JP2006085590A - Image sharing device and image sharing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and method promoting sharing of images on a network. <P>SOLUTION: A sales part 13 stores a received purchaser ID, identification information of an image, and a preliminarily regulated sales price of the image in a sales table 30b in conformation to each other. A profit return part 14 calculates a return profit that is a profit to be returned to a first user who uploads the image on the basis of sales history information of the sales table 30b. The calculating method of the return profit is not particularly limited, and, for example, the amount obtained by multiplying the sales price of each image by a predetermined return profit rate (10%, etc.) is taken as the return profit. Otherwise, the amount obtained by multiplying the total sales number of each image by a unit price (10 yen, etc.) of a predetermined return profit is taken as the return profit of the user who uploads the image. The profit return part 14 calculates the return profit for each image, and stores the calculated return profit of each image in conformation to the provider ID of the first user who uploads the image concerned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image sharing apparatus and an image sharing method, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for sharing an image on a network.

Conventionally, various techniques for sharing image data on a network have been developed. For example, according to the image providing system of Patent Document 1, a recording unit that records identification information unique to its own electronic device, an acquisition unit that acquires identification information unique to another electronic device, and the recorded own electronic device Site address creating means for creating a site address for designating a predetermined site on the network using the device-specific identification information and the acquired identification information unique to the other electronic device, and the site address to the other electronic device Since the output means for outputting is provided, the unique site address of the image sharing server for sharing the image can be easily and automatically created.
JP 2002-259332 A

  By the way, when an image shared on a network such as the Internet is an image uploaded by an individual, it is important how many images are uploaded from the individual. In this regard, the image providing system of Patent Document 1 merely creates a unique site address of an image sharing server that shares an image, and does not disclose how to generate an incentive for image sharing. SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an apparatus and a method capable of promoting image sharing on a network.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image sharing apparatus according to the present invention includes an upload reception unit that receives an image upload from a first terminal identified by user identification information via a network, the uploaded image, and the user An image storage unit that stores the identification information in association with each other, and the designation of an image for a photo print from the images stored in the image storage unit and the purchase of the photo print of the designated image are connected via a network. A sales history storage unit that stores sales history information that associates the designated image with user identification information that identifies the first terminal that uploaded the designated image; The first terminal identified by the user identification information corresponding to the image designated for the photo print based on the sales history information Comprising a profits section for calculating the benefit of reducing the over THE, the.

  According to the present invention, when an image uploaded from the first terminal is designated as an image for photo print from the second terminal and purchased, the image is designated based on the sales history information indicating the image designated for photo print and the upload source of the image. Then, a profit to be returned to the user of the first terminal who uploaded the image designated for the photo print is calculated. If the calculated return profit is returned to the user of the first terminal by a predetermined method such as electronic payment, this becomes an incentive to upload an image from the first terminal, and image sharing between the first terminal and the second terminal is possible. Promoted.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the image sharing apparatus according to the present invention is a group in which member identification information for identifying a plurality of members belonging to a group is associated with organizer identification information for identifying the organizer of the group. A group storage unit for storing information, an upload reception unit for receiving an image upload from the first terminal identified by the member identification information via a network, and a member identification for identifying the uploaded image and the first terminal An image storage unit for storing information in association with each other, and designation of an image for photo print and purchase of the photo print of the specified image from the images stored in the image storage unit are connected via a network. And a sales department received from the second terminal identified by the member identification information, the designated image and the finger A sales history storage unit for storing sales history information associated with member identification information for identifying the first terminal that uploaded the image, and designated for the photo print based on the sales history information and the group information A profit return unit for calculating a profit to be returned to the organizer identified by the organizer identification information corresponding to the member identification information for identifying the first terminal that uploaded the image.

  According to this invention, the relationship between the members of the group and the organizer is determined by storing the identification information of the group member in association with the identification information of the organizer who organizes the group. When an image uploaded from the first terminal identified by the member identification information is designated and purchased as a photo print image from the second terminal identified by the member identification information, the image designated for the photo print and its image Based on the sales history information indicating the upload source of the image, the profit to be returned to the organizer of the group corresponding to the identification information of the first terminal that uploaded the image designated for the photo print is calculated. If the calculated return profit is returned to the group organizer by a predetermined method such as electronic payment, the organizer will further encourage the group members to upload images and purchase photo prints of the images in their group. It is expected that image sharing within the group will be promoted.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an image sharing method according to the present invention includes an upload receiving step of receiving an image upload from a first terminal identified by user identification information via a network, the uploaded image, An image storage step for storing the user identification information in association with each other, and designation of an image for photo print and purchase of the photo print of the specified image from the images stored in the image storage step via the network Sales history storage for storing sales history information in which a sales step received from a second terminal connected to the first terminal and user identification information for identifying the first terminal that uploaded the specified image are associated with each other. Corresponding to an image designated for the photo print based on the sales history information Including a profit calculating the benefit of reducing the first terminal of the user identified by chromatography. The identification information.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the image sharing method according to the present invention is a group in which member identification information for identifying a plurality of members belonging to a group is associated with organizer identification information for identifying the organizer of the group. A group storing step for storing information, an upload receiving step for accepting upload of an image from the first terminal identified by the member identification information via a network, and a member identification for identifying the uploaded image and the first terminal An image storage step for storing information in association with each other, and designation of an image for photographic print and purchase of a photo print of the designated image from the images stored in the image storage step are connected via a network. And a sales step received from the second terminal identified by the member identification information A sales history storage step for storing sales history information in which the designated image is associated with member identification information for identifying the first terminal that uploaded the designated image; and the sales history information and the group information A profit return step of calculating a profit to be returned to the organizer identified by the organizer identification information corresponding to the member identification information identifying the first terminal that uploaded the image designated for the photo print based on .

  This image sharing method has the same effects as the above-described image sharing apparatus.

  If the return profit calculated by the image sharing apparatus and the image sharing method of the present invention is returned to the user of the first terminal by a predetermined method such as electronic payment, the image is uploaded from the first terminal. , The image distribution between the first terminal and the second terminal is promoted.

  Alternatively, if the return profit calculated by the image sharing apparatus and the image sharing method according to the present invention is returned to the group organizer by a predetermined method such as electronic payment, the organizer uploads the image within the group that he / she organizes and It is expected to encourage the members of the group to purchase photo prints of images, and the image distribution between the first terminal and the second terminal is promoted.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
[Schematic configuration]
FIG. 1 is a schematic functional configuration diagram of an image sharing system according to a preferred first embodiment of the present invention. This system is configured by connecting a first user terminal 100, a second user terminal 200, and an image sharing apparatus 300 via a network 5. Although only one each of the first user terminal 100 and the second user terminal 200 is shown in this figure, a mode in which a plurality of first user terminals 100 and a plurality of second user terminals 200 are connected to the network 5 is also possible. It is.

  An outline of how to use this system is that a first user who is a user of the first user terminal 100 can upload an arbitrary image from the Web browser 11 of the first user terminal 100 to the image sharing apparatus 300. The image uploaded to the image sharing apparatus 100 can be viewed with the Web browser 21 of the second user terminal 200. The second user who is the user of the second user terminal 200 designates a favorite image among the browsed images as the image for the photo print from the second user terminal 200 and purchases the photo print of the image. You can apply. The first user terminal 100 and the second user terminal 200 may be equivalent in hardware. An image may be uploaded from the second user terminal 200 and a purchase of the image may be applied from the first user terminal 100. The designated image is printed as a photographic print by the printer 400 and delivered to the second user. If there are a plurality of images designated for photo printing, they may be bound as a photo album as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, there may be a special personal relationship between the first user and the second user, or it may be a completely different person. For example, the first user and the second user may be friends. A unique user ID is assigned to each of the first user and the second user, and the image sharing apparatus 300 uses the first terminal 100 that has uploaded an image with the user ID and the second terminal 200 that has applied for purchase of the image. Identify.

  The image sharing apparatus 100 includes a WWW server 10, a processing unit 20, and a management database (management DB) 30. The WWW server 10 transmits various Web pages such as a Web page that allows the second user terminal 200 that has accessed via the network 5 to browse an image. The processing unit 20 is processing means including a CPU and various semiconductor storage media. The processing unit 20 stores an upload reception unit 12, a sales unit 13, and a profit return unit 14 as a processing program executed by the CPU in a semiconductor storage medium.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of information stored in the management DB 30. As shown in this figure, the management DB 30 stores an image table 30a, a sales table 30b, and a return table 30c. FIG. 2A shows information stored in the image table 30a. In the image table 30a, the provider ID, which is the user ID assigned to the first user, and the identification information (file name, etc.) of the image uploaded from the first terminal 100 identified by the provider ID correspond to each other. It is remembered. FIG. 2B shows information stored in the sales table 30b. The sales table 30b includes a purchaser ID, which is a user ID assigned to the second user, identification information of an image for which the second user identified by the purchaser ID has applied for purchase, and a sales fee for the image. Sales history information associated with is stored. The method of setting the image sales fee is not particularly limited. In this figure, the sales fee per image is uniformly 150 yen. FIG. 2C shows information stored in the return table 30c. In the return table 30c, an image requested for purchase and a provider ID of the first user who uploaded the image are stored in association with each other.

[Process flow]
The flow of image sales processing executed in the image sharing system will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this process, when an image upload is accepted and an application for image purchase is accepted, the sales profit of the sold image is returned to the first user.

  In S <b> 1, the first user terminal 100 accesses the WWW server 10 having the image upload site by the Web browser 11, selects an arbitrary image stored in the first user terminal 100, and is input to the Web browser 11 separately. The provider ID unique to the first user and the selected image are transmitted (uploaded) to the image sharing apparatus 300. One or more images may be uploaded. In S <b> 2, the upload reception unit 12 of the image sharing apparatus 300 stores the image received from the first user terminal 100 and the provider ID in the image table 30 a of the management DB 30 in association with each other.

  In S <b> 3, an access request is transmitted to the WWW server 10 having a site for browsing images in the management DB 30 and applying for purchase by the Web browser 21 of the second user terminal 200. In S4, when the WWW server 10 receives this access request, it transmits to the second user terminal 200 a browse purchase page, which is a Web page that accepts an application for browsing and purchasing images stored in the image table 30a. FIG. 4 is a display example of a browse purchase page displayed on the Web browser 21. On the browse purchase page, thumbnail images Tn (n = 1, 2,...) Obtained by reducing the images stored in the image table 30a at a predetermined reduction ratio are displayed. Purchases are displayed on the thumbnail images Tn. A check box to specify the image to apply for is displayed. When the thumbnail image Tn is selected, a Web page displaying the image itself may be transmitted from the WWW server 10 to the second user terminal 200.

  In S5, designation of an image to be purchased is accepted by a check box on the browse purchase page displayed on the Web browser 21. In S6, it is determined whether or not the “Purchase” button on the browse purchase page has been pressed after the image is designated by the check box. If the “Purchase” button is pressed, the process proceeds to S7. In S7, the purchaser ID unique to the second user input separately to the Web browser 21 and the specified image identification information (for example, the file name of the image such as A1.jpg) are sent from the second user terminal 200 to the image sharing apparatus. 300.

  In S <b> 8, the sales unit 13 stores the received purchaser ID, image identification information, and a predetermined sales fee for the image in the sales table 30 b in association with each other. In S9, the profit return unit 14 calculates a return profit, which is a profit to be returned to the first user who uploaded the image based on the sales history information in the sales table 30b. The method for calculating the return profit is not particularly limited. For example, an amount obtained by multiplying the sales fee of each image by a predetermined return profit rate (10% or the like) is set as the return profit. Alternatively, an amount obtained by multiplying the total number of sales of each image by a unit price of a predetermined return profit (such as 10 yen) is set as the return profit of the first user who uploaded the image. The profit return unit 14 calculates the return profit for each image, and stores the calculated return profit of the image in association with the provider ID of the first user who uploaded the image in the return table 30c.

  The profit return unit 14 transmits data indicating the return profit to the first user terminal 100 based on the return table. The data for marking the return profit is, for example, data for printing a coupon corresponding to the return profit. Alternatively, the profit return unit 14 may transfer the return profit equivalent amount to the first user's bank account by electronic settlement.

  As described above, when the image uploaded by the first user is purchased by the second user, the profit return unit 14 calculates the profit returned to the first user. If this profit is returned to the first user by a predetermined method, the first user will proceed to upload the image, and the image sharing between the first user and the second user is promoted.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the return profit for the user who uploaded the image is calculated. However, a travel agency that hosts a specific tour, a person responsible for school events such as a school festival executive committee, or a local festival organizer. The return profit may be calculated for a person who organizes a private group having some purpose (hereinafter, represented by the organizer), such as the organizer of the event or the president of the OB meeting of the circle. In this case, a part of the information stored in the management DB 30 is changed as shown in FIG. That is, a unique member ID is assigned to a first user and a second user who are members of a group such as a member of a group trip. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), a management table 30d includes a group table 30d in which an organizer ID, which is identification information of a group organizer such as a travel agency, is associated with a member ID assigned to a member of the group. Remember it. In addition, the return table 30e of FIG. 5B is stored in the management DB 30 instead of the return table 30c of the first embodiment. In the return table 30e, the organizer ID and the return profit are stored in association with each other, but the return profit is calculated by a method different from that of the first embodiment as described later. Since other system configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In order to return the profit to the organizer, it is necessary to change a part of the image sales process in FIG. That is, in S9, the profit return unit 14 is identified by the organizer ID corresponding to the member ID that identifies the first user terminal 100 that uploaded the image designated for printing based on the sales table 30b and the group table 30d. Calculate the profit to be returned to the organizer. The method for calculating the return profit is not particularly limited. For example, for each group to which the first user belongs, an amount obtained by multiplying the sales fee of the image uploaded by the first user belonging to a certain group by a predetermined return rate (10%, etc.). The total amount is taken as the return profit of the organizer of the group. The sales unit 13 associates the organizer ID with the profits returned to the organizer identified by the organizer ID, and stores them in the return table 30e. The other processing steps are the same as those in the first embodiment, and will be omitted.

  As described above, when an image uploaded by a first user belonging to a certain group is purchased by a second user belonging to the same group, the profit return unit 14 calculates a profit returned to the organizer of the group. If this profit is returned to the organizer in a predetermined manner, the organizer will further encourage the group members to share images within the group that they organize.

1 is a block diagram of an image sharing system according to a first embodiment. Conceptual explanatory diagram of information stored in the management database according to the first embodiment Flow chart showing the flow of image sales processing A figure showing a display example of the browsing purchase page Conceptual explanatory diagram of information stored in the management database according to the second embodiment

Explanation of symbols

100: first user terminal, 200: second user terminal, 300: image sharing apparatus

Claims (4)

An upload accepting unit that accepts an image upload via a network from the first terminal identified by the user identification information;
An image storage unit for storing the uploaded image and the user identification information in association with each other;
A sales unit that accepts designation of an image for photo printing from the images stored in the image storage unit and purchase of a photo print of the designated image from a second terminal connected via a network;
A sales history storage unit that stores sales history information that associates the designated image with user identification information that identifies the first terminal that uploaded the designated image;
A profit return unit for calculating a profit to be returned to the user of the first terminal identified by the user identification information corresponding to the image designated for the photo print based on the sales history information;
An image sharing apparatus comprising: A group storage unit for storing group information in which member identification information for identifying a plurality of members belonging to a group and organizer identification information for identifying an organizer of the group are associated;
An upload accepting unit that accepts an image upload via a network from the first terminal identified by the member identification information;
An image storage unit for storing the uploaded image and member identification information for identifying the first terminal in association with each other;
From the second terminal connected via the network and designated by the member identification information, the designation of the image for photographic print and the purchase of the photographic print of the designated image among the images stored in the image storage unit A sales department to accept,
A sales history storage unit that stores sales history information that associates the designated image with member identification information that identifies the first terminal that uploaded the designated image;
Profit to be returned to the organizer identified by the organizer identification information corresponding to the member identification information identifying the first terminal that uploaded the image designated for the photo print based on the sales history information and the group information. A profit return unit to be calculated;
An image sharing apparatus comprising: An upload accepting step for accepting an image upload via a network from the first terminal identified by the user identification information;
An image storage step of storing the uploaded image and the user identification information in association with each other;
A sales step of accepting designation of an image for photographic print from the images stored in the image storing step and purchase of a photographic print of the designated image from a second terminal connected via a network;
A sales history storage step for storing sales history information in which the designated image is associated with user identification information for identifying the first terminal that uploaded the designated image;
A profit return step for calculating a profit to be returned to the user of the first terminal identified by the user identification information corresponding to the image designated for the photo print based on the sales history information;
Image sharing method. A group storage step for storing group information in which member identification information for identifying a plurality of members belonging to a group and organizer identification information for identifying an organizer of the group are associated;
An upload accepting step for accepting an image upload from the first terminal identified by the member identification information via a network;
An image storage step of storing the uploaded image and member identification information for identifying the first terminal in association with each other;
From the second terminal connected via the network and designated by the member identification information, the designation of the image for photographic print and the purchase of the photographic print of the designated image from among the images stored in the image storing step Accepting sales steps,
A sales history storage step of storing sales history information in which the designated image is associated with member identification information for identifying the first terminal that uploaded the designated image;
Profit returned to the organizer identified by the organizer identification information corresponding to the member identification information identifying the first terminal that uploaded the image designated for the photo print based on the sales history information and the group information. A profit return step to be calculated;
Image sharing method.

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