Image Layout Prioritization for User-Defined Object Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic layout processing methods for generating layout images do not consistently achieve high user satisfaction levels, as they lack the ability to effectively prioritize and arrange images based on user-defined preferences and object types.
Innovation Solution
A control method for an image processing apparatus that receives user inputs for setting values related to different object types, such as persons, animals, food, buildings, vehicles, and flowers, and selectively arranges image data in a template to prioritize images containing these objects, ensuring a higher rate of their inclusion in the output layout based on the combined setting values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic layout processing arranges images based on general evaluation values, then the processing can be performed automatically without user intervention, but the user satisfaction level is not sufficiently high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection parameters from general evaluation values to object-specific setting values. The image selection unit now selects images based on whether they contain objects matching user-specified settings (e.g., person, animal, food types), rather than using comprehensive evaluation scores. This parameter change allows automatic processing to continue while significantly improving user satisfaction by ensuring preferred objects are included in the layout.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system includes all types of objects in layout images, then the layout becomes diverse and comprehensive, but the user's preferred objects may not be prioritized sufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the image selection process have different functions. The image selection unit gives priority selection to images containing objects that match user-specified settings, while still allowing other images to be selected to maintain diversity. This creates a hierarchical selection mechanism where preferred objects are prioritized locally in the selection process, ensuring high inclusion rates for user-preferred objects while maintaining overall layout versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A control method for an image processing apparatus that generates a layout image by arranging an image in a template includes specifying, as a designated object, at least one object of a plurality of objects including a first object and a second object according to a combination of a plurality of setting values including a setting value regarding the first object and a setting value regarding the second object based on the received input, selecting image data from a plurality of pieces of image data, and outputting a layout image in which an image represented by the selected image data is arranged in a template, wherein image data representing an image that contains an object specified as the designated object is selected in preference to image data representing an image that does not contain an object specified as the designated object from the plurality of pieces of image data.