JP2005339214A - On-line album system, server for use in the system, terminal equipment and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems in which there is such a case that a photographic date or a photographic location is unclear after the lapse of a long time since photographing, and that the photographic date data are easily falsified. <P>SOLUTION: The on-line album system is provided with a server 21 on a computer network for storing photographic image data and terminal equipment 3 for transmitting and receiving the photographic image data with the server, and uses the server as a personal album, wherein the server accumulates the photographic image data together with the photographic date data and the photographic location data when accumulating the photographic image data, and transmits the photographic image data together with the photographic date data and the photographic location data to the photographic image data when executing various processing, and the terminal equipment receives the photographic image data and the photographic date data together with the photographic location data from the server, and displays the photographic image and the photographic date and the photographic location in a visible condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an online album system comprising a server on a computer network for storing photographed image data and a terminal device for transmitting / receiving photographed image data to / from the server, and using the server as a personal album.

  In recent years, digital cameras have become widespread and have been incorporated into mobile terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). Digital cameras record captured images (hereinafter referred to as “captured images”) as digital data. For this reason, the method for storing photographed images in an album is different from a conventional film-type camera. That is, in the case of a film-type camera, a photographed image (photo after development) is saved by pasting it on an album board. On the other hand, in the case of a digital camera, a captured image (digital data) is saved by recording (accumulating) it on a personal computer (a storage device such as a hard disk therein) or a recording medium (memory card, etc.). To do. The photographed image data stored in the personal computer or recording medium is used for processing such as browsing, editing, and printing by commercially available application software. In this way, the personal computer and the recording medium are used as an album.

  With the rapid spread of the Internet, such photographed image data from a digital camera has recently been stored in a server that provides a service called an online album service (see, for example, Patent Document 1). . The online album service is a service in which image data captured by a digital camera is stored in a server on a computer network ("registered" from the user's point of view) and the server is used as a personal album.

  The online album service is used as follows. In the following description, the captured image data is simply referred to as “captured image”. A system comprising a server for providing an online album service and a terminal device on the user side is called an “online album system”.

That is, for example, a user first accesses a server on a computer network from a terminal device such as a personal computer or a mobile phone via a communication line, and the user's data (user name, date of birth, Phone number, email address, etc.). Then, the photographed image is transmitted using the registered mail address. Thereby, the server specifies the user and accumulates the captured image in a state where the user is associated with the captured image. When the server receives various processing requests for the captured image (for example, requests for viewing, editing, printing, etc. of the captured image) from the user, the server transmits the captured image to the terminal device on the user side. Alternatively, the photographed image is printed and sent to the user.
JP 2002-27233 A (paragraphs 0017 to 0030, FIGS. 1 to 4)

  However, in the conventional online album service, when the user browses images taken in the past, the user's memory can only know when and where the taken image was taken. However, when a certain amount of time elapses after shooting, there is a problem that the user cannot remember the shooting date / time and the shooting location, and may not know the shooting date / time and shooting location.

  In addition, since shooting date / time data of a captured image by a digital camera is directly written as numerical data in the captured image data, there is a problem that it can be easily falsified.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the online album system according to the present invention, the server accumulates the shooting date and time data and the shooting place data together with the shooting image data when storing the shooting image data, and performs various processes on the shooting image data. Sometimes, the shooting date and time data and the shooting location data are transmitted to the terminal device together with the shooting image data, and the terminal device receives the shooting date and time data and the shooting location data along with the shooting image data from the server. Is displayed. Thereby, the server (service provider) can inform the user of the shooting date and time and the shooting location. Further, since the shooting date / time data is stored in the server, it is possible to prevent the shooting date / time data from being falsified. Furthermore, since shooting location data that has not been stored in the past is stored in the server, the shooting location data can be saved and the shooting location data can be prevented from being falsified, as with the shooting date / time data. The shooting date / time data is acquired from a clock provided in the digital camera (or a GPS satellite if the digital camera does not have a clock). The shooting location data is acquired from a GPS satellite. The shooting date / time data and shooting location data are preferably included in the shot image data as digital watermarks when shooting with a digital camera. In this case, the server or the terminal device on the user side may acquire the shooting date data and the shooting location data by decoding the shot image data.

  Note that the server may transmit a program for embedding shooting date / time data and shooting location data as a digital watermark in a shot image to a terminal device on the user side. Thereby, the server (service provider) can add a function of embedding shooting date / time data and shooting location data as a digital watermark in the shot image to the terminal device on the user side. In addition, since the terminal device on the user side can embed the shooting date / time data and the shooting location data in the shot image data in a state where it is difficult to falsify, it is possible to prevent falsification of the shooting date / time data and the shooting location data.

  In addition, when shooting date / time data and shooting location data are embedded as a digital watermark in the captured image data to be stored, the server decodes the shot image data to acquire shooting date / time data and shooting location data. The shooting date / time data and shooting location data may be stored together with the image data. Thereby, the server (service provider) can respond immediately when various processing requests for the captured image data are received from the terminal device on the user side.

  In addition, the server may transmit a program for acquiring shooting date / time data and shooting location data to the terminal device on the user side. As a result, the server (service provider) has a function of acquiring the shooting date / time data and the shooting location data on the user side when the terminal device on the user side does not have the function of acquiring the shooting date / time data and shooting location data. It can be added to the terminal device.

  Further, the server may specify an arbitrary captured image from the stored captured images based on the shooting date and time or the shooting location. Thus, the user can search for an arbitrary captured image using the shooting date and time or the shooting location as a keyword, and can perform various processes (viewing, editing, printing, etc. of the captured image) on the searched captured image. .

  In addition, the server may specify the shooting location based on the shooting location data and transmit the map data of the specified location to the terminal device on the user side during various processing on the shot image. Thereby, the user can confirm the shooting location. The map data may be an image (a picture or a photo), or may be a character (what town, what street, what address, etc.).

  In addition, when shooting date / time data and shooting location data are embedded as a digital watermark in the captured image data to be stored, the server decodes the shot image data to acquire shooting date / time data and shooting location data. The shooting date / time data and the shooting location data may be transmitted to the terminal device on the user side together with the shot image data so that the date / time and the shooting location are different from those of the shot image. Thereby, the user can browse the captured image in a state where the shooting date and time and the shooting location are separated. It is also possible to print only the captured image.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the terminal device can transmit an instruction to search for an arbitrary captured image using the shooting date and time or the shooting location as a keyword to the server.

  According to the present invention, the server, which is a device on the service provider side, stores shooting date / time data and shooting location data together with the shooting image data when storing the shooting image data, and also performs shooting during various processing on the shooting image data. The image data and shooting date data and shooting location data are transmitted to the terminal device on the user side, and the terminal device receives these data from the server so that the user can visually recognize the shot image, the shooting date and time, and the shooting location. Display with status. Thereby, the service provider can inform the user of the shooting date and the shooting location. Further, since the shooting date / time data is stored in the server, it is possible to prevent the shooting date / time data from being falsified. Furthermore, since shooting location data that has not been stored in the past is stored in the server, the shooting location data can be saved and the shooting location data can be prevented from being falsified, as with the shooting date / time data.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Each figure is shown only schematically to the extent that the present invention can be understood. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example. Moreover, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the common component and the same component, and those overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to the first embodiment.

  The online album system 1 includes a device 2 on the service provider side and a device 3 on the user side.

  The device 2 on the service provider side is mainly composed of a server 21. The server 21 includes a customer database 22 for storing customer data, an album database 23 for storing photographed image data transmitted from the device 3 on the user side for each user, a map database 24 for storing map data, and a user. It manages an application program database 25 that provides various application programs (a device control program 25-1, a digital watermark encoding program 25-2, etc., which will be described later) to the device 3 on the side. In FIG. 1, the databases 22 to 25 are shown as components separate from the server 21, but may be components integrated with the server 21. “Digital watermark” is a technique for embedding special data in captured image data so that it cannot be distinguished from the original image by visual inspection.

  The device 3 on the user side is a terminal device having either or both of a photographing function for photographing a subject and a communication function for communicating with an external device.

  As specific examples of the device 3 on the user side, as shown in FIG. 1, a digital camera 31, a mobile terminal with a digital camera such as a mobile phone or a PDA (hereinafter simply referred to as “portable terminal”) 32, a personal computer 33. Etc. In addition, although not shown, for example, there is a store installation terminal device installed in a store of various distribution businesses by a service provider and having a function of communicating with the server 21 on the service provider side.

  Some devices 3 on the user side do not have a communication function. That is, for example, the digital camera 31 is a type having no communication function. In this case, the user moves various data to the device 3 on the user side having a communication function by using a recording medium (or device) such as a memory card or a portable hard disk device. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the user stores various data such as photographed image data in the memory card 34, and the memory card 34 has a user side device 3 having a communication function (a portable terminal having a communication function). 32, personal computer 33, the above-mentioned store installation terminal device (not shown), and the like, and the user's device 3 having a communication function reads various data stored in the memory card 34, thereby providing a service. Various data can be transmitted to the server 21 on the provider side. In this way, the user can transmit various data such as photographed image data to the server 21 and register the photographed image in the device 2 on the service provider side (album database 23 therein) (service "Accumulate" from the provider's point of view).

  The server 21 on the service provider side is connected to the device 3 on the user side (that is, the digital camera 31, the portable terminal 32, the personal computer 33, the store installation terminal device (not shown) described above, etc.) via the communication line network 4 such as the Internet. ) Is connected to a terminal device having a communication function, and various data online (for example, photographic image data including photographic date / time data and photographic location data, a device control program 25-1, and a digital watermark encoding program 25- described later) 2).

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the digital camera (or mobile terminal). The flow of each data shown in FIG. 2 will be described in the “<Operation>” section described later.

  A digital camera 31 and a mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone with a digital camera or a PDA) 32 internally include a camera unit 201 that generates captured image data that captures the surroundings, and a clock that counts the date and acquires captured date and time data. Unit 202, temporary storage unit 203 that temporarily stores captured image data, recording unit 204 that records various data (captured image data, shooting date / time data, shooting location data, etc.), memory card 34, and memory card 34 34, a card reader / writer 205 for writing various data (photographed image data, photo date / time data, photo location data, etc.), and radio waves transmitted from geodetic satellites called GPS satellites launched by the US Department of Defense. GPS unit 206 that acquires data, control unit 207 that controls each unit, communication that communicates with external devices 208 has a like.

  Here, it is assumed that the card reader / writer 205 is provided in the recording unit 204. The card reader / writer 205 not only writes data to the memory card 34 but also, for example, photographed image data including photographing date / time data and photographing location data, various application programs (a device control program 25-1, a digital watermark encoding program described later). 25-2 etc.) can also be read from the memory card 34. Here, the memory card 34 is used as a medium for storing data, but other recording media can be used. For example, a portable hard disk device or other forms may be used. In this case, the card reader / writer 205 is replaced with another type according to the form of the recording medium.

  The GPS unit 206 detects a radio wave transmitted from a GPS satellite orbiting the earth, measures the location relationship between the GPS satellite and itself, and calculates position coordinates (longitude and latitude) of the current location. Note that “GPS” is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System. GPS satellites are always launched so that there are a plurality (approximately 4 to 12) of GPS satellites above individual receivers (here, the digital camera 31 and the portable terminal 32 having the GSP unit 206). Yes. The GPS unit 206 receives radio waves transmitted from the plurality of GPS satellites, calculates the phase of the radio waves, and performs triangulation between the plurality of GPS satellites and itself. Thereby, the position coordinates (longitude and latitude) of its current location are detected, and further, the moving direction and moving speed are detected. Since GPS is a technique that is generally used at present, detailed description thereof is omitted here. Here, the GPS unit 206 is assumed to be built in the digital camera 31 and the portable terminal 32 in advance. However, there are digital cameras 31 and portable terminals 32 that do not incorporate the GPS unit 206. In this case, the service provider provides the GPS unit 206 manufactured as an attachment type device to the user by a technique such as rental or sales, and attaches it to the user's digital camera 31 or the portable terminal 32. .

  The control unit 207 stores various application programs (a device control program 25-1, which will be described later, a digital watermark encoding program 25-2 and the like), and executes various calculations based on these.

  The communication unit 208 is connected to the outside (here, the server 21) and various data (photographed image data including photographing date / time data and photographing location data) and various application programs (a device control program 25-1, a digital watermark encoding program described later). 25-2 etc.)). Note that some digital cameras 31 and portable terminals 32 do not have the communication unit 208. In this case, photographed image data including photographing date / time data and photographing place data is transmitted to the server 21 via the memory card 34. Various application programs (a device control program 25-1, a digital watermark encoding program 25-2, which will be described later) are stored in the digital camera 31 and the portable terminal 32 via the memory card 34. That is, the memory card 34 is connected to the personal computer 33 (or the aforementioned store installation terminal device (not shown)), and the server 21 is accessed via the personal computer 33 (or the aforementioned store installation terminal device (not shown)). 21 stores various application programs in the memory card 34, and then connects the memory card 34 to the digital camera 31 (or the portable terminal 32), and loads various application programs from the memory card 34 to the digital camera 31 (or In the portable terminal 32).

<Operation>
The operation of the system according to the first embodiment will be described in the order of “user registration method” and “service usage method”.

(User registration method)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a user registration procedure.

  The user makes a contract with the service provider regarding the use of the online album service, and the user data (address, name, etc.) is registered in the device 2 on the service provider side (customer database 22 therein) according to the following procedure. To do.

  The user operates a terminal device having a communication function to access the server 21 on the service provider side (step 301).

  When the server 21 on the service provider side is accessed from the terminal device on the user side, the server 21 on the service provider side provides the home page screen of the online album service to the terminal device on the user side (step 302).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the home page screen on the display unit. At this time, it is assumed that the user views the home page screen and selects the user registration process. As a result, the terminal device on the user side transmits a signal requesting the user registration process to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 303).

  When the server 21 on the service provider side receives a signal requesting user registration processing from the terminal device on the user side, the server 21 on the service provider side provides a member registration screen for registering the user to the terminal device on the user side ( Step 304).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the member registration screen on the display unit. At this time, it is assumed that the user looks at the member registration screen, reads the contents of the contract regarding the use, inputs the user data (address, name, etc.), and performs the operation of accepting the contract. Thereby, the terminal device on the user side transmits user data (address, name, etc.) to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 305).

  When the server 21 on the service provider side receives the user data from the terminal device on the user side, it registers the user data in the customer database 22 (step 306).

  At this time, when the online album service is charged, the user can pay the fee. Here, it is assumed that the user pays a fee to the service provider side by credit settlement or electronic money. If the terminal device on the user side is a store-installed terminal device (not shown), cash is put into the store-installed terminal device or cash is paid to the store clerk. When the user pays the fee, the terminal device on the user side transmits a signal notifying the payment of the fee to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 307).

  The server 21 on the service provider side confirms payment of the fee (step 308). When the payment is confirmed, the server 21 on the service provider side issues an ID number and a password to the user. That is, the user ID number and password are transmitted to the terminal device on the user side (step 309), and the user ID number and password are registered in the customer database 22.

  Thus, the user registration is completed.

  The fee may be paid by a monthly payment method instead of such a procedure.

  Here, the user is specified using the user ID number and password, but the method for specifying the user is not limited to this. For example, there is a method of identifying a user using a name or telephone number and a password. There is also a method for identifying a user by using the biological characteristics of the user. The user ID number and password can be changed as appropriate according to these methods.

(How to use the service)
The service usage method will be described in the order of “1. Registration of captured image”, “2. Browsing captured image”, and “3. Search for captured image”. In the following description, the terminal device on the user side is described as having a photographing function for photographing a subject and a communication function for communicating with an external device. However, in the case of a terminal device having no communication function, Various data are moved to a terminal device having a communication function by using a recording medium (or device) such as a memory card 34 or a portable hard disk device.

(1. Registration of captured images)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for registering a captured image. The registration of the photographed image includes a “pre-processing” process and an “operational” process.

  In the “pre-processing” step, various application programs (device control program 25-1, digital watermark encoding program 25-2, etc.) are transferred to a terminal device on the user side (the digital camera 31 and the portable terminal 32 therein). And the like having a shooting function).

  The “in operation” process uses an application program to acquire shooting date / time data and shooting location data at the time of shooting with a terminal device on the user side having a shooting function such as the digital camera 31 or the portable terminal 32, and shooting. The date and time data and shooting location data are embedded in the photographic image data as a digital watermark, and photographic image data embedded with the digital watermark (hereinafter referred to as “photographed image data with digital watermark”) is generated, and the photographic image data with digital watermark is provided as a service. This is a step of registering in the user side device 2 (the album database 23 therein).

  The process of “during pretreatment” is as follows.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the server 21 on the service provider side reads various application programs from the application program database 25 when the user registration is completed, and performs shooting functions such as the digital camera 31 and the portable terminal 32. This is provided to the terminal device on the user side (step 401).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side stores various application programs (step 402).

  Thus, the “pre-processing” process is completed.

  At this time, various application programs provided to the terminal device on the user side include a device control program 25-1 and a digital watermark encoding program 25-2.

  The device control program 25-1 is a program that operates the control unit 207 to control each unit of the terminal device on the user side. In particular, the device control program 25-1 operates the control unit 207 so that the shooting date / time data 253 is acquired by the clock unit 202 and the shooting location data 254 is acquired by the GPS unit 206. Here, the shooting location data 254 is described as data representing a location (positional coordinates) on the earth such as longitude and latitude.

  The digital watermark encoding program 25-2 converts the shooting date / time data 253 and the shooting location data 254 into the digital watermark data 255, and the digital watermark data 255 is converted into the shot image data 251 temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 203. This is an embedded program (see FIG. 2).

  The “in operation” process is as follows.

  That is, at the time of “operation”, a terminal device on the user side having a photographing function such as the digital camera 31 or the portable terminal 32 starts application programs such as the device control program 25-1 and the digital watermark encoding program 25-2. (Step 403).

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the user has photographed some subject. As a result, the terminal device on the user side acquires captured image data of the subject (step 404).

  Here, the flow of each data inside the terminal device on the user side will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Note that, as described above, the device control program 25-1, the digital watermark encoding program 25-2, and the like are stored in the control unit 207 of the user terminal device.

  When the user shoots the subject, the camera unit 201 generates photographic image data 251 of the subject and outputs the photographic image data 251 to the temporary storage unit 203, and also the shooting operation data 252 indicating that “shooting has been performed”. Output to.

  When recognizing that “shooting has been performed” by the shooting operation data 252, the control unit 207 acquires the shot image data 251 from the temporary holding unit 203 based on the device control program 25-1, and shooting from the clock unit 202. The date / time data 253 is acquired, and the shooting location data 254 is acquired from the GPS unit 206. Thereafter, the control unit 207 generates digital watermark data 255 from the shooting date / time data 253 and the shooting location data 254 based on the digital watermark encoding program 25-2 and embeds it in the shot image data 251. Thus, photographed image data with a digital watermark is generated. Then, the data is output to the recording unit 204 via the temporary holding unit 203 (or directly) and stored in the recording unit 204.

  The above is the main flow of each data inside the terminal device on the user side.

  When shooting is completed, the user operates the terminal device to access the server 21 on the service provider side in order to register the shot image in the device 2 on the service provider side (album database 23 therein). (Step 405).

  Upon receiving access from the terminal device on the user side, the server 21 on the service provider side provides the home page screen of the online album service to the terminal device on the user side (step 406).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the home page screen on the display unit. At this time, it is assumed that the user views the home page screen and selects the registered processing of the photographed image. As a result, the terminal device on the user side transmits a signal requesting registration processing of the captured image to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 407).

  When the server 21 on the service provider side receives a signal requesting registration processing of a captured image from the terminal device on the user side, an ID number / password input screen for requesting input of the user ID number and password is displayed. This is provided to the terminal device on the user side (step 408).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the ID number / password input screen on the display unit. At this time, it is assumed that the user performs an operation of inputting the user ID number and password while looking at the ID number / password input screen. Thereby, the terminal device on the user side transmits the user ID number and password to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 409).

  Upon receiving the user ID number and password, the server 21 on the service provider side collates the user based on the user data registered in the customer database 22 (step 410).

  When the user 21 is specified, the server 21 on the service provider side provides a captured image registration screen for registering the captured image to the terminal device on the user side (step 411).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the captured image registration screen on the display unit. At this time, it is assumed that the user views the captured image registration screen and performs an operation for designating a captured image to be registered. As a result, the terminal device on the user side transmits the captured image data including the digital watermark of the captured image to be registered to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 412).

  Upon receiving the digital watermarked photographed image data, the service provider server 21 stores the digital watermarked photographed image data in the album database 23 (step 413).

  Thus, the registration of the captured image is completed.

(2. Browsing captured images)
5 and 6 are diagrams showing an album browsing procedure.

  The user operates the terminal device to access the server 21 on the service provider side (step 501).

  Upon receiving access from the terminal device on the user side, the server 21 on the service provider side provides the home page screen of the online album service to the terminal device on the user side (step 502).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the home page screen on the display unit. At this time, it is assumed that the user selects a process (hereinafter referred to as an album browsing process) for browsing the photographed image stored in the album while viewing the home page screen. Thereby, the terminal device on the user side transmits a signal requesting the album browsing process to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 503).

  When the server 21 on the service provider side receives the signal for requesting the album browsing process from the terminal device on the user side, the server 21 uses the ID number / password input screen for requesting the input of the user ID number and password. (Step 504).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the ID number / password input screen on the display unit. At this time, it is assumed that the user performs an operation of inputting the user ID number and password while looking at the ID number / password input screen. Thereby, the terminal device on the user side transmits the user ID number and password to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 505).

  Upon receiving the user ID number and password, the server 21 on the service provider side collates the user based on the user data registered in the customer database 22 (step 506).

  When the server 21 on the service provider side identifies the user, the server 21 on the service provider side provides an album browsing screen for browsing the photographed image stored in the album database 23 to the terminal device on the user side (step 507).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the album browsing screen on the display unit. The album browsing screen is, for example, as shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the album browsing screen. As shown in FIG. 7, the album browsing screen displays, for example, an area 701 for displaying a list of photographed images stored in the album database 23 and a desired photographed image among the photographed images stored in the album database 23. A search area 702 for searching, a button (“download” button) 703 for downloading a photographed image selected from the photographed images stored in the album database 23 to the terminal device on the user side, and the photographing equipment communicate with each other. When there is no function (that is, when the photographing equipment is a digital camera 31 of a type having no communication function), the photographed image data stored in the recording medium (or device) such as the memory card 34 is read and provided. Registered in the album database 23 in the user's device 2 (from the perspective of the service provider It is constituted by such "accumulation") button for ( "image registration" button) 704, a button ( "image deletion" button for deleting an arbitrary photographed image stored in the album database 23) 705.

  It is assumed that the user looks at the album browsing screen and performs an operation of specifying a photographed image to browse. For example, it is assumed that the user designates a desired photographed image 706 in the album browsing screen shown in FIG.

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal device on the user side transmits data (hereinafter referred to as “browsing designation data”) that designates a captured image to be browsed to the server 21 on the service provider side (step 601).

  When the server 21 on the service provider side receives the browsing designation data from the terminal device on the user side, the photographed image data including the digital watermark of the specified photographed image is read from the album database 23 (step 602), and the photographing including the digital watermark is performed. The digital watermark embedded in the image data is decoded (step 603). Thus, the shooting date / time data and the shooting location data are acquired, and the date / time indicated by the shooting date / time data and the shooting location indicated by the shooting location data are specified. Based on the latitude and longitude indicated by the shooting location data, a map of the shooting location is acquired from the map database 24 (step 604). Then, an album detail screen is created by combining the photographed image, the photographing date and time, the photographing location, and the map (step 605).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the album details screen. As shown in FIG. 8, the album details screen displays, for example, an area 801 for displaying a specified captured image in an enlarged manner, an area 802 for displaying a shooting date and time and a shooting location (shooting location), and a detailed map around the shooting location. Area 803, buttons for changing the scale of the map in the area 803 (an “enlarge” button and a “reduce” button) 804, and the like.

  After creating the album details screen, the server 21 on the service provider side provides the album details screen to the terminal device on the user side (step 606).

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays on the display section an album detail screen as shown in FIG. 8 (that is, the designated photographed image, the photographing date and time such as the date and time, and the prefecture / city / city / town / village. A screen that combines a shooting location and a detailed map around the shooting location) is displayed.

  Here, the server 21 on the service provider side decodes the digital watermark when receiving the browsing designation data. However, the server 21 decodes the digital watermark in advance (for example, in step 413 described above). The shooting date / time data, shooting location data, and digital watermarked shot image data may be stored in the album database 23.

(3. Search for captured images)
The function for searching for a desired photographed image from among the photographed images stored in the album will be described below.

  In the search area 702 of the album browsing screen shown in FIG. 7, search conditions for “date” and “location” can be selected.

  Here, it is assumed that the user views the album browsing screen and performs an operation of selecting “date” as a search condition. Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays a screen (not shown) for inputting “date” as a search condition. At this time, it is assumed that the user inputs a desired “year and month”. Thereby, the terminal device on the user side transmits “year / month” data input by the user to the server 21 on the service provider side. The server 21 decodes the digital watermark of the photographed image data of the user registered in the album database 23 to obtain the photographing date / time data, and obtains the photographed image data corresponding to the “year / month” data input by the user. A search result screen showing a list of corresponding captured image data is transmitted to the terminal device of the user.

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the search result screen on the display unit.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search result screen. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the user inputs “November 2002” as a search condition, and 18 search images of 3 rows and 6 columns are specified as the search result.

  When the user selects “location” instead of “date” as a search condition, the user inputs “prefecture” or “prefecture” and “city”. The server 21 decodes the digital watermark of the photographed image data of the user registered in the album database 23 to obtain the photographing location data, and “prefecture” or “prefecture” and “district” input by the user. The photographed image data corresponding to the data such as “municipality” is identified, and a search result screen showing a list of the corresponding photographed image data is transmitted to the terminal device of the user.

  Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the search result screen on the display unit.

<Remarks>
As described above, according to the first embodiment, a digital camera (including a portable terminal attached to a digital camera) having a unit for detecting shooting location data is used to take shot image data using shooting date / time data and shooting location data as a digital watermark. To embed. Thereby, the server 21 on the service provider side can acquire the shooting date / time data and shooting location data by decoding the digital watermark embedded in the shot image data when the user views the shot image, The user can be notified of the shooting date and time of the shot image and the shooting location. Thereby, the user can know when and where the image was taken.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the server 21 on the service provider side takes a photographed image, a photographing date / time such as a date / time, a photographing place such as a prefecture / city / city / town / village, and details of the surroundings of the photographing place. It is possible to provide a user with a screen synthesized with a simple map. As a result, the user can acquire more detailed data about the shooting location.

  Furthermore, since the user can search for a photographed image based on a desired photographing date and time or photographing location, the user can quickly retrieve a desired photographed image from among the photographed images stored in the album database 23.

  The shooting date / time data and shooting location data are embedded in the shot image data as digital watermarks by application software provided by the service provider. Therefore, it is possible to improve the safety against falsification of shooting date / time data and shooting location data. Furthermore, other service providers who provide similar online album services cannot decode the watermark. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shooting date / time data and shooting location data from leaking to other service providers, and it is possible to prevent the provision of similar services.

  In the second embodiment, a print service for photographed images is added.

<Configuration>
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to the second embodiment.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a printer 1031 connected to the personal computer 33 is provided in the device 3 on the user side. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a printer 5 device 5 including a server 1051 connected to the communication network 4 and a printer 1052 connected to the server 1051 is provided. Note that the printer 5 side apparatus 5 receives photographed image data transmitted from the service provider side server 21 via the communication line network 4 by the server 1051 and prints it by the printer 1052.

<Operation>
In the second embodiment, a user registration method, a captured image registration procedure, and a captured image browsing procedure are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, a print service for photographed images is added.

  The photographed image print service is performed as follows.

  That is, the user operates the terminal device in the same procedure as the above-described “search for photographed image” in the first embodiment to retrieve a photographed image that meets the search condition. Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the search result screen on the display unit. Thereafter, the user operates the terminal device in the same procedure as the “browsing captured image” described above in the first embodiment to display the album detail screen of the desired captured image. Thereby, the terminal device on the user side displays the album details screen on the display unit. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the album details screen.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the second embodiment, a button (“print data for printing” button) 1101 for instructing printing is added to the album detail screen. When the user selects the button 1101, the display of the button 1101 is switched from “print data creation” to “download”. At this time, when the user presses the button 122, the terminal device on the user side is the captured image data displayed as the album details screen (that is, the captured date and time data, the captured location data, and the captured image data. Print data). The user prints the print data with the printer 1031. Alternatively, print data together with data such as the user's name, contact information, and receiving location is sent to the printer 1051 and printed by the printer 1052.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a print example of a captured image. In the printed photographed image, the area of the photographed image is separated from the area of the photographing date / time and the photographing location.

  In the second embodiment, the server 21 on the service provider side acquires the shooting date / time data and the shooting location data by decoding the digital watermark. Therefore, the shooting date / time data and the shooting location data are not leaked to a person other than the user. Therefore, Example 2 is also a preferable embodiment from the viewpoint of security.

<Remarks>
As described above, according to the second embodiment, the user selects a photographed image to be printed from the photographed images stored in the server 21 on the service provider side. As a result, the server 21 on the service provider side decodes the digital watermark embedded in the captured image data including the digital watermark, acquires the shooting date / time data and the shooting location data, and prints the shooting date / time and the shooting location. Generate data. Using such printing data, the user can print a photographed image including the photographing date and the photographing location.

  The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above, and various applications and modifications can be considered without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the GPS function for acquiring the latitude / longitude data of the shooting location is described as being attached to a digital camera or a portable terminal with a digital camera. A GPS function attached to the navigation system may be used.

  In this case, the application program of the service provider is stored in the car navigation system. The car navigation system acquires photographed image data from the digital camera in synchronization with photographing by a digital camera (including a portable terminal with a digital camera). At this time, shooting date / time data measured by a clock unit (not shown) and current shooting location data (latitude / longitude) of a car detected by a GPS unit (not shown) are temporarily stored in a recording unit (not shown). Then, the shooting date / time data and the current shooting location data of the car are embedded in the photographic image data as a digital watermark to generate photographic image data with a digital watermark, and the photographic image data with a digital watermark is recorded in the recording unit. The user transmits the photographed image data with the digital watermark recorded in the car navigation system to the server 21 on the service provider side through the communication line network, and registers the photographed image data in the server 21.

  Further, the online album system according to the present invention can be used for business use, such as management of shooting data at a construction site in a construction company.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a digital camera (or portable terminal). It is a figure which shows the registration procedure of a user. It is a figure which shows the registration procedure of a picked-up image. It is a figure which shows the browsing procedure (1) of an album. It is a figure which shows the browsing procedure (2) of an album. It is a figure which shows an example of an album browsing screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an album detail screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a search result screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to a second embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of an album detail screen. It is a figure which shows the example of printing of a picked-up image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Online album system 2 ... Service provider side device 3 ... User side device (terminal device)
4. Communication network (Internet)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Server 22 ... Customer database 23 ... Album database 24 ... Map database 25 ... Application program database 25-1 ... Device control program 25-2 ... Digital watermark encoding program 31 ... Digital camera 32 ... Mobile terminal with digital camera (cell phone) Or PDA)
33 ... Personal computer 34 ... Memory card

Claims (11)

In an online album system comprising a server on a computer network for storing photographed image data photographed by a digital camera and a terminal device for transmitting / receiving photographed image data to / from the server, and using the server as a personal album ,
The server stores shooting date / time data and shooting location data along with the shooting image data when shooting image data is stored, and the shooting device stores the shooting date / time data and shooting location data along with the shooting image data during various processes on the shooting image data. To
The online album system, wherein the terminal device receives shooting date / time data and shooting location data together with shooting image data from the server, and displays the shot image, shooting date / time, and shooting location. In a server for an online album system that is arranged on a computer network and stores photographed image data of a user photographed by a digital camera and used as a personal album,
The shooting date and time data and shooting location data are stored together with the shot image data.
A server for an online album system, which transmits shooting date data and shooting location data to a terminal device of an online album system together with the shot image data during various processing on the shot image data.   3. The server for an online album system according to claim 2, wherein a program for embedding shooting date / time data and shooting location data as a digital watermark in a shot image is transmitted to the terminal device on the user side.   When shooting date / time data and shooting location data are embedded as digital watermarks in the stored shooting image data, the shooting image data is decoded to obtain shooting date / time data and shooting location data. The server for an online album system according to claim 2, wherein data and shooting location data are stored.   3. The server for an online album system according to claim 2, wherein a program for acquiring shooting date / time data and shooting location data is transmitted to the terminal device on the user side.   3. The server for an online album system according to claim 2, wherein an arbitrary photographed image is specified from the accumulated photographed images based on the photographing date and time or the photographing location.   3. The online system according to claim 2, wherein a shooting location is specified based on shooting location data and map data of the specified location is transmitted to the terminal device on the user side during various processing on the shot image. Server for album system.   When shooting date / time data and shooting location data are embedded as digital watermarks in the captured image data to be stored, the shooting image data is decoded to obtain shooting date / time data and shooting location data. 3. The server for an online album system according to claim 2, wherein the shooting date data and the shooting location data are transmitted to the terminal device on the user side together with the shooting image data so that the window is different from the shooting image. . In a terminal device for an online album system in which captured image data captured by a digital camera is stored in a server on a computer network, and the server is used as a personal album,
A terminal device for an online album system, wherein an instruction to search for an arbitrary photographed image using a photographing date and time or a photographing place as a keyword is transmitted to the server. By computers located on a computer network,
It is a server for an online album system that accumulates user image data and is used as a personal album, and also stores image data and location data along with the image data, during various processing on the image data, A program for realizing a server for an online album system, characterized by transmitting shooting date / time data and shooting location data together with shooting image data to a terminal device on a user side. By computer
Captured image data is stored in a server on a computer network, the terminal device for an online album system using the server as a personal album, and an arbitrary captured image with a shooting date and time as a keyword is stored in the server The program for implement | achieving the terminal device for online album systems characterized by making it search.

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