JP2003281035A - System, device and method for providing information, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system capable of surely notifying a plurality of third persons of browsing change by designating whether to notify the plurality of third persons to be allowed to browse data of browsing change after publication in notifying the data publication, and to provide an information providing device, an information providing method, a program and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: This information providing system for publishing image data at a photo site 105 on the Internet 104 notifies a third person 102B to be allowed to browse image data of the publication of the image data at the photo site 105 on the Internet 104, designates whether to notify the third person 102B of browsing change in the case of the browsing change after the publication of the image data in notifying the publication of the image data, and notifies the third person 102B of the browsing change when the designation is made to notify the browsing change. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing device, an information providing method, a program, and a recording medium which disclose data by an information providing device on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of communication infrastructure and the development of information communication technology, information providing services using the Internet have become possible.

Further, as miniaturization of semiconductor devices and the like has progressed smoothly, the component size and cost of LSIs and solid-state image pickup devices constituting image input devices typified by digital still cameras and digital video cameras have been scaled down. Many users have taken images using image input devices to obtain digital image data.

For example, digital image data photographed by a user using a digital still camera is stored in a memory in the digital camera and then transferred to a recording device represented by an HDD in a personal computer owned by the user. They are stored under management and stored, or written and stored on an external recording medium such as a CD-R.

With the spread of color scanners, it has become possible for users to easily create and store an image read using the color scanner as digital image data.

Against this background, as one type of information providing service using the Internet, digital image data photographed by a user using an image input device is stored in a storage area of a server on a network, and the digital image data is stored. There are network services that provide services that users can browse when desired. There is also a network service that provides a service that allows the user to publish the deposited digital image data to a third party desired by the user.

An Internet service provider that provides such a network service is hereinafter referred to as a "photo site".

[0008]

When the user publishes digital image data to a third party at the above-mentioned photo site, a method of viewing the published digital image data and a comment entered by the user are sent by electronic mail. In many cases, the service is provided by notifying a third party using.
The third party can browse the digital image data by using the access means described in the notified email.

However, if the user deletes the digital image data that has been notified and made public, or changes the browsing settings to make it private, a third party will try to browse the digital image data. Then, there is a problem that the digital image data cannot be browsed because it has already been deleted or made private.

In such a case, if the user of the photo site can again notify the third party who has notified the disclosure of the digital image data that the digital image data has been deleted or made non-public, the third party can save the digital image data. You can recognize that you can no longer browse, but in that case, the user must remember all the third parties who notified the disclosure, especially when a large number of third parties have been notified. However, there is a problem that it imposes a heavy burden on the user.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when notifying the disclosure of data, notifies a plurality of third parties who permit the browsing of the change of the browsing after the disclosure. It is possible to provide an information providing system, an information providing device, an information providing method, a program, and a recording medium that can reliably notify a plurality of third parties of a change in browsing by designating whether or not to do so. To aim.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an information providing system for releasing data by an information providing device on a network, which is disclosed by the information providing device on the network. Notifying means for notifying a plurality of third parties who are permitted to browse the data, and in notifying the disclosure of the data, if the browsing is changed after the data is published, the third Notification designation means for designating whether or not to notify the person of the browsing change, and when the notification designating means is designated to notify, the plurality of third parties are notified of the browsing change. And a change notification means.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an information providing device that discloses data uploaded from a user's terminal device, and permits browsing of the data specified by the user. Notifying means for notifying the disclosure of the data to a plurality of third parties, and when notifying the disclosure of the data, if the browsing is changed after the data is disclosed, Notification designating means for designating whether or not to notify the browsing change, and a change notifying means for notifying the plurality of third parties of the browsing modification when the notification designating means designates the notification. And having.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an information providing method of an information providing system for making data available to an information providing apparatus on a network, wherein the data is made available to the information providing apparatus on the network. In the notification step of notifying a plurality of third parties who are permitted to browse the data, and in notifying the disclosure of the data, if the browsing is changed after the data is published, Notification specifying step for specifying whether or not to notify the person of the change of the browsing, and when the notification specifying step specifies the notification, the plurality of third parties are notified of the change of the browsing. And a change notification step.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an information providing method for disclosing data uploaded from a user's terminal device, and permits browsing of the data designated by the user. A notification step of notifying the disclosure of the data to a plurality of third parties, and when notifying the disclosure of the data, if the browsing is changed after the data is disclosed, And a notification designating step of designating whether or not to notify the modification of the browsing, and a modification notifying step of notifying the plurality of third parties of the modification of the browsing when designated by the notification designating step. And having.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The relative arrangement of the components, the display screen, and the like described in the present embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them unless otherwise specified.

An information providing system for sharing and providing digital image data via the Internet will be described as the present embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information providing system in this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an image input device, which is an optical information that is image information obtained by a digital still camera capable of capturing a still image and recording it as digital image data, or a digital video camera capable of capturing a moving image and recording it as moving image data. It is a device that converts an image into an electric signal, performs predetermined image processing, and then records or reproduces it as digital information. 102A is a user personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “user PC”), and 116 is the image input device 101 and the user PC 10.
2A is a data transfer interface for transferring captured image data. The data transfer interface 116 is, for example, a wired interface represented by USE or IEEE1394, or IrDA, B, for example.
It may be a wireless interface represented by luetooth.

Image data photographed by the image input device 101 and stored as digital information in the information storage device in the image input device 101 is the data transfer interface 1.
16 is transferred to the storage area of the information storage device represented by the HDD of the user PC 102A. Regarding the transfer of image data from the image input device 101 to the user PC 102A, the information is stored in the information storage device in the image input device 101 by an instruction from the OS installed in the user PC 102A or a dedicated software. In some cases, the image data may be transferred all at once, or may be transferred by the OS of the user PC 102A or dedicated software to secure a storage area in the information storage device of the user PC 102A by a transfer command sent from the image input apparatus 101. is there.

The image data thus transferred to the user PC 102A is uploaded to the photo site 105 connected to the Internet 104 by the following procedure.

A browser having a standard protocol capable of transferring information on the Internet 104 operable on the user PC 102A accesses the photo site 105 using a standard protocol such as the HTTP protocol, and is managed by the server PC of the photo site 105. HTML, XML
Displays information linked to multimedia information such as images and sounds created in a description language such as.

By this operation, the user PC 102A
It is possible to receive a service using the Internet 104 as the communication infrastructure provided by the photo site 105.

Next, the image data shot by the image input device 101 stored in the information storage area of the user PC 102A is requested by the user of the user PC 102A.
It is transferred to the photo site 105 (hereinafter, this transfer is referred to as “image upload”). Here, for image upload, select the image data you want to transfer from the above-mentioned browser and transfer it in conjunction with the image upload request action, or select the image data using software such as image upload dedicated It may be directly transferred from the dedicated image upload software. In any case, it is executed based on a protocol such as HTTP or FTP available on the Internet.

The module that executes this series of operations at the photo site 105 is the photo sharing module 10.
It is 6. The photo sharing module 106 checks whether the uploaded image data is image data that can be used by the photo site 105, and if it is determined that the uploaded image data is available, the photo sharing module 106 stores the uploaded image data in the image database 117. The attribute information and the like are stored in the database 118. At this stage, the photo sharing module 106 notifies the user PC 102A that the image data has been uploaded normally.

In addition to the above-described image data attribute information, the database 118 also provides a print service requesting printout of user attribute information data registered in the photo site 105 and uploaded image data. Various data such as attribute information of a person (hereinafter abbreviated as "print site") is stored and centrally managed.

In this way, the user of the user PC 102A can browse the uploaded image data by designating it through the browser. For this browsing, a plurality of uploaded image data may be collected into one unit and managed as an album.

Next, the flow of making a print order for the uploaded image data will be described step by step. Among the image data uploaded to the photo site 105, the user of the user PC 102A can browse the image data uploaded by himself / herself via the browser. At this time, as a means for selecting images to be browsed, when selecting images to be sequentially browsed in a unit of a single image, or by registering the above-mentioned plurality of sheets as one album and selecting one from a plurality of album groups. May select an album that the user wants to view, and may select and view individual images managed by the selected album.

The photo site 105 requests the print order of the image data uploaded by the user from the print site that provides the printout of the image data as a solution. This print site is a site provided by a print provider, and is shown by 109A, 109B, and 109C in FIG. still,
Only three print sites are shown due to the drawings.
There is no limit to the number, even if it is more than this.

Next, the user of the user PC 102A selects the image data that he / she wants as a product by printing out from the browsing screen of the uploaded image. Next, the user of the user PC 102A selects the print site he / she wants to order from the print sites 109A, 109B, 109C that the photo site 105 can provide. Here, the user selects the print site that he / she orders in consideration of the services provided by each print site, the price, the delivery date, and the like.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the description will be made assuming that the user has selected the print site 109A. However, even if the print site selected by the user is the print site 109B or the print site 109C, the basic information is displayed. The flow of is the same.

First, the user who wants to order a print selects the image data and the print site for which a print order is desired from the browsing screen, and notifies the photo site 105. on the other hand,
The photo site 105 generates a temporary print order for the image data for which a print-out request has been made, and the selected print site 109A is connected to the Internet 104.
Request a quote via.

Next, at the print site 109A that receives the temporary print order from the photo site 105, the price is calculated from the contents of the temporary print order by the charging 2 module 110A, which is a charging means, and the estimated price is sent via the Internet 104. Notify the photo site 105.
Then, the photo site 105 can receive the estimated price information in real time, transfer it to the user PC 102A as information, and dynamically present the price presented by the print site 109A to the user who places a print order.

Here, the user PC 10 who placed the print order
If the user of 2A accepts the suggested price and decides to purchase at this price, the approval action is given to the photo site 105.
Then, the settlement module 107, which is a settlement means, accepts this and performs settlement processing. When this payment is completed,
The photo site 105 sends a formal print order to the print site 109A. At the print site 109A,
The formal print order is accepted, and the image data necessary for printout is acquired from the image database 117 of the photo site 105.

The image data obtained in this way is
The printed matter 112 is printed out by the printer 111A which is a printing unit owned by the print site 109A.
It is output as A. The printed-out printed matter 112A is delivered to the delivery destination designated by the user of the user PC 102A who requested the printout by a transportation means such as mailing.

The above is a schematic description of a system for a user who uploads image data photographed by the image input apparatus 101 via the user PC 102A to browse the photo site 105 and place a print order.

Although the PC has been described as an example of the terminal for uploading an image, the information providing system according to the present invention is not limited to this, and even if an image is uploaded from a mobile terminal. Alternatively, the image may be directly uploaded from an image input device such as a digital camera, a digital video, a scanner or a digital copying machine.

Next, a third party other than the user who uploaded the image data to the photo site 105 on the Internet 104 is an image database 11 of the photo site 105 by a third party.
A method of browsing the image data stored in 7 will be described.

Here, the photo site 105 manages "uploaded images" or "uploaded images as one archive" to a third party designated by the user who uploaded the image data. An album "browsing and print ordering service shall be provided.

First, the user who uploaded the image data to the photo site 105 stores attribute information such as the name of a third party (hereinafter referred to as "browsing user") that he / she permits to browse.
E-Mail (hereinafter simply referred to as "mail") address We
b The photo site 105 is notified by the browser. As a result, when the photo site 105 publishes the image to the browsing user, first, the URL (Universal Reseller) necessary for publication is displayed.
source Locator) is generated. UR generated at this time
As L, a unique address and uniquely unpredictable random number or the like is assigned. An example is shown below.

Http: //○○○.com/PhotoSite/Album/Albu
mEntry.cgi? AlbumID = AJNWDMF In this way, uniquely unpredictable URL is "random U
RL ".

The photo site 105 adds the password information necessary for browsing to the random URL thus generated, and notifies the browsing user by mail via the Internet 104. The browsing user who has received the mail can browse the image or the album designated by the user who uploaded the image by accessing the Internet 104 from the user PC 102B and inputting the random URL notified by the email in the Web browser. it can.

Next, a method will be described in which a browsing user using the user PC 102B places a print order for the image data that can be browsed in this way. It is assumed that the photo site 105 makes a print order of image data from a browsing user to any of the print sites 109A, 109B, and 109C that provide printout of image data.

First, the browsing user who is using the user PC 102B selects the image data which he / she wants to print out from the browsing screen by the Web browser and obtain a printed matter as a product. Then, the browsing user of the user PC 102B selects the print site he / she wants to order from the print sites 109A, 109B, 109C provided by the photo site 105. Browsing users are
Select the print site you want to order in consideration of the services provided by each print site, unit price, delivery time, etc.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the description will be made assuming that the user has selected the print site 109B, but the print site selected by the user is not limited to this.
The basic information flow is the same between the print site 109A and the print site 109C.

Next, when the browsing user selects the image data for which a print order is desired from the browsing screen and notifies the photo site 105, the photo site 105 generates a temporary print order for the image data for which a printout is requested, The print site 109B is requested to send an estimate by transmitting it via the Internet 104. On the other hand, at the print site 109B that received the temporary print order from the photo site 105, the image data required for the selected image information is stored in the image database 11 of the photo site 105.
7 to obtain the selected image information. Then, by transmitting the selected image information to the user PC 102B via the Internet 104, the browsing user can input the print format, the number of prints, etc. for each image selected on the Web browser on the PC 102B.

The print site 109B charges 2 based on the information such as the print format and the number of prints for each selected image.
The module 110B calculates an estimated amount, and the calculated estimated amount is sent to the photo site 1 via the Internet 104.
Send to 05. The photo site 105 receives in real time the estimated price information transmitted by the print site 109B. Then, in the case of a browsing user who does not have the personal information of the user, the estimated amount transmitted by the print site 109B is transferred to the user PC 102B as Web information,
Further, in the case of a browsing user who has the personal information of the user, the presented amount in which points are added to the estimated amount can be transferred as Web information and dynamically presented to the browsing user who has placed a print order.

Here, the user PC 10 who placed the print order
If the 2B browsing user accepts the suggested price and decides to purchase at this price, the approval action is taken by the photo site 1
Returning to 05, the settlement module 107 as a settlement means receives this and the settlement processing is performed. Upon completion of this payment, the photo site 105 sends a formal print order to the print site 109B. Print site 109B
Accepts this formal print order and acquires the image data necessary for printout from the image database 117 of the photo site 105.

The image data obtained in this way is
The printed matter 112 is printed out by the printer 111B which is a printing unit owned by the print site 109B.
It is output as B. Then, the printed-out printed matter 112B is delivered to the delivery destination designated by the browsing user of the user PC 102B who requested the printout by a transportation means such as mailing.

Further, the photo site 105 can provide an image (or album) browsing notification, browsing function, and print order service to the owner of the portable terminal designated by the user who uploaded the image. As a result, the notification email including the URL for browsing the image or album can be received by the mobile terminal, and the image or album can be browsed or the print can be ordered from the mobile terminal as well (hereinafter, the photo site 105 is used from the mobile terminal The user who does this is abbreviated as “mobile browsing user”).

User PC 102A to Internet 1
The user who uploaded the image data to the photo site 105 via 04 notifies the photo site 105 of the attribute information such as the name of the mobile browsing user who he / she is allowed to browse and the mail address by the Web browser. As a result, when the photo site 105 publishes an image or an album to a mobile browsing user, the photo site 105 first needs a random U
Generate RL.

The photo site 105 sends the generated random URL to the portable terminal 113A of the portable browsing user by e-mail, adding password information required for browsing if necessary. As a transfer route of the mail notified to the mobile browsing user, the mobile network 11 capable of exchanging various data with the mobile terminal 113A via the Internet connection gateway 115A connected to the Internet 104 from the mail distribution server of the photo site 105.
4A, and transferred to the mobile terminal 113A.

On the other hand, the mobile browsing user who receives the mail from the photo site 105 inputs the random URL address notified by the mail in the dedicated browser of the mobile terminal 113A, and thereby the mobile network 114A.
-> Internet connection gateway 115A-> Accesses the photo site 105 via the route of the Internet 104.

The photo site 105 is the Internet 1
In addition to Web information created in a description language such as HTML or XML that can be displayed in 04, it owns browser information for a mobile terminal created in a description language for a mobile terminal such as WML or CompactHTML. Mobile terminal 113A
It has image data resized to a size that can be displayed in. Then, the photo site 105 uses the mobile terminal 113.
In response to a request from A, the model is determined and the mobile terminal 1
13A sends out information that can be displayed.

The portable terminal environment in which browsing is possible is the portable terminal 113.
Not only A, but communication protocol specifications and information description languages,
Even if the mobile terminal 113B has a different mobile network environment, the photo site 105 can be used to enjoy the service.
Provides browser information in various formats. Due to the drawing, the available mobile terminals are 113A and 1
Two of 13B are shown, but it goes without saying that more than this is possible.

Here, the browsing request from the mobile terminal 113B is transmitted from the mobile network 114B available to the mobile terminal 113B to the Internet connection gateway 115.
Sent to B, protocol converted, Internet 10
4 is delivered to the photo site 105 connected to the No. 4.

In the photo site 105, in addition to the Web display information created in the description language such as HTML or XML that can be browsed on the Internet 104, the image data is resized to a size that can be browsed by the mobile terminal 113B, and WML,
Owns browser information created in a descriptive language dedicated to mobile terminals such as CompactHTML. Further, the photo site 105 determines the model in response to a request from the mobile terminal 113B and sends out information that can be browsed by the mobile terminal 113B.

Next, the portable terminal 113A or the portable terminal 11
A method in which a mobile browsing user who is a 3B user selects image data and orders prints will be described. The transmission path of information between the photo site 105 and the mobile terminal 113 described below is as follows: photo site 105 → Internet 104 → Internet connection gateway 115 →
Mobile net 114 → mobile terminal 113.

First, the mobile browsing user can browse the image or album designated by the user who uploaded the image by inputting the random URL notified by mail to the browser of the mobile terminal. The mobile browsing user can provide the print site 1 provided by the photo site 105.
Select the print site you want to order from 09A, 109B, and 109C. The mobile browsing user selects the print site 109 to order by considering the service provided by each print site, the unit price, the delivery date, and the like.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the description will proceed assuming that the user has selected the print site 109C, but the print site selected by the user is not limited to this.
The basic information flow is the same between the print site 109A and the print site 109B.

Here, the mobile browsing user selects image data for which a print order is to be made from the browsing screen, and the photo site 1
When notified to 05, the photo site 105 requests the print site 109C for a quotation by generating a temporary print order for the image data for which a printout request has been made and transmitting it via the Internet 104. On the other hand, the print site 109C that receives the temporary print order from the photo site 105 acquires the image data necessary for the selected image information from the image database 117 of the photo site 105 and generates the selected image information. Then, by transmitting the selected image information to the mobile terminal 113A via the Internet 104, the mobile browsing user can input the print format and the number of sheets for each selected image in the mobile terminal 113A.

The print site 109C charges for each selected image based on information such as the print format and the number of sheets.
The estimated amount is calculated by the module 110C, and the calculated estimated amount is sent to the photo site 1 via the Internet 104.
Send to 05. The photo site 105 receives the estimated price information transmitted by the print site 109C in real time. Then, in the case of a mobile browsing user who does not have the personal information of the user, the estimated amount transmitted by the print site 109C is transferred to the mobile terminal 113A as Web information,
Further, in the case of a mobile browsing user who has the personal information of the user, it is possible to transfer the presented amount in consideration of points to the estimated amount as Web information and dynamically present it to the mobile browsing user who has placed a print order. it can.

Here, the portable terminal 113 for which the print order is placed
When the mobile browsing user of A recognizes the presented price and decides to purchase at this price, an approval action is returned to the photo site 105, and the settlement module 107 as a settlement means.
Is accepted and the payment is processed. When the payment is completed, the photo site 105 sends a formal print order to the print site 109C. Print site 109C
Accepts this formal print order and acquires the image data necessary for printout from the image database 117 of the photo site 105.

The image data thus obtained is
The printed matter 112 is printed out by the printer 111C which is a printing unit owned by the print site 109C.
It is output as C. The printed-out printed matter 112C is delivered to the mobile browsing user who is the user of the mobile terminal 113A who requested the printout by a delivery means such as home delivery or mail.

The above is an information providing system for viewing image data and ordering prints based on the information received from the photo site 105 by a third party who has been allowed to view images or albums by the user who uploaded the image data. Is a brief description of.

Next, an information providing system that allows the user to easily notify the method of viewing the published digital image data and the comment input by the user without the user having to care about the relationship between the notification destinations and the mail address, etc. The service content will be described in detail.

The services and functions realized by the system according to this embodiment are not limited to the above outline description.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an input screen for notifying the browsing method in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the screen 200 shown in FIG. 2 is an input screen for notifying the browsing method to the browsing user who has uploaded the image data to the photo site 105 and is permitted to browse the image data. This screen is sent to the user's PC and displayed by the web browser.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the input screen 200, an area (sendee mail address) 201 for inputting an E-mail address of a browsing user who he / she is permitted to browse and image data are uploaded to the photo site 105. User E-
Area to enter Mail address (sender's email address)
202, an area (mail title) 203 for inputting a title of an email to be sent, and an area (message) for inputting a comment to be notified other than a method of browsing image data
204, an area 205 displaying information on how to browse image data, and a check box 20 for setting whether or not to notify again when the album is changed thereafter.
6. Notification button 207 for instructing the start of this email notification
And a cancel button 208 for canceling the email notification.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the album notification destination table in this embodiment. Here, the album notification destination table 300 is stored in the image database 117 of the photo site 105. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes an area for storing the ID of the album published by the user. 302 is the album ID 3 by the user
This is an area for storing the mail address of a third party who has notified that the album No. 01 will be released. When emails are sent to a plurality of third parties for one album, a plurality of tables having the same album ID as the album ID 301 are created. For the email address to be notified in the notification process described later, the album ID to be notified is the album ID 3
The table held in 01 is searched.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the notification mail transmission processing in this embodiment. This process is a process performed by the photo site 105 when the notification button 207 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed.

First, in step S401, the photo site 105 analyzes the E-Mail address input to the input area 201 shown in FIG. 2 and stores the individually decomposed mail address in the array StrArray. Initialize the index WIndex. Then, in step S402, the E-Ma input in the input area 201 shown in FIG.
Copy to the analysis area Str for analyzing the il address.
Next, in step S403, the mail address delimited by “,” is cut out from the character string of the analysis area Str and copied to the temporary area SubStr. In addition, in order to cut out the next e-mail address of the cut out e-mail address, if there is a character string copied from the character string in the analysis area Str to the temporary area SubStr and its delimiter character, the character string excluding the delimiter character Save it again.

The delimiter of the inputted mail address is not limited to this, and it is also possible to use a symbol other than the symbol denoting the mail address such as ";" as the delimiter of the mail address.

Next, in step S404, the ISO
IETF (In which is a subordinate organization of C (Internet SOCiety)
According to RFC (Request For Comment), which is a document officially issued by the ternet Engineering Task Force), it is determined whether or not the character string of the analysis area SubStr indicates a mail address, and if it indicates a mail address, step S406. Proceed to, but if not, step S4
The flow advances to 05 to display a warning that the destination mail address is incorrect, and ends the processing.

In step S406, it is checked whether or not the character string of the temporary area SubStr already exists in the array StrArray. If it already exists, the process proceeds to step S409 as it is, otherwise the process proceeds to step S407, and the destination mail address is copied. The character string of the temporary area SubStr that is being copied is copied to the array StrArray indicated by the index WIndex. Then, in step S408, the index WIndex is incremented.

Next, in step S409, it is determined whether or not the character string of the mail address exists in the analysis area Str, and if the character string exists in the analysis area Str, step S4.
Returning to 03, the next mail address is cut out, and the above processing is repeated. If the character string does not exist in the analysis area Str, the process proceeds to step S410, and the index WIndex indicates the number of mail addresses stored in the array StrArray as “0”.
It is determined by whether or not. Here, if there is no saved mail address, the process proceeds to step S405, and an instruction is displayed to display on the Web browser that a character string that is not determined to be a mail address is included, or that no mail address has been input, and the process ends. .

If the mail address is stored in step S410, the process proceeds to step S411,
Initialize the index RIndex for referencing the array StrArray holding the email address. Then, in step S412, a character string StrAddr for using a plurality of addresses as destinations is created. Although not shown, the address delimiter "," indicates that the index Rindex is WI.
In the case of ndex-1, it is not added. Next, step S41
In 3, it is determined whether or not to re-notify the current notification destination. Here, when the check box 206 of the screen 200 shown in FIG. 2 is checked, it is assumed that re-notification is to be performed, and the process proceeds to step S414. If the check box 206 on the screen 200 is not checked, it is assumed that the re-notification is not performed in step S.
Proceed to 416.

In step S414, the album ID of the album currently to be notified from the album notification destination table 300 in the image database 117 is set to the album ID.
Search all records in 301 and index RInd
It is determined whether or not the same character string as the mail address of the array StrArray indicated by ex is already registered in the notification destination mail address 302. As a result, if it is already registered, the process proceeds to step S416, but if it is not registered, the process proceeds to step S415, and the album ID of the album to be notified to the album notification destination table 300 of the image database 117 is set to the album ID 301. Have, index
A new record having the mail address of the array StrArray indicated by RIndex as the notification destination mail address 302 is created.
Then, in step S416, the index RInd
Ex is counted up, and in step S417, it is checked whether another mail address exists in the array StrArray indicated by the index RIndex. Here, if it exists, the process returns to step S412 to repeat the above-described processing.

In step S417, if another mail address does not exist in the array StrArray indicated by the index RIndex, the process proceeds to step S418 and the character string St
With the email address registered in rAddr as the destination (to :),
A notification mail is created using the information input in the input areas 202 to 204 shown in FIG. 2 and the browsing method displayed in the information display area 205. Then, in step S419, the notification mail created in step S418 is transmitted, and the process ends.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the error mail processing in this embodiment. This process is a process performed by the photo site 105 when the photo site 105 receives an error mail from the Internet 104.

First, in step S501, it is determined whether an error mail has been received from the Internet 104. Here, if it is not an error mail, this process is ended, but if it is an error mail, the process proceeds to step S502, and it is determined whether or not the error mail is an error related to mail transmission. If the mail transmission error has not occurred, the process ends. If the mail transmission error has occurred, the process advances to step S503 to extract the mail address of the transmission destination (addressee) having the mail transmission error from the error mail.

Next, in step S504, all records having the notification destination mail address 302 of the mail address extracted in step S503 are searched from the album notification destination table 300 of the image database 117. Here, if there is no record, this processing is ended, but if there is a record, it proceeds to step S505, deletes all the records retrieved in step S504, and ends this processing.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an album deletion confirmation screen. The confirmation screen 600 shown in FIG. 6 is a confirmation screen displayed when the user browses the photo site 105, selects a published album, and deletes the image data thereof. The confirmation screen 600 also includes a check box 601 for setting whether to send a deletion notification to a third party who has notified the release of the album, a delete button 602 for executing the deletion, and a cancel button 603 for canceling the deletion. Have and.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the album deleting process in this embodiment. This process is a process performed by the photo site 105 when the delete button 602 is pressed on the album deletion confirmation screen 600.

First, in step S700, if the check box 601 is not checked on the album deletion confirmation screen 600, the process proceeds to step S702. If it is checked, the process proceeds to step S701 to perform a notification process described later (FIG. 9). In response to the notification, the ID of the album currently to be deleted and a notification message are sent to notify the mail of the album deletion content. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a deletion notification mail transmitted in the notification process.

Next, in step S702, the image data of the album and the album are deleted. Then, in step S703, the album notification destination table 300
The album ID to be deleted in album ID 301 in
The record in which is set the image database 117
Remove from.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the mail notification processing in this embodiment. This process is a mail notification process performed by the photo site 105 when the album is deleted, the album is not made public, and the album is not made public again.

First, in step S900, the ID of the album to be notified of deletion, non-disclosure or republication of the album and a message for notifying the album are acquired. Then, in step S901, a record in which the album ID acquired in step S900 is set in the album ID 301 is searched from the album notification destination table 300 in the image database 117. next,
In step S901, the number of retrieved records is substituted into the record number nRecords from the retrieval result, and "1" is set to the work variable nCount for counting the number of records to be processed.

Next, in step S902, it is determined whether or not the work variable nCount is less than or equal to the number of records nRecords. If the work variable nCount is less than or equal to the number of records nRecords, the process proceeds to step S903 and the work variable nCount is equal to or less than the number of records. When it becomes larger than the number nRecords, this process ends.
In step S903, the retrieved record indicated by the work variable nCount is acquired. Next, in step S904, the notification destination e-mail address 302 is acquired from the retrieved record, and a notification e-mail in which the e-mail address is set as the destination is created. Then, step S905
In step S904, the mail created in step S904 is transmitted. In step S906, the work variable nCount is incremented by “1”, the process returns to step S902, and the above-described processing is repeated.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the album property screen in this embodiment. The property screen 1000 is a screen displayed when setting the property of the album. A check box 1001 is a check box indicating whether or not the album can be disclosed to a third party, and only when the check box 1001 is checked, this album can be viewed by the third party.

The check box 1002 is a check box for determining whether or not to re-notify the person who has notified the album in the past when the setting of the check box 1001 is changed. For example, with the check box 1002 checked, uncheck the check box 1001 and set the button 1003.
When is pressed, it notifies that the album cannot be browsed. In this case, the photo site 105 automatically creates a mail as shown in FIG. 11 by the notification processing shown in FIG. 9 and sends it as a private notification mail.

If the check box 1001 is checked and the setting button 1003 is pressed while the check box 1002 is checked, it is notified that the album can be browsed again. In this case, the photo site 105 automatically creates a mail as shown in FIG. 12 by the notification process shown in FIG. 9 and sends it as a republication notification mail.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to determine to whom the user has notified the information in the past by setting whether or not to notify the subsequent change at the time of notification of publication. It is possible to delete images and change viewing settings without being aware of it, and to notify a third party of a user's operation without imposing a heavy burden on the user.

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment,
Although an album, which is a set of image data, is used as a unit of disclosure, it is easy to make it public by the unit of image data by linking the album ID 301 of the album notification destination table 300 shown in FIG. 3 as the image data ID and the image data. Can be dealt with.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the album, which is a set of image data, is disclosed has been described. However, the present invention relates to the case where the album including image data, document data, or image data and document data is disclosed. It is clear that the above can be similarly applied.

The object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (or computer) of the system or apparatus. It is needless to say that this is also achieved by the CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
Needless to say, this also includes the case where the above-mentioned processes perform some or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores the program code corresponding to the above-mentioned flowchart.

[0098]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When notifying the disclosure of data, by designating whether or not to notify the change of browsing after disclosure to multiple third parties who are permitted to browse, the modification of browsing can be performed by multiple third parties. Can be reliably notified.

Further, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user who uploaded the data and improve the convenience for the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information providing system in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an input screen for notifying a browsing method in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an album notification destination table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a notification mail transmission process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing error mail processing according to this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a confirmation screen for album deletion.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing album deletion processing according to this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an email for notifying deletion of an album in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a mail notification process according to this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a property screen of an album in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an email notifying that an album is not disclosed in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an e-mail notifying re-publication of an album in the present embodiment.

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An information providing system for releasing data by an information providing device on a network, wherein a plurality of third parties are allowed to view the data by the information providing device on the network. Notifying means for notifying and designating whether or not to notify the plurality of third parties of the change in browsing when the browsing is changed after the data is disclosed when notifying the disclosure of the data An information providing system comprising: a notification designating means; and a change notifying means for notifying the plurality of third parties of a browsing change when the notification designating means designates the notification. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the data is uploaded from a user terminal device to an information providing device on the network. 3. The change notification means, when the data is deleted, notifies the plurality of third parties who are managed together with the identification information of the data that the data cannot be browsed. Information provision system described. 4. The change notification means, when the data is made private, notifies the plurality of third parties managed together with the identification information of the data that the data cannot be viewed. The information providing system described in 1. 5. The change notification means, when the data is republished, notifies the plurality of third parties managed together with the identification information of the data that the data is viewable. The information providing system described in 1. 6. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the change notifying unit does not notify a third party having a notification error. 7. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the data is at least one of image data, document data, or an album composed of a plurality of image data. 8. An information providing apparatus for disclosing data uploaded from a user's terminal device, wherein the data is disclosed to a plurality of third parties who are permitted to browse the data designated by the user. And a notification means for notifying the disclosure of the data, and specifies whether or not to notify the plurality of third parties of the browsing change when the browsing is changed after the data is published. An information providing apparatus comprising: a notification designating unit that causes the notification designating unit and a change notifying unit that, when designated by the notification designating unit, notify the plurality of third parties of a browsing change. 9. An information providing method for an information providing system, which discloses data by an information providing device on a network, wherein a plurality of third data access devices permit access to the data by the information providing device on the network. Notification step for notifying the person concerned, and, when notifying the disclosure of the data, if the browsing is changed after the data has been disclosed, whether or not to notify the plurality of third parties of the browsing change Information having a notification specifying step for specifying whether or not, and a change notification step for notifying the plurality of third parties of a change in browsing when specified by the notification specifying step. Information providing method of the providing system. 10. An information providing method for disclosing data uploaded from a user's terminal device, wherein the data is disclosed to a plurality of third parties who are permitted to browse the data designated by the user. Specifying whether to notify the plurality of third parties of the change in browsing when the browsing is changed after publishing the data when notifying the disclosure of the data. An information providing method comprising: a notification designating step of making the notification and a change notifying step of designating a change of browsing to the plurality of third parties when the notification designating step is designated to notify. 11. A computer according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
A program for causing the means to function as described in any one of 1. 12. A computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to claim 11 is recorded.