System and method for processing data representing stored images.

摘要

A system and method are provided for processing data representing stored images so that a set of such stored images can be represented simultaneously on an output medium having a specified output area in such a way that more effective use of the output area is made than previously possible with prior art techniques. Typically the set of stored images to be represented will result from an image database search and the output area will be a display screen (80) of a monitor. The system of the present invention includes a divider (40) for dividing the output area of the display screen into a number of regions dependent on the number of stored images retrieved by said database, and an assignment device (50) then associates those stored images with an associated one of the created regions. Once this has been done a scaling device (60) is employed to scale each stored image associated with a display region so that, when those images are displayed on the display screen (80) of the monitor, they will occupy a selected area within the associated region of the display screen. Using this technique a set of images can be displayed on a display screen simultaneously in a way that allows the whole output area to be utilized, irrespective of the number of stored images in the set.