JP2000287056A - Image information communication unit, method therefor, image information service unit, method therefor and service medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disclose its own information only to opposite parties who satisfy preset conditions. SOLUTION: User information (portrait images and profile data) is registered to a server. The server in a step S15 transmits a list denoting information which a user may read in the registered user information to the personal computer of the user and transmits the user information, corresponding to a returned selection signal to the personal computer in a step S17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information communication apparatus and method, an image information providing apparatus and method, and a providing medium, and more particularly, to an image information communication apparatus suitable for communicating image information via a network. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method, an image information providing apparatus and a method, and a providing medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a method of publishing information of oneself (self-portrait, name, etc.) for the purpose of making a new friend or lover, there is a method of opening a homepage on the Internet.

[0003]

However, the method of setting up a homepage is to wait only unilaterally for a contact from a person who has viewed the homepage, and to know the existence of the homepage set up for the same purpose as oneself. There was a problem that was difficult.

[0004] Further, it is difficult to know who viewed the home page of the user, and there has been a problem that the disclosed information may be abused.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and is intended to allow only those who satisfy the set conditions to disclose their own information.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information communication apparatus, comprising: a registration unit for registering input image information; and an image information registered by the registration unit that satisfies a predetermined condition. Generating means for generating the list shown, list transmitting means for transmitting the list generated by the generating means, receiving means for receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list, and image information corresponding to the selection signal, Image information transmitting means for transmitting to the user terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information communication method comprising: a registration step of registering input image information; and a generation step of generating a list indicating image information registered in the registration step that satisfies a predetermined condition. Step, a list transmission step of transmitting the list generated in the generation step,
A receiving step of receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list, and image information corresponding to the selection signal,
Transmitting an image information to the user terminal.

[0008] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a providing medium, comprising: a registration step of registering input image information; and a generation step of generating a list indicating image information registered in the registration step that satisfies a predetermined condition. Transmitting a list generated in the generating step, receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list, transmitting image information corresponding to the selection signal to the user terminal And a computer-readable program that causes the image information communication apparatus to execute the processing including the steps.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information providing apparatus, comprising: a registration unit for registering input image information; and a generation unit for generating a list indicating image information registered by the registration unit that satisfies a predetermined condition. Means, a list transmitting means for transmitting a list generated by the generating means, a receiving means for receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list, and an image for transmitting image information corresponding to the selection signal to the user terminal It is characterized by including information transmitting means, recording means for recording the history of transmission processing of the transmission means, and billing means for charging a user corresponding to the user terminal based on the history of transmission processing.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information providing method, comprising: a registration step of registering input image information; and a generation step of generating a list indicating image information registered in the registration step that satisfies a predetermined condition. Step, a list transmission step of transmitting the list generated in the generation step,
A receiving step of receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list, and image information corresponding to the selection signal,
An image information transmitting step of transmitting image information corresponding to the selection signal to the user terminal, an image information transmitting step of transmitting the image information corresponding to the selection signal to the user terminal, a recording step of recording a transmission processing history in the transmission step, and a transmission processing history On the basis of the,
And charging the user corresponding to the user terminal.

[0011] The providing medium according to claim 8 is a registration step of registering input image information, and a generation step of generating a list indicating image information registered in the registration step that satisfies a predetermined condition. Transmitting a list generated in the generating step, receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list, transmitting image information corresponding to the selection signal to the user terminal Step, an image information transmitting step of transmitting image information corresponding to the selection signal to the user terminal, a recording step of recording a history of transmission processing in the transmission step, and a user terminal based on the transmission processing history. And a computer-readable program that causes the image information providing apparatus to execute a process that includes a requesting step of charging a user for compensation. And providing the program.

[0012] In the image information communication apparatus according to the first aspect, the image information communication method according to the fourth aspect, and the providing medium according to the fifth aspect, input image information is registered, and the registered image is registered. A list indicating information satisfying a predetermined condition is generated, and the list is transmitted. Further, a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list is received, and image information corresponding to the received selection signal is transmitted to the user terminal.

In the image information providing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the image information providing method according to the seventh aspect, and the providing medium according to the eighth aspect, input image information is registered, and the registered image is registered. A list indicating information satisfying a predetermined condition is generated, and the list is transmitted. Further, a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list is received, and image information corresponding to the received selection signal is transmitted to the user terminal. Further, a history of the image information transmission processing is recorded, and a user corresponding to the user terminal is charged for the price based on the history of the image information transmission processing.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A configuration example of an image communication system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In addition,
In this specification, the term “system” refers to an entire device including a plurality of devices, means, and the like.

In this image communication system, the server 1
Are connected to personal computers 3-1 to 3-1 operated by each user via a network 2 represented by the Internet. Each of the personal computers 3-1 to 3-1 (hereinafter, when the personal computers 3-1 to 3-3 do not need to be individually distinguished, simply referred to as the personal computer 3) is provided with a digital camera for imaging each user. 4-1 to 4-3 are connected.

Next, the operation will be described. The image captured by the digital camera 4-1, in which the user is the subject, is supplied to the personal computer 3-1. In the personal computer 3-1, a portion of the image input from the digital camera 4-1 in which a person (user) is captured is extracted.
The obtained person image is transmitted to the server 1 via the network 2 together with the profile data of the user.

In the server 1, the person image and the profile data from the personal computer 3-1 are received and stored, and the person image is stored in a background image or the like stored in the database 13 (FIG. 2). The image is combined with the image selected by the user (a whole view image such as an image, a frame, etc., and a person image of another user), and the obtained composite image is transmitted to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. This composite image is output by the personal computer 3-1, for example,
The data is output to the printer 28 (FIG. 3) and printed.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the server 1.
The transmission / reception unit 11 receives user information (person image, profile data) from the personal computer 3 via the network 2 and outputs the user information to the data management unit 12. Also, the transmitting / receiving unit 1
1 represents a composite image or the like input from the data management unit 12,
The data is transmitted to the personal computer 3 via the network 2.

The data management unit 12 converts a human image input from the transmission / reception unit 11 from the personal computer 3 into an image processing unit 14.
And the person image and the profile data are recorded in the database 13. In addition, the data management unit 12 reads a background image or the like selected by the user from among the background images recorded in the database 13 and
Output to the image processing unit 14. Further, the data management unit 12
Is the user information (person image, profile data) read from the database 13 or the image processing unit 14
Is output to the transmitting / receiving unit 11.

The database 13 records a background image and a foreground image, and a list thereof. The background and foreground images recorded in the database 13 are appropriately added by the administrator of the server 1. Also,
The database 13 records user information (user image and profile data) registered by each user of the personal computer 3 and a list thereof. The profile data includes, for example, information on each user such as a name, gender, age, hobby, and contact information, as well as conditions for viewing this person image and profile data,
Contains a password.

The image processing unit 14 combines a person image from the personal computer 3 and a background image and the like from the database 13, which are input through the data management unit 12, and combines the resultant image with the data management unit 12. Output to

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of functional blocks of an application program executed on the personal computer 3. The operation input unit 21 receives an operation command input from a user and profile data of the user himself,
Output to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 includes an operation input unit 21
Each part is controlled in response to an operation command from the user. Also,
The control unit 22 outputs the input profile data to the transmission / reception unit 25. The image input unit 23 reads the user's own image captured by the digital camera 4 and outputs the image to the image processing unit 24.

The image processing unit 24 extracts a portion of the input image in which a person (user) is shown, and outputs the obtained person image to the transmission / reception unit 25. Note that there are the following two types of methods for extracting a portion where a person is captured. That is, when photographing a user using the digital camera 4, a user located in front of a background of a predetermined color (for example, blue) is photographed, and an obtained image as shown in FIG. ,
A first method for obtaining a person image as shown in FIG. 4B using the chromaki processing, and an image of a user located in front of an arbitrary background, and as shown in FIG. This is a second method of extracting a part specified by a cursor or the like and obtaining a person image as shown in FIG.

The image processing section 24 converts a composite image or the like from the server 1 input from the transmission / reception section 25 via an interface (I / F) 26 into a display 29, a printer 28, or a hard disk (HDD). 27.

The transmission / reception unit 25 transmits the person image from the image processing unit 24, the profile data from the control unit 22, and a predetermined signal to the server 1 via the network 2. Further, the transmission / reception unit 25 receives a composite image or the like from the server 1 via the network 2 and
Output to

Next, a single image synthesizing process of the image communication system will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. This singular image combining process includes the user's own image,
This is processing for synthesizing a background image or the like recorded in the server 1.

This single image synthesizing process is performed by the personal computer 3-1.
Is started in response to a predetermined operation command from the user, which is input to the operation input unit 21 of. In step S1, the digital camera 4-1 captures an image of the user and outputs the captured image to the image input unit 23. Image input unit 23
Outputs the input image to the image processing unit 24. In step S2, the image processing unit 24
, And extracts the person portion from the image input from, and outputs the obtained person image to the transmission / reception unit 25. In step S <b> 3, the transmission / reception unit 25 transmits the human image and the predetermined signal from the image processing unit 24 to the server 1 via the network 2. The transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 is a personal computer 3
-1 and a predetermined signal are received and output to the data management unit 12.

In step S4, the data management unit 12
Stores the person image from the personal computer 3-1 in the database 1
3 and output to the image processing unit 14. Further, the data management unit 12 responds to the predetermined signal by
A list of background images (including foreground images) recorded in the database 13 is read and output to the transmission / reception unit 11. The transmission / reception unit 11 outputs the background image list from the data management unit 12 to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. This background image list is received by the transmission / reception unit 25 of the personal computer 3-1 and supplied to the image processing unit 24, and is displayed on the display 29. When the user selects a background image with reference to the display of the background image list, the selection signal is transmitted from the transmission unit 25 to the server 1 via the network 2.
Sent to.

The selection signal from the personal computer 3-1 is received by the transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 and output to the data management unit 12 in step S5. The data management unit 12
The background image corresponding to the input selection signal is read from the database 13 and output to the image processing unit 14. The image processing unit 14 combines the person image from the personal computer 3-1 with the background image from the database 13 and outputs the obtained combined image to the data management unit 12.

In step S6, the data management unit 12
Outputs the composite image from the image processing unit 14 to the transmission / reception unit 11. The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the composite image from the data management unit 12 to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. The personal computer 3-1 records the received composite image on the hard disk 7 and, for example,
To print.

As described above, according to the single image synthesizing process, an arbitrary one of the background images recorded in the database 13 can be synthesized with its own image.

Next, the network matching process of the image communication system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This network matching process is a process of reading information of another user already registered in the server 1, and can be used for searching for friends and lovers.

This network matching process is started in response to a predetermined operation command from the user input to the operation input unit 21 of the personal computer 3-1. Step S
In 11, the digital camera 4-1 captures an image of the user and outputs the captured image to the image input unit 23. The image input unit 23 outputs the input image to the image processing unit 24. In step S <b> 12, the image processing unit 24 extracts a person part from the image input from the image input unit 23 and outputs the obtained person image to the transmission / reception unit 25.

In step S13, the operation input unit 21
Receives the profile data input by the user and outputs the profile data to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 outputs the input profile data to the transmission / reception unit 25.

In step S14, the transmitting / receiving unit 25
Transmits the person image from the image processing unit 24, the profile data from the control unit 22, and a predetermined signal to the server 1 via the network 2. The transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 receives a person image, profile data, and a predetermined signal from the personal computer 3-1 and
Output to

In step S15, the data management unit 1
2 records (registers) the person image and the profile data from the personal computer 3-1 in the database 13. In addition, the data management unit 12 allows the user of the personal computer 3-1 to view information of other users recorded (registered) in the database 13 based on the profile data from the personal computer 3-1. (The profile data of the user of the personal computer 3-1 matches the viewing conditions)
And outputs the registered user list (a reduced image of a person image, a summary of profile data, etc.) to the transmission / reception unit 11. The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the registered user list from the data management unit 12 to the personal computer 3 via the network 2.
Send to 1. This registered user list is stored in the personal computer 3-
The data is received by the transmission / reception unit 25, supplied to the image processing unit 24, and displayed on the display 29.

Referring to the display of the registered user list,
In step S16, the user of the personal computer 3-1
When one of the registered user lists is selected, the selection signal is transmitted from the transmitting unit 25 to the server 1 via the network 2.
Sent to. The selection signal from the personal computer 3-1 is received by the transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 and output to the data management unit 12.

In step S17, the data management unit 1
2 reads out information (person image and profile data) of the registered user corresponding to the input selection signal from the database 13 and outputs the information to the transmission / reception unit 11. The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits information on the selected registered user from the data management unit 12 to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. In the personal computer 3-1, the received information (information of the selected registered user) is recorded on the hard disk 7 and displayed on the display 29, for example.

As described above, the user of the personal computer 3-1 which has acquired the information of the selected registered user, communicates with the selected registered user by referring to the contact information included in the acquired profile data. It becomes possible. In addition, for a user who has registered his / her information in the server 1, conditions for a user who can view his / her information can be specified, so that it is possible to prevent the user's information from being provided unnecessarily. Becomes

By the way, in step S 17, information of a registered user determined at random, instead of the registered user corresponding to the input selection signal, may be read from the database 13 and output to the transmitting / receiving unit 11. In this case, it is possible to give the user a new opportunity for unexpected communication.

Next, the multiple image synthesizing process of the image communication system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This multi-image synthesis processing includes the user's own image,
This is a process of combining images of other users registered in the server 1.

This multiple image synthesizing process is performed by the personal computer 3-1.
Is started in response to a predetermined operation command from the user, which is input to the operation input unit 21 of. In step S21, the digital camera 4-1 captures an image of the user, and outputs the captured image to the image input unit 23. Image input unit 23
Outputs the input image to the image processing unit 24. In step S22, the image processing unit 24
Then, a person portion is extracted from the image input from 3, and the obtained person image is output to the transmission / reception unit 25.

In step S23, the operation input unit 21
Receives the profile data input by the user and outputs the profile data to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 outputs the input profile data to the transmission / reception unit 25.

In step S24, the transmitting / receiving unit 25
Transmits the person image from the image processing unit 24, the profile data from the control unit 22, and a predetermined signal to the server 1 via the network 2. The transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 receives a person image, profile data, and a predetermined signal from the personal computer 3-1 and
Output to

In step S25, the data management unit 1
2 records (registers) the person image and the profile data from the personal computer 3-1 in the database 13. In addition, the data management unit 12 allows the user of the personal computer 3-1 to view information of other users recorded (registered) in the database 13 based on the profile data from the personal computer 3-1. The registered user list is extracted and the registered user list is output to the transmitting / receiving unit 11. Transmitting / receiving unit 11
Transmits the registered user list from the data management unit 12 to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. The registered user list is received by the transmission / reception unit 25 of the personal computer 3-1 and supplied to the image processing unit 24, and is displayed on the display 29 as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

Referring to the display of the registered user list,
In step S26, the user of the personal computer 3-1
When one of the registered user lists is selected, the selection signal is transmitted from the transmitting unit 25 to the server 1 via the network 2.
Sent to.

The selection signal from the personal computer 3-1 is received by the transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 and output to the data management unit 12 in step S27. Data management unit 12
Reads the registered user's person image (FIG. 9B) corresponding to the input selection signal from the database 13 and outputs it to the image processing unit 14. The image processing unit 14 includes a person image (FIG. 9A) from the personal computer 3-1 and the database 1
3 and outputs the obtained synthesized image (FIG. 9C) to the data management unit 12.

In step S28, the data management unit 1
2 outputs the composite image from the image processing unit 14 to the transmission / reception unit 11. The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the composite image from the data management unit 12 to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. The personal computer 3-1 records the received composite image on the hard disk 7 and, for example,
8 is printed.

As described above, according to the multi-image combining process, it is possible to combine the image of the user himself and the image of another user registered in the server 1. In addition,
As the person image to be recorded in the database 13, for example, a person image of a singer or an actor may be used in addition to the image of the registered user.

Next, the multi-image background synthesizing process of the image communication system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This multi-image background synthesis processing includes a user's own image, an image of another user registered in the server 1,
And a process of synthesizing the background image.

This multi-image background synthesizing process is performed by the personal computer 3
The operation is started in response to a predetermined operation command from the user input to the operation input unit 21 of -1. Step S31
In, the digital camera 4-1 images the user,
The captured image is output to the image input unit 23. The image input unit 23 outputs the input image to the image processing unit 24.
In step S32, the image processing unit 24 extracts a person portion from the image input from the image input unit 23,
The obtained person image is output to the transmission / reception unit 25.

In step S33, the operation input unit 21
Receives the profile data input by the user and outputs the profile data to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 outputs the input profile data to the transmission / reception unit 25.

In step S34, the transmitting / receiving unit 25
Transmits the person image from the image processing unit 24, the profile data from the control unit 22, and a predetermined signal to the server 1 via the network 2. The transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 receives a person image, profile data, and a predetermined signal from the personal computer 3-1 and
Output to

In step S35, the data management unit 1
2 records the personal image and the profile data from the personal computer 3-1 in the database 13. In addition, the data management unit 12 allows the user of the personal computer 3-1 to view information of other users recorded (registered) in the database 13 based on the profile data from the personal computer 3-1. The registered user list is extracted and the registered user list is output to the transmitting / receiving unit 11. Data management unit 1
2 reads out a list of background images (including foreground images) recorded in the database 13 and
Output to The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the registered user list and the background image list from the data management unit 12 to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. The registered user list and the background image list are received by the transmission / reception unit 25 of the personal computer 3-1, supplied to the image processing unit 24, and displayed on the display 29.

Referring to the display of the registered user list and the background image list, in step S36, when the user of the personal computer 3-1 selects an image of another registered user and a background image, the selection signal is output. The data is transmitted from the transmission unit 25 to the server 1 via the network 2.

The selection signal from the personal computer 3-1 is received by the transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 and output to the data management unit 12 in step S37. Data management unit 12
Reads the registered user's person image and background image corresponding to the input selection signal from the database 13,
Output to the image processing unit 14. The image processing unit 14 combines the person image from the personal computer 3-1 with the registered user's person image and background image from the database 13 and outputs the obtained combined image to the data management unit 12.

In step S38, the data management unit 1
2 outputs the composite image from the image processing unit 14 to the transmission / reception unit 11. The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the composite image from the data management unit 12 to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. The personal computer 3-1 records the received composite image on the hard disk 7 and, for example,
Print with 8.

As described above, according to the multi-image background combining process, it is possible to combine the user's own image, the image of another user registered in the server 1, and the background image.

Next, the real-time network matching process of the image communication system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This real-time network matching process is a process of reading information of another user currently accessing the server 1, and is used for searching for friends and lovers.

This real-time network matching process is input to the operation input unit 21 of the personal computer 3-1.
It is started in response to a predetermined operation command from the user. In step S41, the digital camera 4-1
Captures the user and outputs the captured image to the image input unit 23. The image input unit 23 outputs the input image to the image processing unit 24. In step S42, the image processing unit 24 extracts a person part from the image input from the image input unit 23, and transmits the obtained person image to the transmission / reception unit 25.
Output to

In step S43, the operation input unit 21
Receives the profile data input by the user and outputs the profile data to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 outputs the input profile data to the transmission / reception unit 25.

In step S44, the transmitting / receiving unit 25
Transmits the person image from the image processing unit 24, the profile data from the control unit 22, and a predetermined signal to the server 1 via the network 2. The transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 receives a person image, profile data, and a predetermined signal from the personal computer 3-1 and
Output to

In step S45, the data management unit 1
2 records the personal image and the profile data from the personal computer 3-1 in the database 13. Further, based on the profile data from the personal computer 3-1, the data management unit 12, like the user of the personal computer 3-1, stores the information of the personal computer 3 among the information of other users who are currently accessing the server 1. −1, and the list of users being accessed (access user list) is output to the transmission / reception unit 11. The transmitting / receiving unit 11
The access user list from the data management unit 12 is transmitted to the personal computer 3-1 via the network 2. This access user list is stored in the transmitting / receiving unit 25 of the personal computer 3-1.
Are supplied to the image processing unit 24 and displayed on the display 29.

Referring to the display of the access user list, in step S46, when the user of personal computer 3-1 selects one of the other users being accessed, the selection signal is transmitted from transmitting section 25 to network 2 Is transmitted to the server 1 via. The selection signal from the personal computer 3-1 is received by the transmission / reception unit 11 of the server 1 and output to the data management unit 12.

In step S47, the data management unit 1
2 outputs to the transmitting / receiving unit 11 information of another user being accessed corresponding to the input selection signal to the personal computer 3-
1 and the information of the user of the personal computer 3-1 is output to the transmitting / receiving unit 11 to be transmitted to the personal computer 3 corresponding to another user who is accessing according to the selection signal. The user information received by each personal computer 3 is
The information is recorded on the hard disk 7 and displayed on the display 29, for example. Thereafter, the data management unit 12 of the server 1 mutually transfers the character string transmitted from the personal computer 3-1 or the personal computer 3 corresponding to the other user who is accessing according to the selection signal, so-called, Realize chat. In the chat,
Moving image data or audio data may be transferred as an attached file.

Note that after step S47, the server 1 image processing unit 14 combines the person images of both users in the chat in the same manner as in the above-described multiple-image combining process, or performs the same as in the above-described multiple-image background combining process. Alternatively, the person image and the background image of both users in the chat may be combined and transmitted to the personal computers 3 corresponding to both users.

With the above real-time network matching process, the user accessing the server 1
It is possible to communicate with any other party.

In each of the above-described processes, the history of the personal computer 3 accessing the server 1 may be recorded in the server 1, and the user of the personal computer 3 may be charged based on the record.

In each of the above-described processes, an image of a user as a subject (for example, step S1 in FIG. 6) is taken.
1) and input of the user's profile data (for example, step S13 in FIG. 6) is executed for each process, but these are stored in the hard disk 27 in advance, and the stored You may make it transmit to the server 1.

Further, in the present invention, the image processing section 14 of the server 1 executes the image synthesis. However, the image to be synthesized is supplied from the server 1 to the personal computer 3 and the image processing section 24 of the personal computer 3 is executed. In, image synthesis may be performed.

The computer program for performing each of the above processes can be provided to the user via a network medium such as the Internet or a digital satellite in addition to a medium such as a magnetic disk or a CD-ROM. it can.

[0072]

As described above, according to the image information communication apparatus according to claim 1, the image information communication method according to claim 4, and the providing medium according to claim 5, the registered image information A list indicating one satisfying the predetermined condition is generated, and image information corresponding to the selection signal transmitted by the user terminal is transmitted to the user terminal based on the list. It is only possible to publish their information.

According to the image information providing device of the sixth aspect, the image information providing method of the seventh aspect, and the providing medium of the eighth aspect, a predetermined condition of the registered image information is provided. Is generated, and the image information corresponding to the selection signal transmitted by the user terminal is transmitted to the user terminal based on the list, and the user is charged for the image information. It is possible to provide a service that can disclose its information only to those who do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image communication system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a server 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the personal computer 3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining processing of an image processing unit 24 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a single image configuration process of the image communication system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a network matching process of the image communication system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a multiple image configuration process of the image communication system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a registered user list.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining processing of the image processing unit 14 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a multiple image background synthesis process of the image communication system.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a real-time network matching process of the image communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 server, 2 network, 3 personal computer, 4 digital camera, 11 transmitting / receiving unit, 12 data management unit, 13 database,
14 image processing unit, 21 operation input unit, 22 control unit, 23 image input unit, 24 image processing unit, 25
Transceiver

Continued on front page F-term (reference)

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image information communication device connected to a user terminal via a network, a registration unit for registering input image information, and a predetermined condition among the image information registered by the registration unit is satisfied. Generating means for generating a list indicating the list; list transmitting means for transmitting the list generated by the generating means; receiving means for receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list; and the selection signal An image information transmitting unit for transmitting the image information corresponding to the above to the user terminal. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information is a person image of a user of the user terminal.
An image information communication device according to claim 1. 3. The image information communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the list based on a condition set by a user who has registered the image information. 4. An image information communication method for an image information communication device connected to a user terminal via a network, wherein: a registration step of registering input image information; A generating step of generating a list indicating those satisfying a predetermined condition; a list transmitting step of transmitting the list generated in the previous generating step; and a receiving step of receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list. And an image information transmitting step of transmitting the image information corresponding to the selection signal to the user terminal. 5. A registration step of registering input image information in an image information communication device connected to a user terminal via a network, and a predetermined condition among the image information registered in the registration step is satisfied. A generating step of generating a list indicating the list; a list transmitting step of transmitting the list generated in the previous generating step; a receiving step of receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list; And a computer-readable program for executing a process including an image information transmitting step of transmitting the image information corresponding to the image information to the user terminal. 6. An image information providing apparatus connected to a user terminal via a network, a registration unit for registering input image information, and a predetermined condition among the image information registered by the registration unit is satisfied. Generating means for generating a list indicating the list; list transmitting means for transmitting the list generated by the generating means; receiving means for receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list; and the selection signal Image information transmitting means for transmitting the image information corresponding to the user terminal to the user terminal; recording means for recording a history of transmission processing of the transmitting means; and a user corresponding to the user terminal based on the history of the transmission processing. And an invoicing means for charging the user for compensation. 7. An image information providing method for an image information providing apparatus connected to a user terminal via a network, wherein: a registration step of registering input image information; A generating step of generating a list indicating those satisfying a predetermined condition; a list transmitting step of transmitting the list generated in the previous generating step; and a receiving step of receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list. An image information transmitting step of transmitting the image information corresponding to the selection signal to the user terminal, a recording step of recording a history of transmission processing in the transmitting step, and a history of the transmission processing. Requesting the user corresponding to the user terminal to pay for the image information. Law. 8. A registration step of registering input image information in an image information providing apparatus connected to a user terminal via a network, and a predetermined condition among the image information registered in the registration step is satisfied. A generating step of generating a list indicating the list; a list transmitting step of transmitting the list generated in the previous generating step; a receiving step of receiving a selection signal transmitted by the user terminal based on the list; An image information transmitting step of transmitting the image information corresponding to the user terminal to the user terminal; a recording step of recording a history of transmission processing in the transmission step; A computer-readable program for executing a process including a billing step for charging a user Providing medium characterized by providing a.