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for a predetermined one of the image insertion areas with reference to the first set of condition specification information for the predetermined image insertion area in the case where the predetermined image insertion area has been selected, and for sifting, in the case where another one of the image insertion areas is selected after selection of an image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area, second appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a second set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for the other selected image insertion area according to the correspondence information which refers to the second set of condition specification information for the other selected image insertion area corresponding to the first set of condition specification information for the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area; and receiving selection of images, among the first appropriate images and the second appropriate images, to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas.

Claim 13

A computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with condition specification information to a header of the template data, the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 14

A computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with condition specification information to a header of the template data, the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to the condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 15

A computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with a plurality of sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the plurality of the sets of the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with at least one of the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to a set or sets of condition specification information among the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 16

A computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having at least one image insertion area and added with a plurality of sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the plurality of the sets of the condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in a given image that is appropriate for insertion in the at least one image insertion area, an image quality of the given image, or a state of the given image to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area; receiving selection of the at least one image insertion area in the template displayed on the display means; sifting appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with at least one of the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area, with reference to a set or sets of condition specification information among the plurality of sets of condition specification information for the selected at least one image insertion area; and receiving selection of an image, among the appropriate images, to be inserted in the selected image insertion area.

Claim 17

A computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having image insertion areas and added with sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the sets of condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in each of images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas or an image quality of the each of the images, the template also added with correspondence information representing correspondence between the sets of condition specification information of the respective image insertion areas for causing the images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas with relevance to each other; receiving selection of any one of the image insertion areas in the template displayed on the display means; sifting first appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a first set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for a predetermined one of the image insertion areas with reference to the first set of condition specification information for the predetermined image insertion area in the case where the predetermined image insertion area has been selected, and for sifting, in the case where another one of the image insertion areas is selected after selection of an image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area, second appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a second set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for the other selected image insertion area according to the correspondence information which refers to the second set of condition specification information for the other selected image insertion area corresponding to the first set of condition specification information for the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area; and receiving selection of images, among the first appropriate images and the second appropriate images, to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas.

Claim 18

A computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image editing method comprising the steps of: displaying a catalog of images on display means; displaying a template, which is represented by template data, used as photo album paper on the display means together with the catalog, the template having image insertion areas and added with sets of condition specification information to a header of the template data, the sets of condition specification information comprising conditions for determining a state of a subject in each of images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas or an image quality of the each of the images, the template also added with correspondence information representing correspondence between the sets of condition specification information of the respective image insertion areas for causing the images to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas with relevance to each other; receiving selection of any one of the image insertion areas in the template displayed on the display means; sifting first appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a first set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for a predetermined one of the image insertion areas with reference to the first set of condition specification information for the predetermined image insertion area in the case where the predetermined image insertion area has been selected, and for sifting, in the case where another one of the image insertion areas is selected after selection of an image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area, second appropriate images, from the catalog of images, agreeing with a second set of condition specification information, among the sets of condition specification information, for the other selected image insertion area according to the correspondence information which refers to the second set of condition specification information for the other selected image insertion area corresponding to the first set of condition specification information for the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area; and receiving selection of images, among the first appropriate images and the second appropriate images, to be inserted respectively in the image insertion areas.

Claim 19

The image editing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein only one condition is specified in the condition specification information associated with the at least one image insertion area.

Claim 20

The image editing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the only one condition is an image having a predetermined number of people.

Claim 21

The image editing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the only one condition specifies a state of only part of an image, and if only the part of the image satisfies the only condition, the image is part of the appropriate images sifted by the image sifting means.

Claim 22

The image editing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the condition specification information of the at least one image insertion area is independent of condition specification information of another image insertion area on the template.

Claim 23

The image editing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image display control means displays thumbnails of the images in the catalog together with the template.

Claim 24

The image editing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sets of condition specification information of the at least one image insertion area are independent of a plurality of sets of condition specification information of another image insertion area on the template.

Claim 25

The image editing apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the condition of the image or each of the images to be inserted in the at least one image insertion area specified by the plurality of sets of condition specification information comprises an image not having a predetermined number of people, a condition of only part of an image, an image of people having closed eyes, an image with a specific background, an image of a person holding a specific object, and an image satisfying a criterion regarding graininess of skin color of a person in the image.

Claim 26

The image editing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein at least one set, among the sets of condition specification information, comprises an image having a predetermined number of people, and an image of people not having red eyes.

Claim 27

The image editing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein at least one set, among the sets of condition specification information, comprises an image of a person facing a particular side, and an image of a person wearing a specific type or color of clothing.

Claim 28

The image editing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the template comprises a left page and a right page, the left page comprising the predetermined image insertion area and the right page comprising the another image insertion area selected after selection of the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area, and if the first set of condition specification information of the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area comprises an image of a first person facing a right side, then the correspondence information indicates to the image sifting means to select the second appropriate images for the another image insertion area whose second set of condition specification information comprises an image of a second person facing a left side.

Claim 29

The image editing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the template comprises the predetermined image insertion area and the another image insertion area selected after selection of the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area on one page, and the second set of condition specification information of the another image insertion area comprises an image of a first person wearing a first type of clothing, and an image of the first person wearing a second type of clothing which is different from the first type of clothing, and if the first set of condition specification information of the image to be inserted in the predetermined image insertion area comprises an image of the first person wearing the first type of clothing, then the correspondence information indicates to the image sifting means to select the second appropriate images for the another image insertion area whose second set of condition specification information consists of an image of the first person wearing the first type of clothing.