JP2005352606A - Image display device, image display method, computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display image data in a display means according to a predetermined display sequence for shortening a time required for selection of the image data by a user for improvement of operability. <P>SOLUTION: This image display device is provided with a step for giving a sequence to a plurality of image data accumulated in an accumulation part 11 according to a predetermined condition, a step for displaying a plurality of image data to which the predetermined sequence is given in the display part 3 according to the given sequence, a step for selecting the image data displayed in a display part 3 by a selection means, and a step for outputting the image data selected by a selection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device, an image display method, a computer program, and a recording medium that display image data such as photographs according to predetermined conditions.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic print service apparatus capable of printing image data is installed in a sightseeing spot or the like, and a plurality of image data related to the installed sightseeing spot is stored in a storage means for storing data. When the predetermined amount is input, the automatic print service apparatus displays the stored plurality of image data on the display means, prints the image data selected by the user on a postcard or the like, and outputs it.

  In this type of automatic print service apparatus, it is convenient to store a large amount of image data in the storage means because the range of image selection by the user is widened. On the other hand, when there is a lot of image data stored in the storage means, the image data to be displayed on the display means also increases, and more time is required for the user to select desired image data. If the occupation time of one print automatic service device becomes long, the operation rate of the print automatic service device decreases.

  Further, when a large amount of image data is stored in the storage means, popular image data and unpopular image data are generated. The administrator of the automatic print service apparatus needs to replace the image data according to the popularity of the image data.

JP 2004-38875 A JP2003-30287

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the display order of image data is determined according to a predetermined condition, and the user selects image data by displaying the image data on the display means according to this order. An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device, an image display method, a computer program, and a recording medium that can shorten the time required for the operation and improve the operating rate.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an image display device, an image display method, a computer program, and a recording medium that allow an administrator to easily check the popularity of image data stored in the storage means.

  An image display apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of image data, a display unit that displays image data stored in the storage unit, and a plurality of image data displayed on the display unit. A selection means for selecting predetermined image data, an output means for outputting the image data selected by the selection means, and the image data stored in the storage means are displayed according to a predetermined order according to predetermined conditions. Display control means.

  An image display method according to the present invention includes a step of assigning a rank to a plurality of image data stored in a storage unit according to a predetermined condition, and a plurality of image data to which the predetermined rank is assigned according to the assigned rank. A step of displaying on the display means; a step of selecting the image data displayed on the display means by the selection means; and a step of outputting the image data selected by the selection means.

  The present invention can be realized by hardware or software. That is, the computer program according to the present invention includes a step of assigning a rank to a plurality of image data stored in the storage unit according to a predetermined condition, and a plurality of image data to which the predetermined rank is assigned. And displaying on the display means, selecting the image data displayed on the display means by the selection means, and outputting the image data selected by the selection means. This computer program can be spread by a recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic disk, an IC card, or via a network such as the Internet.

  According to the present invention, a rank is assigned according to a predetermined condition to a plurality of image data accumulated in the accumulation means, and the plurality of image data given the predetermined rank is displayed on the display means according to the assigned rank. Therefore, the time required for the user to select image data can be shortened, and the operating rate can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an automatic print service apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

  An automatic print service apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied shown in FIG. 1 is a kiosk terminal installed in a sightseeing spot, a concert hall or the like, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic print service apparatus 1 has an apparatus main body 2 constituting an outer casing, and the apparatus main body 2 displays various operation buttons and image data recorded on a recording medium. An operation unit 3, a recording medium insertion port 4 into which a recording medium on which image data is recorded, a take-out port 5 through which a printed photograph is discharged, a charging processing unit 6 into which a predetermined coin is inserted, A camera 7 that images a user, a speaker 8 that emits audible sound, and a printer 10 that prints image data are provided.

  The display operation unit 3 is configured by a tablet including a plate-shaped sensor unit, for example, and has functions of a display unit and an operation unit. The display operation unit 3 displays a plurality of image data stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk built in the apparatus body 2. The display operation unit 3 displays a selection button for selecting the displayed image data, a print button for printing the selected image data, and the like. The display operation unit 3 detects this by pressing various displayed buttons, and generates an operation signal. In place of the display operation unit 3, operation buttons and the like are configured by push buttons and the operation unit configured by the push buttons and the like is provided at another position of the apparatus main body 2, and the display operation unit 3 is provided. You may make it provide the display part comprised only with LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) in the position.

  A plurality of recording medium insertion openings 4 are provided according to the type of the recording medium 9. Inside the recording medium insertion port 4, there is provided a mounting portion to which the inserted recording medium 9 is mounted, and image data recorded on the recording medium 9 is read from the recording medium mounted on the mounting portion. A reading unit 16 is provided. The recording medium insertion port 4 is one when the type of the recording medium 9 corresponding to the apparatus main body 2 is one. As the recording medium corresponding to the apparatus main body 2, there are various IC cards, optical disks, disk cartridges and the like. Here, the recording medium 9 inserted into the recording medium insertion port 4 is a recording medium managed by an administrator, for example, and image data to be stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk built in the apparatus main body 2 is recorded. . By using the removable recording medium 9, the administrator can store new image data in the storage unit, and can exchange, for example, unpopular image data and new image data.

  The recording medium 9 may be owned by the user and recorded with image data owned by the user. In this case, the user can print the image data recorded on the recording medium 9 owned by the user on a postcard or the like.

  The take-out port 5 discharges a photograph on which image data discharged from the printer 10 built in the apparatus main body 2 is printed. Here, the printer 10 is a thermal sublimation type printer or an ink jet type printer using a thermal head, and prints image data selected by a user on a predetermined sheet. The printer 10 is provided with paper of L size, KG size, postcard size, or the like.

  The billing processing unit 6 has a coin mech mechanism and performs monetary processing. For example, the amount of money for printing the image data is set, the amount of coins inserted from the coin slot is detected, and printing is permitted when the amount of money is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.

  The camera 7 is a digital camera including an image sensor such as a (Charge-Coupled Devices) or CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, and images a user standing in front. Image data such as a user's face photograph taken by the camera 7 is combined with image data stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk and printed.

  The circuit configuration of the automatic print service apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic print service apparatus 1 includes a storage unit 11 composed of a hard disk or the like in which a plurality of image data and application programs are stored, and a ROM in which a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is stored. (Read Only Memory) 12, RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 loaded with application programs and the like, a reading unit 14 for reading the recording medium 9 inserted in the recording medium insertion port 4, and control for controlling the overall operation A central processing unit (CPU) 15 serving as a unit is provided, and these are connected via a bus 16.

  Here, the storage unit 11 stores a plurality of image data related to the installation location of the automatic print service apparatus 1. For example, when the automatic print service apparatus 1 is installed in a tourist spot, the storage unit 11 records seasonal landscape photographs related to the tourist spot. Also, when it is set up at an artist's concert venue, photographs related to the artist are recorded. The image data stored in the storage unit 11 can be stored in the storage unit 11 from the recording medium 9 inserted in the recording medium insertion port 4, and the image data is transmitted from the management center via a network (not shown). Can be stored in the storage unit 11. The storage unit 11 is constructed with a database for managing the image data to be stored together with the image data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a database for managing image data. Here, 100 landscape photographs are stored in the storage unit 11, and the image data of the landscape photographs are numbered No. 1 to No. 100, and information associated with the images is stored in a database as a table. ing. This database is composed of, for example, the following records.
Record [1]: Indicates an image number.
Record [2]: Indicates the date stored in the storage unit 11.
Record [3]: Indicates the image title.
Record [4]: A word indicating the feature of the image as a search keyword.
Record [5]: Shows the total number of printed pages in January for the most recent year.
Record [6]: Shows the total number of printed sheets for February in the most recent year.
・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・
Record [16]: Shows the total number of printed sheets in December for the most recent year.
Record [17]: Shows the total number of printed sheets for the last 6 months.
Record [18]: Shows the total number of printed sheets for the last three months.
Record [19]: Shows the total number of printed sheets for the most recent month.
Record [20]: Indicates the season of the image data.
Record [21]: ... (followed by other information)

  Next, the overall operation of the automatic print service apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 1, the CPU 15 of the automatic print service apparatus 1 in the standby state displays a default screen on the display operation unit 3 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, this screen is provided with an image display frame 21, in which all image data 21 a stored in the storage unit 11 is displayed as thumbnails in order of popularity. Yes. Specifically, for example, when the record [5] is selected by the administrator, the CPU 15 assigns the order 21b to the image display frame 21 in order from the first place according to the total number of prints in January in the most recent year. The image data 21a is displayed as a thumbnail according to 21b. Further, for example, when the record [19] is selected by the administrator, for example, the image display frame 21 is given a rank 21b in order from the first according to the total number of prints in the most recent month, and the image data 21a is assigned according to this rank. Display thumbnails. In the vicinity of each image data 21a, a ranking 21b of each image data is displayed. Furthermore, the image display frame 21 displays a button 21c for proceeding to the next page and a button 21d for returning to the previous page when the image data cannot be displayed on one page.

  As described above, in the automatic print service apparatus 1, the display operation unit 3 converts the total number of prints into popularity, assigns ranks according to popularity, and displays image data as thumbnails. The selection time at the time of selecting can be shortened, and the operating rate can be improved.

  The default screen is further provided with a display form selection frame 22 for selecting a display form and a search frame 23 for searching for image data. The display form selection frame 22 displays a plurality of buttons for selecting the display form of the image data. In FIG. 5, a button 22a for displaying the image data in the default popularity order and the image data by season are displayed. A button 22b for displaying, a button 22c for displaying image data at random, and the like are displayed. For example, when the button 22b for displaying the image data by season is pressed, the CPU 15 refers to the record [20] in the database and displays the image data in the image display frame 21 as thumbnails in order of popularity. To do. At this time, the CPU 15 may display the image data at random. In addition, a search button 23a is displayed in the search frame 23. When the search button 23a is pressed, the CPU 15 displays a keyword input field (not shown) and serves as a search keyword for the record [4]. A search is performed by determining whether or not there is an input keyword among the words indicating the characteristics of.

  In step S2, the CPU 15 of the automatic print service apparatus 1 determines whether or not a predetermined amount of coins has been inserted into the billing processing unit 6. When the predetermined amount has been inserted by the user, the process proceeds to step S3, where the predetermined amount is inserted. If not, a warning display or the like for prompting the input of the insufficient amount is performed, and then step S2 is repeated.

  In step S <b> 3, the CPU 15 of the automatic print service apparatus 1 determines whether the display mode selection frame 22 on the default screen displayed on the display operation unit 3 has been pressed and the display mode has been changed by the user. When the display form changing operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S4, and when this operation is not performed, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S4, the CPU 15 of the automatic print service apparatus 1 changes the display of the image display frame 21 to the designated display form, and proceeds to step S5. For example, when the button 22b for displaying the image data by season is pressed in step S3, the CPU 15 accesses the database of the storage unit 11 in step S4, and records the record [20] indicating the season of the image data. Referring to the image data of the season designated by the user, thumbnails are displayed on the image display frame 21 in order of popularity. In addition, when the search button 23a is pressed, the CPU 15 displays a keyword input field (not shown), and the input keyword is among the words indicating the characteristics of the image serving as the search keyword of the record [4]. The image data matching the input keyword is displayed as thumbnails in the order of popularity in the image display frame 21.

  In step S5, the CPU 15 of the automatic print service apparatus 1 determines whether the button 21c for proceeding to the next page or the button 21d for returning to the previous page has been pressed. The page displayed in 21 is changed to the image data of the next page or the previous page. Further, the CPU 15 continues to display the current page when there is no page change operation.

  In step S6, the CPU 15 of the automatic print service apparatus 1 determines whether or not at least one image data 21a is selected by pressing the image data 21a in the image display frame 21 by the user. Proceeding to step S7, when the image data 21a is not selected, a warning display or the like prompting the user to select is performed, and then step S6 is repeated.

  In step S <b> 7, the CPU 15 determines whether a sheet on which the selected image data is to be printed has been selected and the user has performed a print execution operation. When the print execution operation has been performed, the CPU 15 drives the printer 10 to perform printing. Further, when the print execution operation is not performed, the CPU 15 performs a warning display for prompting the user to perform the print execution operation, and then repeats step S7. Thus, the image data selected by the user is discharged from the outlet 5 when printed by the printer 10.

  In step S8, the CPU 15 updates a record relating to the number of printed sheets in the database. In the above example, the CPU 15 prints the number of monthly prints of record [5] and record [6], and the most recent months such as record [16], record [17], record [18], and record [19]. Update the number of prints in between. The record relating to the number of prints in the database may be the number of selections of image data, and the CPU 15 may use the number of selections selected by the user instead of the number of prints. This is because the image data selected by the user even if it is not actually printed can be said to be an image of high interest for the user.

  In the above example, the case where the user selects the image data stored in the storage unit 11 and prints the selected image data has been described. In addition to this, the user captures the image data of the user captured by the camera 7. The image data of the selected storage unit 11 may be combined with the selected image data and printed by the printer 10, and the image data recorded on the recording medium 9 brought by the user and the image data selected by the user of the storage unit 11 And the image data taken by the camera 7 or the image data brought by the user on the recording medium 9 may be combined with the image data selected by the user of the storage unit 11. The synthesized image data is not printed by the printer 10 but is stored in the recording medium 9 inserted in the recording medium insertion slot 4 brought by the user. It may be. When the image data is stored in the recording medium 9, printing is not performed, but the image data is sold to the user in the same manner as the print output. Therefore, the record regarding the number of prints in the database is updated. To do.

  Further, the CPU 15 may vary the price of the charging processing unit 6 according to the popularity of each image data. This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S11, the CPU 15 of the automatic print service apparatus 1 determines which of the records related to the number of prints in the database, that is, whether the number of prints of the record related to the number of prints set by the administrator has reached the predetermined number A. The predetermined number A is a threshold for raising the unit price of the image data in the storage unit 11 and is, for example, 100 sheets. When the predetermined number A is exceeded, the CPU 15 proceeds to step S12 and increases the unit price of the image data exceeding the predetermined number A. For example, when the basic unit price is 50 yen, the CPU 15 increases the unit price of the image data exceeding the predetermined number A from 50 yen to 60 yen, and changes the setting of the charging processing unit 6. On the other hand, when the predetermined number A is not exceeded, the CPU 15 proceeds to step S13 and maintains the current charge. That is, it is left at 50 yen.

  In step S14, the CPU 15 of the automatic print service apparatus 1 determines which of the records related to the number of prints in the database, that is, whether the number of prints of the record related to the number of prints set by the administrator has reached the predetermined number B. The predetermined number B is a threshold for reducing the unit price of the image data in the storage unit 11, and is, for example, ten. When the CPU 15 does not reach the predetermined number B, the CPU 15 proceeds to step S15 and reduces the unit price of the image data that does not reach the predetermined number B. According to the above-described example, when the predetermined number B is not reached, the CPU 15 reduces the unit price of the image data from 50 yen to 40 yen and changes the setting of the charging processing unit 6. On the other hand, when the predetermined number B is exceeded, the CPU 15 proceeds to step S16 and maintains the current fee. That is, it is left at 50 yen.

  According to the automatic print service device 1 configured as described above, when a user selects desired image data, thumbnails are displayed in order of popularity on the image display frame 21 of the display operation unit 3. The time required for selection can be shortened, and the operating rate of the automatic print service apparatus 1 can be improved. Even when the user changes the display form of the image display frame 21 to seasons, keyword search, etc., the images are displayed on the image display frame 21 in order of popularity by season, so the user needs to make a selection. Time can be shortened.

  Further, in this automatic print service apparatus 1, since the number of prints of each image data for a predetermined period can be managed in detail by the database, the image data stored in the storage unit 11 can be easily managed. . For example, it is possible to easily make a determination when replacing image data with a small number of printed sheets, that is, unpopular image data with new image data. In addition, the profit rate can be improved by performing control such as increasing the unit price of image data with a large number of prints, that is, popular image data, and decreasing the unit price of image data with a small number of prints, that is, less popular. .

It is a perspective view of the automatic service apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram of the said automatic service apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of a database. It is a flowchart which shows a series of procedures until a user selects image data and prints it. It is a figure which shows the default screen displayed on the display operation part of a print automatic service apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the change procedure of the unit price of image data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic print service apparatus, 2 apparatus main body, 3 display operation part, 4 recording media insertion slot, 5 outlet, 6 charge processing part, 7 camera, 8 speaker, 9 recording media, 10 printer, 11 storage part, 12 ROM, 13 RAM, 14 reading unit, 15 CPU, 16 bus, 21 image display frame, 21a image data, 21b rank, 22 display form selection frame, 23 search frame

Claims (16)

Storage means for storing a plurality of image data;
Display means for displaying the image data stored in the storage means;
Selecting means for selecting predetermined image data from a plurality of image data displayed on the display means;
Output means for outputting the image data selected by the selection means;
An image display device comprising: display control means for displaying the image data stored in the storage means according to a predetermined order by giving a rank according to a predetermined condition.   Further, the accumulating means stores accompanying data associated with each image data, and the control means gives the image data a rank according to the predetermined condition with reference to the accompanying data. Item 2. The image display device according to Item 1.   The image display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising search means for searching for the image data with reference to the accompanying data in accordance with input search condition data.   The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the accompanying data includes output count data of each of the image data within a predetermined period.   The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the accompanying data includes selection frequency data of each of the image data within a predetermined period.   The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit is a printing unit. Furthermore, it comprises a billing processing means for inputting billing data and performing billing processing,
2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the charging processing means permits the output of the image data from the output means when confirming payment of a predetermined amount. Assigning ranks according to predetermined conditions to a plurality of image data stored in the storage means;
Displaying the plurality of image data assigned the predetermined order on the display means according to the assigned order;
Selecting the image data displayed on the display means by a selection means;
Outputting the image data selected by the selection means.   The image display method according to claim 8, wherein associated data is associated with each of the plurality of image data.   The image display method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of searching for the image data with reference to the accompanying data in accordance with input search condition data.   The image display method according to claim 8, wherein the accompanying data includes output count data of each of the image data within a predetermined period.   The image display method according to claim 8, wherein the accompanying data includes selection frequency data of each of the image data within a predetermined period.   9. The image display method according to claim 8, wherein the step of outputting the data is a step of printing the selected image data.   9. The image display method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of allowing the output of the image data from the output means when the charging processing means confirms the payment of the predetermined amount. There is a computer program that can be executed by a computer,
The computer program assigns ranks to a plurality of image data stored in the storage means according to a predetermined condition;
Displaying the plurality of image data assigned the predetermined order on the display means according to the assigned order;
Selecting the image data displayed on the display means by a selection means;
And a step of outputting the image data selected by the selection means. A recording medium on which a computer program executable by a computer is recorded,
The computer program assigns a rank according to a predetermined condition to a plurality of image data stored in the storage means;
Displaying the plurality of image data assigned the predetermined order on the display means according to the assigned order;
Selecting the image data displayed on the display means by a selection means;
And a step of outputting the image data selected by the selection means.

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