Patent ID: 6509900
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An image management apparatus, which retrieves and transfers image data with a hierarchical structure from low-speed large-capacity storage means to high-speed small-capacity storage means to provide desired image data, said apparatus comprising:first judgment means for judging if the small-capacity storage means has a sufficiently free volume of storage space; checking means for checking an average access frequency per unit time of image data requested by a user; and control means for, when said first judgment means judges that the small-capacity storage means does not have a sufficiently free volume of storage space, increasing the free volume of storage space by determining a maximum image size hierarchy and erasing image data with a large volume in the maximum image size hierarchy in the small-capacity storage means, wherein, when the average access frequency, checked by said checking means, in the requested hierarchy is lower than a predetermined value, said control means retrieves image data of the requested hierarchy from the large-capacity storage means and transfers the image data to said free volume of storage space in the small-capacity storage means, or when the average access frequency, checked by said checking means, in the requested hierarchy is higher than the predetermined value, said control means retrieves image data of all hierarchies from the large-capacity storage means and transfers the image data to said free volume of storage space in the small-capacity storage means.