Storage device, control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a storage device for generating a format image from a plurality of image data stored in a storage unit.SOLUTION: A storage device includes a control unit and a storage unit. The control unit classifies a plurality of image data into at least one or more patterns, generates a format image of each of the at least one or more patterns, generates a plurality of difference images between each of the plurality of image data and a format image corresponding to each of the plurality of image data, and stores the format image of each of the at least one or more patterns and the plurality of difference images in the storage unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage device, a control method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a technique of successively specifying a reference image according to shooting conditions to create difference data, thereby reducing transmission data even when shooting conditions are different (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a function to directly save a scanned image to a storage such as a NAS (Network Attached Storage). However, since the capacity of the storage is limited, reduction of the file size is required. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of reducing the file size by transmitting only the difference from the reference image. However, it is necessary to select a reference image prepared in advance relying on tag information, and it has not been possible to cope with new patterns that are successively added according to the convenience of the user.

[0005] An aspect of the present invention aims to provide a storage device that generates a format image from a plurality of image data stored in a storage unit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A storage device according to an aspect of the present invention is a storage device including a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the control unit classifies a plurality of image data into at least one or more patterns, generates a format image for each of the at least one or more patterns, generates a plurality of difference images between each of the plurality of image data and the format image corresponding to each of the plurality of image data, and stores the format image for each of the at least one or more patterns and the plurality of difference images in the storage unit.

[0007] A control method according to an aspect of the present invention includes a process of classifying a plurality of image data into at least one or more patterns, generating a format image for each of the at least one or more patterns, generating a plurality of difference images between each of the plurality of image data and the format image corresponding to each of the plurality of image data, and storing the format image for each of the at least one or more patterns and the plurality of difference images in a storage unit.

[0008] A program according to an aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute a process of classifying a plurality of image data into at least one or more patterns, generating a format image for each of the at least one or more patterns, generating a plurality of difference images between each of the plurality of image data and the format image corresponding to each of the plurality of image data, and storing the format image for each of the at least one or more patterns and the plurality of difference images in a storage unit.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the storage device according to an aspect of the present invention, a format image can be generated from a plurality of image data stored in the storage unit. Thereby, even if new pattern image data is added, a format image of the image data can be generated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0012] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image storage system according to the first embodiment.

[0013] The image storage system 101 includes a scanner unit 111, a storage device 121, and a user interface (UI) unit 131. The scanner unit 111, the storage device 121, and the UI unit 131 are connected via a network and can communicate with each other.

[0014] The scanner unit 111 reads a document placed on the document table and generates image data. The scanner unit 111 transmits the image data to the storage device 121. The scanner unit 111 is, for example, a scanner or a multifunction device.

[0015] The storage device 121 includes a control unit 122, a storage unit 123, and a communication unit 124. The storage device 121 is, for example, a Network Attached Storage (NAS).

[0016] The control unit 122 controls the storage device 121. The control unit 122 performs processes such as analysis of image data, generation of a formatted image and a difference image, and storage and deletion of the formatted image and the difference image in the storage unit 123. The control unit 122 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a logic circuit (hardware) formed on an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip).

[0017] The storage unit 123 stores data and programs used in the storage device 121. The storage unit 123 stores, for example, image data generated by the scanner unit 111, a formatted image, and a difference image between the image data generated by the scanner unit 111 and the formatted image. Note that the formatted image will be described later. The storage unit 123 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0018] The communication unit 124 communicates with the scanner unit 111 and the UI unit 131. The communication unit 124 receives image data from the scanner unit 111. The communication unit 124 transmits the image data to the UI unit 131. Also, the communication unit 124 receives an operation instruction from the UI unit 131 to the storage device 121.

[0019] The UI unit 131 includes a display unit (not shown) that displays image data, an operation screen, etc., an input unit (not shown) that receives input from a user, and a communication unit (not shown) that communicates with the storage device 121. The UI unit 131 performs display of image data stored in the storage device 121, display of the operation screen of the storage device 121, and reception of an instruction from the user to the storage device 121. The UI unit 131 is, for example, a personal computer (PC), a tablet, or a smartphone, etc.

[0020] Here, the format image will be described. The format image is, for example, an image of a manuscript in an initial state before various information is entered in a manuscript in which the format (form), such as the writing position and content of a ledger or a slip, is predetermined. That is, the format image includes only, for example, the ruled lines printed in advance and the items of the written content included in a ledger or a slip, and does not include the various information entered by the user. In the first embodiment, as follows, a format image is estimated and generated from a plurality of image data in which various information has been entered.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of format image generation and image storage processing according to the first embodiment.

[0022] Here, it is assumed that a plurality of manuscripts have been read by the scanner unit 111 in advance, a plurality of image data have been generated, and the plurality of image data are stored in the storage unit 123 of the storage device 121. The format image generation process is executed, for example, at a preset time. Also, the format image generation process may be executed at an arbitrary timing according to a user's instruction.

[0023] In step S201, the control unit 122 analyzes a plurality of image data stored in the storage unit 123. The control unit 122 analyzes the plurality of image data by using, for example, layout analysis based on ruled lines or keyword extraction by OCR (Optical Character Recognition). Further, the control unit 122 may perform preprocessing (for example, correction of inclination, position, size, etc.) on the plurality of image data before the analysis, and perform various processes after step S201 using the preprocessed plurality of image data.

[0024] In step S202, the control unit 122 performs pattern classification from the analysis results of the plurality of image data, and classifies the plurality of image data into at least one or more patterns. For example, by layout analysis based on ruled lines, image data with common ruled line positions and shapes are classified into the same pattern. Also, for example, keywords are extracted from each of the plurality of image data by OCR, and image data having common keywords or the same type of keywords are classified into the same pattern.

[0025] In step S203, the control unit 122 estimates and generates a format image for each of the classified patterns.

[0026] In step S204, for each of the plurality of image data, the control unit 122 calculates the difference from the format image of the pattern to which it is classified, and generates a plurality of difference images. The control unit 122 adds information indicating the format image used for generating the difference image to the difference image. Alternatively, the control unit 122 stores information indicating the correspondence between the difference image and the format image used for generating the difference image in the storage unit 123. Thereby, the control unit 122 knows the format image to be used when restoring the original image data from the difference image. For example, when restoring the original image data from the difference image, the control unit 122 refers to the information indicating the format image used for generating the difference image or the information indicating the correspondence between the difference image and the format image used for generating the difference image, and adds the format image and the difference image to restore the original image data.

[0027] In step S205, the control unit 122 stores only the format images for each classified pattern generated in step S203 and the plurality of difference images generated in step S204 in the storage unit 123. Further, the control unit 122 deletes the plurality of image data used for generating the difference images. Note that one format image is stored for each pattern.

[0028] Here, a specific example of generating a format image will be described. In the following description, the calculation is simplified for easy understanding. Here, the generation of the format image of one pattern among the plurality of patterns will be described.

[0029] Figs. 3A to 7 are diagrams for explaining an example of generating a format image.

[0030] Figs. 3A to 3C are examples of image data. Here, the case of generating a format image from three pieces of image data 301 to 303 will be described. The image data 301 to 303 are binary images, where 1 indicates a white pixel and 0 indicates a black pixel. The image data 301 to 303 are stored in the storage unit 123 and are image data classified into the same pattern in step S202.

[0031] Hereinafter, an example of the process of estimating and generating the format image in step S203 described above will be described using the image data 301 to 303.

[0032] The control unit 122 calculates the average and standard deviation of each pixel among the image data 301 to 303. FIG. 4A shows an average image 401 indicating the average of the pixel values of each pixel among the image data 301 to 303. A standard deviation image 402 indicating the standard deviation of the pixel values of each pixel among the image data 301 to 303 is shown. The average and standard deviation are examples of statistical quantities.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the average image 501 after the selection process. The control unit 122 performs a selection process on the value of each pixel of the average image 401 based on the standard deviation image 402. Specifically, when the value (standard deviation) of the pixel of the corresponding standard deviation image 402 is low (for example, less than 0.5) for each pixel of the average image 401, the control unit 122 uses the value (average value) of the pixel of the average image 401 as the pixel value of the average image 501 after the selection process. When the value (standard deviation) of the pixel of the corresponding standard deviation image 402 is high (for example, 0.5 or more) for each pixel of the average image 401, the control unit 122 uses the average value of the surrounding pixels (for example, the average value of the pixel adjacent above and the pixel adjacent to the left) as the pixel value of the average image 501 after the selection process. Through the above process, the average image 501 after the selection process shown in FIG. 5 is generated from the average image 401 and the standard deviation image 402.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a binarized image 601 after the background processing. The control unit 122 performs background processing (binarization processing) on the average image 501 after the selection process. The control unit 122 rounds the value of each pixel of the average image 501 to generate the binarized image 601 shown in FIG. 6.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a format image 701. The control unit 122 generates a format image by deleting small dots from the binarized image 601. Specifically, at each pixel of the binarized image 601, when the value of the target pixel is different from the values of all the pixels above, below, left, and right (condition 1), and in the pixels of the image data 301 to 303 at the same position as the target pixel, if the above condition 1 is not satisfied, the value of the pixel adjacent (for example, the left adjacent pixel) to the target pixel is set as the value of the target pixel. When the pixels of the image data 301 to 303 at the same position as the target pixel are small dots, it does not correspond to the case where the above condition 1 is not satisfied in the pixels of the image data 301 to 303 at the same position as the target pixel. When the pixels of the image data 301 to 303 at the same position as the target pixel are part of a large object (for example, part of a character), it corresponds to the case where the above condition 1 is not satisfied in the pixels of the image data 301 to 303 at the same position as the target pixel. That is, the small dots in the binarized image 601 are not deleted when the pixels of the image data 301 to 303 corresponding to the small dots are small dots, and are deleted when they are part of a large object. Thereby, the format image 701 shown in FIG. 7 is generated.

[0036] Here, the generation of a format image of one pattern among a plurality of patterns has been described. However, in the first embodiment, the above-described processing is performed on the image data of each of the plurality of patterns, and format images of each of the plurality of patterns are generated.

[0037] Here, an example of generating a difference image will be described. FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing difference images. The difference image 801 in FIG. 8A is an image of the difference between the image data 3**1 and the format image 701. The difference image 802 in FIG. 8B is an image of the difference between the image data 302 and the format image 701. The difference image 803 in FIG. 8C is an image of the difference between the image data 303 and the format image 701. The control unit 122 calculates the difference between each of the image data 301 to 303 and the format image 701, and generates the difference images 801 to 803. As a result, the difference images 801 to 803 shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C are generated. In the difference images 801 to 803 in FIGS. 8A to 8C, pixels with a pixel value of 0 are shown in white, and pixels with a pixel value of -1 are shown in black.

[0038] In the above example of the estimation and generation process of the format image, the average and standard deviation of each pixel between the image data 301 to 303 are used as statistical quantities. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the median, mode, variance, sum of squares, range, or kurtosis of each pixel between the image data 301 to 303 may be used as statistical quantities to estimate and generate the format image.

[0039] Next, the storage process of the image data of the manuscript newly scanned after generating the format image will be described.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the image storage process after generating the format image according to the first embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the generation of the format image and the image storage process described in FIG. 2 have already been performed, and a plurality of format images are stored in the storage unit 123.

[0041] First, the scanner unit 111 reads the manuscript, generates image data, and transmits it to the storage device 121.

[0042] In step S901, the communication unit 124 receives the image data, and the control unit 122 analyzes the received image data. The control unit 122 analyzes the image data using, for example, layout analysis by grid lines or keyword extraction by OCR in the same manner as in step S201.

[0043] In step S902, the control unit 122 performs pattern classification of the received image data based on the analysis result of the image data.

[0044] In step S903, the control unit 122 determines whether the pattern of the classified image data corresponds to any of the plurality of patterns corresponding to the plurality of format images stored in the storage unit 123. If it is determined that the pattern of the classified image data corresponds to any of the plurality of patterns corresponding to the plurality of format images stored in the storage unit 123, the control proceeds to step S904. If it is determined that the pattern of the classified image data does not correspond to any of the plurality of patterns corresponding to the plurality of format images stored in the storage unit 123 (if the format image of the received image data is not stored in the storage unit 123), the control proceeds to step S906.

[0045] In step S904, the control unit 122 calculates the difference between the received image data and the format image corresponding to the pattern of the classified image data, and generates a difference image. The control unit 122 adds information indicating the format image used for generating the difference image to the difference image. Alternatively, the control unit 122 stores information indicating the correspondence between the difference image and the format image used for generating the difference image in the storage unit 123. Thereby, the control unit 122 knows the format image to be used when restoring the original image data from the difference image.

[0046] In step S905, the control unit 122 stores only the difference image in the storage unit 123. The control unit 122 also deletes the received image data.

[0047] In step S906, the control unit 122 stores the image data received in step S901 in the storage unit 123.

[0048] According to the memory device according to the first embodiment, since a format image can be generated from a plurality of image data stored in the memory unit, it is possible to handle even image data of a new pattern added for the convenience of the user.

[0049] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the format image was stored in the user's memory device, but as described in the second embodiment, it may be stored in the memory device on the side of the business operator who sells or leases the multifunction device to the user. Also, the format image may be shared among multiple users.

[0050] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an image storage system according to the second embodiment.

[0051] The image storage system 1001 includes user-side systems 1101-i (i = 1 to 2) and a business operator-side system 1201. The user-side systems 1101-i and the business operator-side system 1201 are connected via a network and can communicate with each other.

[0052] The user-side system 1101-i includes a scanner unit 111-i, a memory device 121-i, and a UI unit 131-i. The scanner unit 111-i, the memory device 121-i, and the UI unit 131-i are connected via a network and can communicate with each other. Since the scanner unit 111-i, the memory device 121-i, and the UI unit 131-i have the same functions as the scanner unit 111, the memory device 121, and the UI unit 131 in the first embodiment, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0053] The business operator-side system 1201 includes a memory device 221. The memory device 221 includes a control unit 222, a memory unit 223, and a communication unit 224. The memory device 221 is, for example, a NAS.

[0054] The control unit 222 controls the storage device 221. The control unit 222 performs processes such as saving and deleting format images and the like in the storage unit 223. The control unit 222 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU or a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip).

[0055] The storage unit 223 stores data, programs, etc. used in the storage device 221. The storage unit 223 stores, for example, format images, etc. The storage unit 223 is, for example, an HDD or an SSD.

[0056] The communication unit 224 communicates with the user-side system 1101-i. The communication unit 224 receives a formatted image from the user-side system 1101-i. The communication unit 224 transmits the formatted image to the user-side system 1101-i.

[0057] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the format image transition process according to the second embodiment.

[0058] 2 has already been performed in the user-side system 1101-i, and a plurality of format images and a plurality of difference images have been stored in the storage unit 123-i. Also, it is assumed that the user-side system 1101-1 is used by user A, and the user-side system 1101-2 is used by user B.

[0059] An example of the format image transition process according to the second embodiment will be described below.

[0060] User A of user system 1101-1 starts the process of transferring format images stored in memory unit 123-1 to memory unit 223 of provider system 1201 at any time in order to increase the free space in memory unit 123-1.

[0061] The UI unit 131-1 requests the formatting image from the storage device 121-1. The control unit 122-1 transmits the formatting image stored in the storage unit 123-1 to the UI unit 131-1 via the communication unit 124-1. Incidentally, a plurality of formatting images are stored in the storage unit 123-1, and it is assumed that the UI unit 131-1 has received a plurality of formatting images.

[0062] The UI unit 131-1 displays the received plurality of formatting images and allows the user to select one of "permit", "edit", and "prohibit" for each of the plurality of formatting images. At this time, the UI unit 131-1 proposes "prohibit" for a formatting image including a phrase or proper noun preset by the user. The selection result of the user for each of the plurality of formatting images is transmitted to the storage device 121-1.

[0063] When the user selects "permit" for a certain formatting image, the control unit 122-1 transmits the said formatting image to the storage device 221 via the communication unit 124-1. The control unit 122-1 deletes the said formatting image from the storage unit 123-1. The control unit 222 stores the received formatting image in the storage unit 223.

[0064] When the user selects "Edit" for a certain format image, the UI unit 131-1 displays an edit screen for the format image. The user edits the format image, and after the editing is completed, the control unit 122-1 stores edit information indicating the editing content for the format image in the storage unit 123-1, and transmits the edited format image to the storage device 221 via the communication unit 124-1. The control unit 122-1 deletes the format image from the storage unit 123-1. The control unit 222 stores the received format image in the storage unit 223. Only by referring to the edit information by the control unit 122-1, it is possible to return the edited format image to the format image before editing. For example, when the format image contains highly confidential information and it is not desired to send the information outside the user-side system 1101-1 due to security issues, security can be ensured by editing the format image to delete the highly confidential information.

[0065] When the user selects "Prohibit" for a certain format image, the control unit 122-1 does not transmit the format image to the storage device 221 and keeps it stored in the storage unit 123-1.

[0066] Here, it is assumed that format image a, format image b, and format image c are transmitted from the storage device 121-1 to the storage device 221 and stored in the storage unit 223.

[0067] Next, the user B of the user-side system 1101-2 starts the transfer operation of the format image stored in the storage unit 123-2 to the storage unit 223 of the business operator-side system 1201 at an arbitrary timing for the purpose of increasing the free capacity of the storage unit 123-2.

[0068] The processing of the transfer operation of the user-side system 1101-2 is the same as the processing of the above-mentioned user-side system 1101-1.

[0069] Here, it is assumed that the format image b and the format image d are transmitted from the storage device 121-2 to the storage device 221 and stored in the storage unit 223.

[0070] The control unit 222 of the storage device 221 detects duplicate format images among the plurality of format images transferred from the user-side systems 1101-i stored in the storage unit 223, and deletes the duplicate format images. For example, in FIG. 11, since the format image b overlaps in the storage unit 223, the control unit 222 deletes one of the two format images b. As a result, the capacity of the data stored in the storage unit 223 can be reduced, and the free capacity can be increased.

[0071] According to the image storage system according to the second embodiment, by transferring the format image from the storage device of the user-side system to the storage device of the business operator-side system, the free capacity of the storage device of the user-side system can be increased. Further, according to the image storage system according to the second embodiment, by deleting the overlapping format images in the storage device of the business operator-side system, the free capacity of the storage device of the business operator-side system can be increased.

[0072] (Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment, when the format image of the scanned image data is not stored in the storage unit, the format image of the scanned image data is acquired from the business operator-side system.

[0073] The image storage system according to the third embodiment is the same as the image storage system 1001 according to the second embodiment.

[0074] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the acquisition process of the format image according to the third embodiment.

[0075] Here, similar to the example of the transfer process of the format image according to the above-described second embodiment, User A of the user-side system 1101-1 starts the transfer work of the format image stored in the storage unit 123-1 to the storage unit 223 of the operator-side system 1201, and the format image a, format image b, and format image c are transmitted from the storage device 121-1 to the storage device 221 and stored in the storage unit 223.

[0076] The storage device 121-2 of the user-side system 1101-2 performs the format image generation and image storage processes of FIG. 2. Further, the storage device 121-2 performs the image storage process after the format image generation of FIG. 9. However, in the third embodiment, when it is determined that the pattern of the classified image data (image data of the newly scanned document) does not correspond to any of the plurality of patterns corresponding to the plurality of format images stored in the storage unit 123-2 (step S903: No), the following process is performed as the process of S906.

[0077] The control unit 122-2 transmits the ruled line coordinate information of the image data of the newly scanned document to the storage device 221 via the communication unit 124-2. The ruled line coordinate information is, for example, coordinate information indicating the positions of the corners and intersections of the ruled lines in the image data. The ruled line coordinate information is calculated, for example, during the analysis of the image data in step S901.

[0078] The control unit 222 of the storage device 221 detects a format image that matches the ruled line coordinate information received from the format images a to c stored in the storage unit 223. Here, the format image that matches the ruled line coordinate information is called a format image candidate. The control unit 222 transmits the format image candidate to the storage device 121-1 via the communication unit 224.

[0079] For the format image candidates, the control unit 122-2 identifies a format image corresponding to the image data of the newly scanned document among the received format image candidates, and stores the identified format image in the storage unit 123-2. The control unit 122-2 calculates the difference between the image data and the identified format image to generate a difference image, and stores only the difference image in the storage unit 123-2. Further, the control unit 122-2 deletes the image data.

[0080] According to the image storage system according to the third embodiment, when the format image of the image data of the newly scanned document is not stored in the storage device of the user-side system, the format image can be acquired from the business operator-side system. Thereby, the difference image can be stored, and the usage capacity of the storage device can be saved.

[0081] (Example of software implementation) The control blocks of the memory devices 121, 121-i, and 221 (particularly the control units 122, 122-i, and 222) can be implemented by a logic circuit (hardware) formed on an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip) or the like, or may also be implemented by software using a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). In the latter case, for example, the memory devices 121, 121-i, and 221 which are computers include a CPU that executes instructions of a program which is software for realizing each function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a memory device (collectively referred to as a "recording medium") in which the above program and various data are recordable in a readable manner by the computer (or the CPU), a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the above program, and the like. Then, when the computer (or the CPU) reads and executes the above program from the above recording medium, it operates as the control units 122, 122-i, and 222, and the object of the present invention is achieved. As the above recording medium, a "non-transitory tangible medium" such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. Further, the above program may be supplied to the above computer via any transmission medium capable of transmission.

[0082] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified, and the above configuration can be replaced with a configuration that is substantially the same, a configuration that exhibits the same operational effects, or a configuration that can achieve the same object.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0083] 101, 1001 Image storage system 111 Scanner unit 121 Memory device 131 UI unit 1101-1, 1101-2 User-side system 1201 Business operator-side system 221 Memory device 222 Control unit 223 Storage unit 224 Communication Department

Claims

1. A storage device comprising a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the control unit classifies a plurality of image data into at least one or more patterns, generates a format image for each of the at least one or more patterns, generates a plurality of difference images between each of the plurality of image data and the format images corresponding to each of the plurality of image data, and stores the format images for each of the at least one or more patterns and the plurality of difference images in the storage unit.

2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit classifies the plurality of images into the at least one or more patterns based on layout analysis by grid lines included in each of the plurality of image data or keyword extraction by optical character recognition for each of the plurality of image data.

3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit generates a format image for each of the at least one or more patterns using the statistic of each pixel between the plurality of image data.

4. The storage device further comprises a communication unit, wherein the communication unit transmits the format image to another storage device, and the control unit deletes the format image from the storage unit.

5. The storage device further comprises a communication unit, wherein the control unit classifies other image data by pattern, determines whether a format image of the pattern of the other image data is stored in the storage unit, and the communication unit transmits grid line coordinate information indicating the coordinates of grid lines included in the other image data to another storage device when it is determined that a format image of the pattern of the other image data is not stored in the storage unit, and receives a format image conforming to the grid line coordinate information from the other storage device.

6. A control method comprising the steps of: classifying a plurality of image data into at least one or more patterns, generating a format image for each of the at least one or more patterns, generating a plurality of difference images between each of the plurality of image data and the format images corresponding to each of the plurality of image data, and storing the format images for each of the at least one or more patterns and the plurality of difference images in a storage unit.

7. Causing a computer to classify a plurality of image data into at least one or more patterns, ​ Generate a format image for each of the at least one or more patterns, Generate a plurality of difference images between each of the plurality of image data and the format image corresponding to each of the plurality of image data, Store the format image for each of the at least one or more patterns and the plurality of difference images in a storage unit, A program that causes the processing to be executed.

Images