IP Library Granted Patent US 7,864,198
Granted Patent B2
US 7,864,198 · App. 11/498,983 · Granted Jan 4, 2011

Image processing method, image processing device and mobile communication terminal

Assignee: Vodafone Group Plc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,864,198
App. No.
11/498,983
Granted
Jan 4, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A noted image information extraction section 31 specifies a region of a noted image in an original image, and noted image information containing information relating to position and size of the noted image WMM region within the original image is extracted. Continuing on, mask image formation means 31 forms a mask image by displaying superimposed on the original image, based on noted image information and mask image information registered in a mask image information file. As a result, a mask image comprised of element images selected using element image selection information contained in mask image information is formed at a specified position and specified size in the noted image region of the original image. A composite image having the mask image superimposed on the original image is then formed by composite image formation means 33 . As a result, an image that a user has rendered in an original image is simply and appropriately formed, regardless of whether it is a still image or a moving picture.

Claims (50)

1. An image processing method, comprising:

providing a computer programmed to perform processing of an image displayed on an imaging screen, the processing comprising the steps of:

specifying a noted image region, containing a noted image, in an original image, and extracting noted image information containing information relating to position and size of the noted image within the original image;

forming a mask image to be displayed superimposed on the noted image, based on a mask image information file containing the noted image information, at least one relationship information representing a relationship to position and size of the noted image region, element image selection information representing selection of information of specified element images respectively corresponding to the relationship information, respective execution time information for graphic display determined by combining the relationship information and element image information corresponding to the relationship information, and at least one element image information selected using the element image selection information;

wherein the mask image information file further comprises background image selection information showing information of a specified background image, and

cutting a specified display image containing the noted image from the original image,

forming a composite image having the specified display image superimposed on the specified background image at the same position and size as for the original image, and

having the mask image superimposed on the noted image in the display image at the same location and same size as for the original image.

2. The image processing method according to claim 1 , comprising providing a cellular phone, and wherein the method is carried out by the cellular phone.

3. An image processing method, comprising:

providing a computer programmed to perform processing of an image displayed on an imaging screen, the processing comprising the steps of:

specifying a noted image region, containing a noted image, in an original image, and extracting noted image information containing information relating to position and size of the noted image within the original image;

forming a mask image to be displayed superimposed on the noted image, based on a mask image information file containing the noted image information, at least one relationship information representing a relationship to position and size of the noted image region, element image selection information representing selection of information of specified element images respectively corresponding to the relationship information, respective execution time information for graphic display determined by combining the relationship information and element image information corresponding to the relationship information, and at least one element image information selected using the element image selection information; and

having the mask image superimposed on the noted image in the display image at the same location and same size as for the original image;

wherein the relationship information comprises proportion information for size of the noted image region and size for display time of a specified graphic.

4. The image processing method according to claim 3 , comprising providing a cellular phone, and wherein the method is carried out by the cellular phone.

5. An image processing method, comprising:

providing a computer programmed to perform processing of an image displayed on an imaging screen, the processing comprising the steps of:

specifying a noted image region, containing a noted image, in an original image, and extracting noted image information containing information relating to position and size of the noted image within the original image;

forming a mask image to be displayed superimposed on the noted image, based on a mask image information file containing the noted image information, at least one relationship information representing a relationship to position and size of the noted image region, element image selection information representing selection of information of specified element images respectively corresponding to the relationship information, respective execution time information for graphic display determined by combining the relationship information and element image information corresponding to the relationship information, and at least one element image information selected using the element image selection information; and

having the mask image superimposed on the noted image in the display image at the same location and same size as for the original image;

wherein the mask image information further comprises information for display of a plurality of types of graphic display in time sequence, fixed by combining the relationship information and element image selection information corresponding to the relationship information, and for time sequence display designation for designating repeat of time sequence display.

6. The image processing method according to claim 5 , comprising providing a cellular phone, and wherein the method is carried out by the cellular phone.

7. An image processing method, comprising:

providing a computer programmed to perform processing of an image displayed on an imaging screen, the processing comprising the steps of:

specifying a noted image region, containing a noted image, in an original image, and extracting noted image information containing information relating to position and size of the noted image within the original image;

forming a mask image to be displayed superimposed on the noted image, based on a mask image information file containing the noted image information, at least one relationship information representing a relationship to position and size of the noted image region, element image selection information representing selection of information of specified element images respectively corresponding to the relationship information, respective execution time information for graphic display determined by combining the relationship information and element image information corresponding to the relationship information, and at least one element image information selected using the element image selection information; and

having the mask image superimposed on the noted image in the display image at the same location and same size as for the original image;

wherein the mask image information further comprises simultaneous display designation information for designating display of a plurality of types of graphic display at the same time, fixed by combining the relationship information and element image selection information corresponding to the relationship information.

8. The image processing method according to claim 7 , comprising providing a cellular phone, and wherein the method is carried out by the cellular phone.

9. An image processing method, comprising:

providing a computer programmed to perform processing of an image displayed on an imaging screen, the processing comprising the steps of:

specifying a noted image region, containing a noted image, in an original image, and extracting noted image information containing information relating to position and size of the noted image within the original image;

forming a mask image to be displayed superimposed on the noted image, based on a mask image information file containing the noted image information, at least one relationship information representing a relationship to position and size of the noted image region, element image selection information representing selection of information of specified element images respectively corresponding to the relationship information, respective execution time information for graphic display determined by combining the relationship information and element image information corresponding to the relationship information, and at least one element image information selected using the element image selection information; and

having the mask image superimposed on the noted image in the display image at the same location and same size as for the original image;

wherein the original image is a moving image.

10. The image processing method according to claim 9 , comprising providing a cellular phone, and wherein the method is carried out by the cellular phone.

11. An image processing method, comprising:

providing a computer programmed to perform processing of an image displayed on an imaging screen, the processing comprising the steps of:

specifying a noted image region, containing a noted image, in an original image, and extracting noted image information containing information relating to position and size of the noted image within the original image;

forming a mask image to be displayed superimposed on the noted image, based on a mask image information file containing the noted image information, at least one relationship information representing a relationship to position and size of the noted image region, element image selection information representing selection of information of specified element images respectively corresponding to the relationship information, respective execution time information for graphic display determined by combining the relationship information and element image information corresponding to the relationship information, and at least one element image information selected using the element image selection information; and

having the mask image superimposed on the noted image in the display image at the same location and same size as for the original image;

further comprising a step of determining whether or not a predetermined phenomenon has occurred in the noted image region based on the noted image information, and wherein

the mask image formation commences after positive determination in the specified phenomenon occurrence determination step.

12. The image processing method according to claim 11 , comprising providing a cellular phone, and wherein the method is carried out by the cellular phone.

13. A mobile communication terminal provided with an image processing device for carrying out processing of an image displayed on an imaging screen, comprising:

noted image information extracting means for specifying an noted image region, being a region for an image to be focused on, in an original image, and extracting noted image information relating to position and size of the noted image region within the original image;

storage means for storing a mask image information file registering mask image information comprising at least one relationship information representing a relationship to position and size of the noted image region, element image selection information representing selection of information for a specified element image respectively corresponding to the relationship information, respective execution time information for graphic display determined by combining the relationship information and element image information corresponding to the relationship information, and at least one element image information selected using the element image selection information;

mask image formation means for forming a mask image displayed superimposed on the original image, based on the noted image information and the mask image information; and

composite image formation means for forming a composite image having the mask image superimposed on a noted image containing image that includes the noted image inside the noted image region at the same location and same size as for the original image.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2008
From: SOFTBANK MOBILE CORP.
To: VODAFONE GROUP PLC
Reel/Frame 020409/0037 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2008
From: VODAFONE K.K.
To: SOFTBANK MOBILE CORP.
Reel/Frame 020401/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: MOROTO, MINEKO; SHIBATA, AKIHO; KATAYAMA, TAKASHI; ASAKURA, JUNKO; NAGAI, YUSAKU
To: VODAFONE K.K.
Reel/Frame 018373/0315 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2004-029943 · Feb 5, 2004 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP200500175300 · Feb 7, 2005
Related Publication 20070183679A1 · Aug 9, 2007