Image data processing method and apparatus, and image processing system

An image-data processing method for reading image data out of a memory and processing the image data, wherein the memory stores the image data representing an image composed of a plurality of tile images and reading out the image data in tile image units, comprising:

• a storage step of storing sequence information specifying the tile images to be displayed and indicating a display sequence of specified tile images in association with an image, regardless of a display order of the tile images of the image;
• a read-out step of successively reading out each of the specified tile images based upon the sequence information upon displaying the image;
• and
• a control step of controlling to display each specified tile image read out at said read-out step, in accordance with the display sequence.

An image processing system which includes a client and a server connected via a communication line, wherein said server includes:

• first storage means for storing image data representing an image constituted by a plurality of tile images into which the image is segmented and reading out the image data in tile image units;
• second storage means for storing, in association with the image, sequence information specifying the tile images to be displayed and indicating a display sequence of specified tile images regardless of a display order of the tile images of the image;
• read-out means for successively reading each of the specified tile images of the image out of said first storage means based upon the sequence information stored in said second storage means, upon displaying the image;
• first transmitting means, responsive to issuance of a request for an image from a client, for obtaining the sequence information related to the image from said second storage means and transmitting the sequence information to the client that issued the request for the image;
• and
• second transmitting means, responsive to a request for an image from a client, for reading the specified tile images of the image out of said first storage means and transmitting the specified tile images to the client that issued the request for the image, in accordance with the display sequence;
• and
• said client includes:
• first issuing means for issuing the request for an image to the server;
• second issuing means for issuing the request for the image to the server so that the specified tile images of the image are acquired in accordance with the display sequence based upon the sequence information transmitted by said first transmitting means;
• and
• display control means for controlling to successively display the specified tile images transmitted by said second transmitting means of the server, in accordance with the display sequence.

An image data processing method for displaying an image that has been divided into a plurality of tile images, comprising:

• a specifying step of specifying tile images of the image to be displayed;
• an input step of inputting image data of each of the tile images specified in said specifying step, in accordance with a predetermined display sequence of the specified tile images, regardless of a display order of the tile images of the image;
• an accumulating step of storing the image data of the specified tile images input at said input step into a memory;
• and
• a control step of appending specific information to the image data of the specified tile images input at said input step, and controlling to display the specified tile images in accordance with the predetermined display sequence.

An image data processing apparatus for displaying an image that has been divided into a plurality of tile images, comprising:

• storage means for storing information specifying tile images and indicating a display sequence of specified tile images regardless of a display order of the tile images of the image;
• input means for inputting image data of each of the specified tile images in accordance with the information stored in said storage means;
• storage means for storing the image data of the specified tile images input by said input means;
• and
• control means for controlling to append specific information related to the display sequence to the image data of the specified tile images input by said input means, and to display each of the specified tile images in accordance with the display sequence included in the information.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing an image data processing method for reading image data out of a memory and processing the image data, wherein the memory stores image data representing an image constituted by a plurality of tile images into which the image is segmented and reading out the image data in tile image units, comprising:

• a storage-step module of storing sequence information specifying the tile images to be displayed and indicating a display sequence of specified tile images, in association with the image regardless of a display order of the tile images of the image;
• a read-out-step module of successively reading out each of the specified tile images based upon the sequence information upon displaying the tile images;
• and
• a control-step module of controlling to display each specified tile image in accordance with the display sequence.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing an image data processing method for displaying an image that has been divided into a plurality of tile images, comprising:

• a specifying step of specifying tile images of the image to be displayed;
• an input-step module of inputting image data of each of the specified tile images of an image in accordance with a predetermined display sequence of the specified tile images, regardless of a display order of the tile images of the image;
• a storing-step module of storing the image data of the specified tile images input by executing said input-step module into a memory;
• and
• a display control-step module of controlling to append specific information to the image data of the specified tile images input by executing said input-step module, and to display each of the specified tile images in accordance with the display sequence.

An image data processing method for controlling to display an image that has been divided into a plurality of tile images, comprising:

• a specifying step of specifying tile images of the image to be displayed:
• an input step of inputting image data of each of the specified tile images specified in said specifying step;
• and
• a control step of controlling to append sequence information to the image data of the specified tile images input at said input step, and to display each of the specified tile images in accordance with an order defined by the sequence information, regardless of a display order of the tile images of the image.