JP2000147684A - Method and device for receiving order for photographed image, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily inform a user of the time limit for ordering, in placing an order of photographed image. SOLUTION: A negative film of a user 1 is read by a reading means 3 in a laboratory 2, with the image data provided showing photographed images. On the basis of this image data, an index image G is prepared, to which information I is imparted simultaneously concerning the ordering procedure. This information I concerning the ordering procedure contains information of a time limit for the ordering. The user 1 receives the index image G and places an order with the laboratory 2. In the laboratory 2, the images are printed by an output means 8 according to the order of the user 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic image order receiving method and apparatus for receiving photographic image orders, and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the photographic image order receiving method. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various digital photo services related to photographs, such as digitizing photograph images taken by a user and storing them in an image server, recording them on a CD-R and providing them to the user, and responding to an order for reprinting photographs. A digital photo service system that performs the operation is known. In such a system, when a user installs a dedicated viewer software for reproducing an image from an image recorded on a CD-R on a personal computer, reproduces the image, and places an order for additional printing, the user installs the viewer software on the personal computer. Create an order file describing the contents of the order using the order function.
Then, the user brings the order file and the CD-R to a photo shop.
The DR is delivered to the lab, and the ordered photographic image is created.

As one form of this digital photo service system, a network photo service system that stores (registers) a user's digital image in a service provider's system and receives a print order or the like via a network such as the Internet. Has also been proposed.

In such a network photo service system, a server computer (hereinafter, referred to as an "image server") having a scanner, a printer, and a large-capacity disk is installed in a major collection and delivery lab in order to provide a digital photo service to a user. By storing the photos taken by the user on the image server, or by storing the negative film in a lab and allowing the user to access the image server via a network, ordering additional copies of the photos and providing index images It has been considered to provide various services such as attaching a photo image to an e-mail and downloading photo image data. In such a service, after a user accesses an image server using a predetermined application software on a personal computer to browse images, or after receiving an index image in which thumbnail images of images requested by the user are arranged. , Visit, telephone, fax,
Alternatively, the user can place an order for additional printing of the above-described photos via a network. On the other hand, in the lab, based on order information from the user, photo processing such as additional printing, creation of a post card with a photo, creation of an album, synthesis of an image, and trimming is performed on the image data, and the processing is performed. The user can transfer the data to the user or notify the user of the completion of the processing by e-mail.

[0005] Here, the "order information" specifically includes a processing number for designating service contents (such as additional printing and post card creation), an image number for designating a photograph, a print size,
This means the number of prints, print surface quality (glossy or non-glossy), paper thickness, photo processing content, trimming designation information, and the like.

However, when ordering a photographic image, the image data and index image provided to the user merely include the file name and frame number of the image data. It is very inconvenient since it is necessary to contact a photo shop or a lab by telephone, facsimile, network or the like about what kind of contents can be ordered before performing. In this case, the user can know the contents of the order by giving the sheet on which the contents of the order are recorded to the user. However, when placing an order, it is necessary to place an order while alternately referring to the sheet on which the order is recorded and the sheet for placing the order or the screen displayed on the monitor. Becomes

For this reason, when accepting a user's order, an index to which information such as digital recording of a user image has been added and information such as a telephone number for designating deletion of image data or storage for a predetermined period is added. A method of transferring an image to a user has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-26).
1279). According to this method, the user can know the expiration date of the print order by calling the telephone number included in the index image, and can request extension of the expiration date or deletion of the image data at that time. .

[0008]

However, in the method described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-261279,
Since it is necessary to call and inquire about the deadline for the print order, it is troublesome for the user to order the print.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a computer with a photographic image order receiving method and apparatus and a photographic image order receiving method which can easily inform a user of information regarding an order deadline for printing or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable recording medium on which a program to be executed is recorded.

[0010]

A photographic image order receiving method according to the present invention is a photographic image order receiving method for receiving an output order of a photographic image represented by digital image data, and relates to a photographic image output order period. It is characterized by generating order procedure information including information, adding the order procedure information to the digital image data, and outputting the digital image data.

Here, "adding order procedure information to digital image data and outputting it" means that when order procedure information is added to digital image data itself and the digital image data is reproduced on a monitor or the like, the digital image data is output. The order procedure information may be displayed simultaneously with the image, or an index image may be created from the digital image data and the order procedure information may be added to the index image. The index image is not limited to one created by printing digital image data on a photosensitive material, but may be one created by printing on ordinary paper using a color printer or a monochrome printer.

The "order procedure information" includes, in addition to the information on the order period of the photographic image, information that can identify the digital image data, information on the contents of the order, information on the period required for finishing, telephone of the order place, FAX, , Network address (URL), and customer information (telephone, FAX, ID, name, etc.).

Further, "photo image output order" includes various modes such as printing on a T-shirt, creation of a post card, output to a CD-R, in addition to printing, reprinting, and trimming of a photographic image. .

A photographic image order receiving apparatus according to the present invention is a photographic image order receiving apparatus for receiving an output order of a photographic image represented by digital image data, and includes order procedure information including information on a photographic image output order period. And an output unit for adding the order procedure information to the digital image data and outputting the digital image data.

In the photographic image order receiving apparatus according to the present invention, the output means includes an index image creating means for creating an index image of the photographic image based on the digital image data; It is preferable that the information processing apparatus further comprises an application unit for applying procedure information.

The program for causing a computer to execute the photographic image order receiving method according to the present invention includes:
The program may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

An image recording medium on which an index image is recorded according to the present invention is an image recording medium on which an index image in which a plurality of photographic images are arranged is recorded. The information is provided.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the order procedure information including the information on the order period for outputting the photographic image is added to the digital image data and output. The user can easily know the order period for printing the digital image data without inquiring the lab, etc.
This makes it easy to order a photographic image.

Further, by creating an index image from the digital image data and adding order procedure information of the index image, the user can see at a glance all the images that can be ordered, and at the same time, can understand the order of the images. Since the order period can be known, the order of the photographic image can be more easily performed.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a network photo service system to which a photographic image order receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The network photo service system shown in FIG. 1 exchanges data and prints between a user 1 and a laboratory 2.

The user 1 has a terminal such as a personal computer and can exchange data with the laboratory 2 via the network 9. When the user 1 does not have a personal computer, the user 1 uses an order processing terminal installed at a service base or the like. The lab 2 is a system for performing print output, and a reading unit 3 for reading an image from a film brought in by the user 1 to obtain image data S;
A database 4 for storing the read image data S;
An information generating means 5 for generating order procedure information I of the image data S, and an index image for generating an index image G from the image data S and adding the order procedure information I generated by the information generating means 5 to the index image G The apparatus includes a creating unit 6, an order receiving unit 7 for receiving order information from the user 1, and an output unit 8 for performing printing based on the order information. Note that the user 1 may directly request the lab 2 for printing, or may register via an order reception shop that specializes in order reception.

The index image creating means 6 prints, on a photosensitive material, a thumbnail image of the image requested to be printed by the user 1 and the order procedure information I generated by the information generating means 5 as shown in FIG. Create G. Here, the index image G
The order procedure information I given to the user includes information 11a regarding the print expiration date, the telephone number
Number 11b, network address, access ID, and access password information 11c are included.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. First, the user 1 brings a negative film directly to the photo shop or the lab 2 and registers an image (step S).
1). In the lab 2, the film deposited by the user 1 is read by the reading means 3 to obtain high-resolution image data SH representing an image recorded on the film (step S2). In the reading means 3, the low-resolution image data S having a lower resolution than the high-resolution image data SH is used.
L is also generated. Then, the obtained high-resolution image data SH is stored in the database 4 (step S3), and the low-resolution image data SL is input to the index image creating means 6 (step S4). On the other hand, the order generation information I is generated by the information generation means 5 (step S5), and this information I is used as the index image generation means 6
(Step S6).

The index image creating means 6 generates a thumbnail image based on the low-resolution image data SL, prints the thumbnail image and the order procedure information I on a photosensitive material, and creates an index image G as shown in FIG. It is created (step S7). The created index image G is passed to the user 1 by a photo shop or by mail (step S8).

The user 1 looks at the index image G,
The print time limit can be known, and an image included in the index image G is ordered within this time limit (step S).
9). If necessary, the user can download the low-resolution image data SL by referring to the network address, browse each image included in the index image G with a Web browser or the like, and describe necessary order contents. Download the order file F. Note that the low-resolution image data SL is provided in such a manner that the data is limitedly disclosed only to the user 1 on the network. In any case, by performing the registration described above,
The user 1 can determine the order content while checking the image on the terminal.

The user 1 looks at the index image G,
Alternatively, the user browses the low-resolution image data SL with a Web browser or the like, opens the order file F to request an order, and describes necessary order contents. The order file F 'in which the details of the order are described is transferred to the laboratory 2 via the network 9 (step S1).
0).

In the laboratory 2, the order file F 'is received by the order receiving means 7 (step S11).
The high-resolution image data SH is read from the database 4 based on the contents of the order described in the order file F ', and the output means 8 outputs a print image (step S12). Then, the print image is transferred to the user 1 (step S13), and the process ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the order procedure information I including the information regarding the order period of the photographic image is added to the index image G and passed to the user 1, the laboratory 2 is inquired about the order period. Without this, the user 1 can easily know the order period of the print or the like for the image data S, and thereby can easily order the photographic image.

In the above embodiment, only one period is provided as a print period, but a plurality of periods may be provided and added to the index image G. For example, the first deadline is October 30, 1998, the second deadline is November 30, 1998, and the third deadline is 1998/1.
As shown in FIG. 4, the service contents such as the postage, additional charge, storage period, net registration fee, additional service, and premium may be different for each period as shown in FIG. In this way, by providing a plurality of deadlines and setting various service contents for each deadline, the user 1 can place a print order as soon as possible.

In the above embodiment, the index image G is printed on a photosensitive material and handed over to the user 1, but as shown in FIG. I may be printed and provided to the user 1 as a fax order sheet. In this case, the form of printing may be color or monochrome. Note that a barcode 20 and an order number entry field 21 may be provided for each thumbnail image. Thus, the user 1 can enter the number of orders and fax the lab 2 to automatically process the order of the user 1 using a barcode reader, an OCR, or the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the order procedure information I is given to the index image G, but the order procedure information I is given to the image data S itself, and the user 1 downloads the image data S and monitors it. Or the like, the order procedure information I may be displayed simultaneously with the image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network photo service system to which a photo image order receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an index image.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing service contents when a plurality of order deadlines are set.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of an index image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 user 2 lab 3 reading means 4 database 5 information generating means 6 index image creating means 7 order receiving means 8 output means 9 network

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H106 AB95 BA23 BA55 BA71 BA95 5B049 CC05 CC31 DD02 EE05 FF02 FF03 FF04 GG04 GG07 5B075 KK07 KK13 KK33 KK38 KK43 KK54 KK63 MM04 ND03 ND08 ND23 P32 P24 NK07 PQ30A AC08 DD04 FA03 FA07 FB05 FC01 FE01 5C062 AA01 AC04 AC24 AF00 AF14

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A photographic image order receiving method for receiving an output order of a photographic image represented by digital image data, comprising: generating order procedure information including information on an output order period of the photographic image; A method for receiving a photographic image order, wherein the procedural information includes the order procedure information. 2. A photo image order according to claim 1, wherein an index image of the photo image is created based on the digital image data, and the index image is added with the order procedure information and output. Reception method. 3. A photographic image order receiving apparatus for receiving an output order of a photographic image represented by digital image data, comprising: information generating means for generating order procedure information including information on an output order period of the photographic image; An output unit for adding the order procedure information to the digital image data and outputting the digital image data. 4. The output means includes: an index image creating means for creating an index image of the photographic image based on the digital image data; and an assigning means for assigning the order procedure information to the index image. 4. The photograph image order receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: 5. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a photographic image order receiving method for receiving an output order of a photographic image represented by digital image data, wherein the program is A computer-readable recording medium, comprising: a step of generating order procedure information including information relating to a photo image output order period; and a step of adding the order procedure information to the digital image data and outputting the digital image data. 6. The outputting step includes a step of creating an index image of the photographic image based on the digital image data, and a step of adding the order procedure information to the index image and outputting the index image. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 5, wherein: 7. An image recording medium on which an index image formed by arranging thumbnail images of a plurality of photographic images is recorded, wherein order procedure information including information on an order period of the thumbnail images is added. Image recording medium.