Apparatus and method for configuring animated graphic image and effect handler used in the apparatus and method

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

0001This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0105733, filed on Nov. 5, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00021. Field of the invention

0003The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for configuring an animated graphic image and an effect handler used in the apparatus and the method, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method using an animated graphic image format including an image header, a component header, an effect header, and a component image and an effect handler used in the apparatus and the method.

00042. Description of Related Art

0005Various methods are used for configuring animated images using a plurality of still images, and an animated graphics interchange format (GIF) method has been widely used. This method is disclosed in PCT International Publication No. WO 2001/95255.

0006An animated GIF is a vividly animated graphic image on a web page. Examples of animated GIFs include a rotating icon which keeps spinning, a banner in which a hand is waving, and a letter increasing in size with passing time.

0007The animated GIF is a file in GIF<b>89</b><i>a </i>format which includes several images in a predetermined order. The animated GIF is capable of infinitely looping or stopping after presenting one or several sequences.

0008<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional animated GIF file. Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the animated GIF file is created by repeatedly adding a structure including a header, a control part, and image data. In other words, a plurality of images are added sequentially to a header in the animated GIF file. Here, the header defines size, palette, and background color of an animated GIF. The header includes loop information which defines the number of times the file will be repeated.

0009The control part defines a delay between images, and the delay time is set in units of milli-seconds. In addition, the control part defines a color transparency of a corresponding image.

0010The image data is comprised of values used to form an image of an animated GIF file. Each set of image data is displayed in a sequence to form a vividly animated image.

0011A plurality of control parts and image data may be followed by a comment file. The comment file includes information such as the creator's name and comments, and is displayed together with an animated GIF file.

0012The animated GIF has advantages which may include ease of creation and superior compatibility. However, since an animated GIF must have all the images corresponding to each frame even when an animated image is composed of several components, for example, when showing a specific change in pattern or producing a transition effect using an image in a different frame, a lot of system resources are required.

0013In addition, since every frame which has to follow the GIF format in an animated GIF is incapable of displaying more than 256 colors, color effects may be limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0014The present invention provides an apparatus and method for animated graphic image configuration capable of producing sufficient color effects using less resources, and an effect handler used in the apparatus and method, especially useful when the apparatus or the method is used in a system with limited resources such as an embedded system.

0015Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may not overcome any of the problems described above.

0016According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for configuring an animated graphic image comprising: an effect handler analyzing an animated graphic image format including an image header having information on the number of components used for image configuration, component headers having information on the components used for image configuration, effect headers having information on effects applied to each component, and component images corresponding to each component and repetitively performing an operation of configuring an image frame and an operation enabling the image generated by the configuration of the image frame to be displayed; an image decoder decoding the component image included in the animated graphic image format; a storage unit storing header information generated by the analysis performed by the effect handler and a component image decoded by the image decoder; and an image output unit displaying the image generated by the effect handler.

0017According to an aspect of the present invention, the component header of the animated graphic image format may comprise information on repetition of the image configuration and delay time for repetition, and the effect handler may repetitively perform an operation of configuring an image frame and an operation enabling the generated image to be displayed according to the information on repetition of the image configuration and delay time for repetition.

0018In addition, two or more effects of a different type may be applied simultaneously, but effects of the same type may be applied only consecutively.

0019According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of configuring an animated graphic image, the method comprising: receiving an animated graphic image format comprising an image header having information on the number of components used for image configuration, component headers having information on the components used for image configuration, effect headers having information on effects applied to each component, and component images corresponding to each component; analyzing the animated graphic image format and storing the header information included in the headers; decoding the component images and storing decoded images; configuring an image frame using the header information and the decoded component images; displaying the image generated in the configuration of the image frame; and repeating the configuration of the image frame and the displaying of the image.

0020According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an effect handler comprising: a receiving unit receiving an animated graphic image format comprising an image header having information on the number of components used for image configuration, component headers having information on the components used for image configuration, effect headers having information on effects applied to each component, and component images corresponding to each component; and an image processing unit analyzing the animated graphic image format, configuring an image frame using header information obtained by the analysis and a decoded component image, and repetitively performing the operation of configuring an image frame and an operation enabling the image generated by the configuration of the image frame to be displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0021The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional animated GIF file;

0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for animated graphic image configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating an animated graphic image format used in the apparatus for animated graphic image configuration illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

0025<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a component header included in the animated graphic image format illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

0026<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an effect header included in the animated graphic image format illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

0027<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a flow-chart illustrating a method of configuring animated graphic images according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

0028<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an exemplary diagram illustrating an animated image generated according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

0029Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by explaining exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals denote like elements in the drawings.

0030<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for animated graphic image configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

0031Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the apparatus for animated graphic image configuration includes an effect handler <b>210</b>, an image decoder <b>220</b>, a storage unit <b>230</b>, and an image output unit <b>240</b>.

0032<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating an animated graphic image format <b>200</b> used in the apparatus for animated graphic image configuration illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> according to an embodiment of the present invention. The effect handler <b>210</b>, as illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, analyzes the animated graphic image format <b>200</b> including an animated graphic image header <b>300</b>, a component header <b>310</b>, effect headers <b>311</b> and <b>312</b>, and an encoded component image <b>320</b> and stores header information obtained from the analysis in the storage unit <b>230</b>. The image decoder <b>220</b> decodes the encoded component image <b>320</b>, and the decoded component image is stored in the storage unit <b>230</b>. The effect handler <b>210</b> configures an image frame using the header information and the component image decoded by the image decoder <b>220</b> and displays the image generated by the configuration of the image frame through the image output unit <b>240</b>. The effect handler <b>210</b> generates an animated graphic image by repetitively performing an operation of configuring an image frame and an operation enabling the image generated by the configuration of the image frame to be displayed according to information on repetition of the image configuration and delay time for repetition among component header information.

0033Structures of the component header <b>310</b> and the effect headers <b>311</b> and <b>312</b> composing the animated graphic image format <b>200</b> are shown respectively, in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The image header <b>300</b> composing the animated graphic image format <b>200</b> may include version information and image information including the number of components being used for image configuration. The component header <b>310</b> may include information on an image ID, the location and magnitude of a component image, repetition of image configuration, delay time for repetition, and an effect count. The effect headers <b>311</b> and <b>312</b> may include information on an effect frame count, an effect type, an effect direction, an effect start frame number, and an effect finish frame number. One or more component images <b>320</b> corresponding to the number of components are included in the animated graphic image format <b>200</b>.

0034The animated graphic image format <b>200</b> may include one or more components, and one or more effects may be applied to each component simultaneously. However, effects of the same kind cannot be applied simultaneously. For example, effects can be classified into a background type, a transition effect type, a moving type, a scale type and the like. When a background type effect is applied to a component, an effect of a type other than the background type may be applied to the component simultaneously. However, a different effect of the same background type cannot be applied together simultaneously. But effects of the same type may be applied together, when the effects are applied consecutively. Here, it is determined according to the effect start frame number and the effect finish frame number included in the effect headers <b>311</b> and <b>312</b> illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, whether an effect is applied simultaneously or consecutively.

0035The effect handler <b>210</b> includes a receiving unit <b>211</b> receiving the animated graphic image format <b>200</b> and an image processing unit <b>212</b> analyzing the animated graphic image format <b>200</b>, configuring an image frame using header information included in the headers and a component image decoded by the image decoder <b>220</b>, and repetitively performing the operation of image frame configuration and an operation enabling the image generated by the configuration of the image frame to be displayed through the image output unit <b>240</b> according to the information on repetition of the image configuration and delay time for repetition among the header information for displaying an animated graphic image.

0036In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it may be possible to implement the effect handler <b>210</b> and the image decoder <b>220</b> into one apparatus.

0037<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a flow-chart illustrating a method of configuring animated graphic images according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention

0038The receiving unit <b>211</b> of the effect handler <b>210</b> receives the animated graphic image format <b>200</b> including the image header <b>300</b>, the component header <b>310</b>, the effect headers <b>311</b> and <b>312</b>, and the component image <b>320</b> (S<b>600</b>). The image processing unit <b>212</b> of the effect handler <b>210</b> analyzes the headers of the animated graphic image format <b>200</b> and stores image information, component information, and effect information in the storage unit <b>230</b> (S<b>610</b>, S<b>611</b>, and S<b>612</b>). At this time, it is determined whether an effect undergoing the effect header analysis and storage operation S<b>612</b> is the last effect or not (S<b>613</b>). When another effect exists, the next effect header is analyzed, and the effect information is stored, and when it is the last effect, it is determined whether the component undergoing the header analysis and storage operation S<b>611</b> is the last component (S<b>614</b>). When another component exists, the component header and effect header analysis and storage operations S<b>611</b>, S<b>612</b>, and S<b>613</b> are repeated.

0039The image decoder <b>220</b> decodes the component image, and the decoded component image is stored in the storage unit <b>230</b> (S<b>620</b>). The image processing unit <b>212</b> of the effect handler <b>210</b> determines the location and magnitude of each component according to the component information and determines the shape of a component to be displayed in a frame according to the effect information for configuring an image frame (S<b>630</b>). The new image generated in the configuration of the image frame is displayed through the image output unit <b>240</b> (S<b>640</b>). The image processing unit <b>212</b> of the effect handler <b>210</b> repeats the frame configuration operation S<b>630</b> and the display operation S<b>640</b> according to the information on repetition of the image configuration and delay time for repetition defined by each component header <b>310</b> (S<b>650</b>). The new images generated are displayed through the image output unit <b>240</b> continuously with a time delay defined by the component header <b>310</b>, and each component is processed repetitively according to the number of times for repetition of the image configuration defined by the component header <b>310</b>.

0040<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a diagram illustrating an animated image generated according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

0041The image illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> includes four components, and an effect is applied to each component. First, a square <b>700</b> forming background is the result of application of a background effect. An arrow <b>710</b> between circle images indicates a moving path of a circle image applied to a moving effect. An arrow <b>720</b> in a triangle image indicates a scale change of a triangle image applied to a scaling effect. Arrows <b>730</b> between square images in which a shape of an object is displayed indicates a time passage of a disappearance of the shape of the object applied to a scattering effect among transition effects. The square in which the shape of the object is displayed will be filled with scattering black dots, and the shape of the object will disappear. When the effects are to be implemented during <b>60</b> frames, while <b>60</b> images are required in a conventional animated GIF, according to the method of the present invention, only one component image is required for each component, and required effects are applied to the component images, respectively.

0042As described above, since there is no need to have all images corresponding to each frame in an apparatus or a method for animated graphic image configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, different to that of a conventional animated GIF, only a small amount of resources is used, and since each component can be displayed independently, sufficient effects may be implemented as required.

0043While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.