JP2007312226A - Image browser and image file management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image browser by which a storage term of an image file with a large capacity is shortened, no influence is given in browsing and more images are browsed in a restricted storage capacity. <P>SOLUTION: One or more image files with small size (capacity) representing one registered image are created to the image and image files with difference size (by every type) are utilized in a display picture. Storage terms of the image files by every type are determined. Since the display pictures of the image files with small size are frequently utilized, the storage terms are updated by using screen display as a trigger. As the result, many image files with small size which are frequency browsed remain and files such as an original image, with large size, which are not browsed very much are deleted as elapse of time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image browsing apparatus and an image file management method.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras and the speeding up of the Internet, many photo sharing services that store digital image data in a server device on the Internet and allow a third party to view the images have been provided.

  In this service, in many cases, an upper limit capacity of an image file that can be stored by one user is determined. Therefore, when the user approaches the upper limit of the capacity, the user has to delete unnecessary image files when uploading new image files to the server. One photo sharing service provides a function for effectively using the storage area. For example, there are a function of determining an image file that is estimated to be unnecessary from various conditions and recommending it as a deletion candidate, and a function of automatically deleting the determined image file.

  Also, a method has been proposed in which the storage area is effectively used by automatically deleting the image file on the condition of the storage start date and time and the storage deadline (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, a method has been proposed in which information to be stored is divided into minimum units, and a storage time limit is set and deleted for each minimum unit (see Patent Document 2). For example, in the case of a moving image, the storage period of the reproduced section is extended, and the part that is not often seen is deleted.
JP 2003-330763 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-007401

  However, in the conventional image file management method described above, in order to effectively use the storage area, there is only a selection of whether to delete the target image file completely or not. For this reason, the user's desire to use the storage capacity as effectively as possible and allow more images to be browsed cannot be sufficiently satisfied.

  Therefore, the present invention can shorten the storage time limit of a large-capacity image file, and does not affect the browsing, and can browse more images within a limited storage capacity and image The object is to provide a file management method.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image browsing apparatus of the present invention is an image browsing apparatus for registering an image file that can be browsed, and creates another type of image file representing the same image from the registered image file. Another image file creating means, an image storage means for storing the registered image file and the created another type of image file, and a storage deadline determining means for determining a storage deadline of the stored image file by type And deletion means for deleting the image file that has reached the determined storage deadline.

  An image file management method according to the present invention is an image file management method for managing a viewable image file registered in an image browsing device, wherein another type of image file representing the same image is registered from the registered image file. Another image file creation step to be created, an image storage step for storing the registered image file and the created another type of image file in a storage device, and a storage period of the stored image file is determined for each type. A storage period determining step; and a deletion step of deleting an image file that has reached the determined storage period.

  According to the image browsing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, another type of image file is created, and the storage period of the created image file is determined for each type, so the storage period of the large-capacity image file is shortened. It is possible to view more images within a limited storage capacity without affecting viewing.

  According to the image browsing apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to easily set / update the storage time limit.

  According to the image browsing device according to claims 3 and 4, the storage period can be extended by browsing.

  According to the image browsing apparatus of the fifth aspect, it is easy to automatically delete a large-capacity image file that is not browsed so much. That is, with the passage of time, many small-sized image files that are often viewed remain, and large-sized image files such as original images that are not often viewed are deleted.

  According to the image browsing apparatus of the sixth aspect, it is possible to automatically and preferentially delete the image file set to prohibit browsing.

  According to the image browsing apparatus which concerns on Claim 7, more images can be browsed on a screen. According to the image browsing apparatus of the eighth aspect, it is possible to browse more images within the limited capacity.

  Embodiments of an image browsing apparatus and an image file management method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image browsing apparatus of the present embodiment is applied to an image browsing system in which a client PC and a server apparatus are connected via a network.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image browsing system in the first embodiment. This image browsing system has a configuration in which an image browsing server device 1, a registrant-side client PC 3 and a viewer-side client PC 5 are connected via a network. The number of client PCs connected to the network is not particularly limited.

  The image browsing server device 1 is composed of a general-purpose PC. The CPU in the general-purpose PC executes a control program stored in a storage medium, thereby realizing functions of each unit described later. That is, the image browsing server device 1 includes a file registration processing unit 101, a type-specific image file creation processing unit 102, an image file storage unit 103, an image information holding unit 104, a type-specific storage period management unit 108, and an image storage period determination processing unit. 109 and an automatic image deletion processing unit 110. Furthermore, the image display processing unit 111 by type and the image display page control processing unit 112 are provided. The image information holding unit 104 includes a type information holding unit 105, a related information holding unit 106, and a storage time limit holding unit 107.

  The file registration processing unit 101 performs processing for registering an image file uploaded by a user (registrant) from the client PC 3. The type-specific image file creation processing unit 102 creates at least one different-size image file representing the same image from the original image file registered by the file registration processing unit 101. The image file storage unit 103 stores an original image file registered by the file registration processing unit 101 and another type of image file created by the type-specific image file creation processing unit 102.

  The image information holding unit 104 holds information on image files stored in the image file storage unit 103. The type information holding unit 105 holds image type information. The related information holding unit 106 stores the association of the same original image. The storage time limit holding unit 107 holds the storage time limit of the image file and the image information itself.

  The type-specific image storage period management unit 108 manages the storage period of images by type. Based on the information managed by the type-specific image storage expiration management unit 108, the image storage expiration determination processing unit 109 determines the storage expiration date of each image and sets it in the storage expiration retention unit 107. The image automatic deletion processing unit 110 automatically deletes an image based on the current time and the information stored in the storage time limit holding unit 107. The type-specific image display processing unit 111 creates a type-specific image display screen in response to a browser request, and transmits it to the browser client PC 5. The image display page control processing unit 112 controls the order in which the type-specific image display screen created by the type-specific image display processing unit 111 is provided to the viewer.

(Image registration process flow)
Operation | movement of the image browsing server apparatus 1 which has the said structure is shown. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a registration processing procedure when registering an image file uploaded by a user (registrant) from the client PC 3. This processing program is stored in a storage medium in a general-purpose PC constituting the image browsing server device 1 and is executed by the CPU.

  First, it is determined whether or not there is an image upload request for registering an image in the image browsing server device 1 from the user (step S1). If there is no image upload request, the process is terminated. On the other hand, if there is an image upload request, the uploaded original image is stored in the image file storage unit 103 (step S2). The processing in step S2 is performed by the file registration processing unit 101.

  Create different types of image files (“thumbnail large” and “thumbnail small”) with small vertical and horizontal sizes from the “original image” image file, and store the created image file in the image file storage unit 103 (step S3). In addition, type information such as “large thumbnail” and “small thumbnail” is held in the type information holding unit 105. Further, the association of “original image”, “large thumbnail” and “small thumbnail” is stored in the related information holding unit 106 (step S4). The processing in steps S3 and S4 is performed by the type-specific image creation processing unit 102.

  The storage period of each type of “original image”, “large thumbnail”, and “small thumbnail” is acquired from the type-specific image storage management unit 108 (step S5). The storage deadline for each image file is determined from the acquired storage deadline for each type and the current time, and stored in the storage deadline holding unit 107 (step S6). Thereafter, this process is terminated. The processing in steps S5 and S6 is performed by the image storage time limit determination processing unit 109.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram specifically showing the registered image file and image information. FIG. 4A shows an image file of “original image” (pixel number 1600 × 1200, 874 KB). FIG. 5B shows an image file of “large thumbnail” (pixel number 640 × 480, 58 KB). FIG. 6C shows an image file of “small thumbnail” (number of pixels: 160 × 120, 6 KB).

  As described above, when a registrant uploads an image file and requests registration processing, an image file of “large thumbnail” and “small thumbnail” that are smaller in size than the “original image” image file uploaded by the registrant. An image file is created. These image files are stored in the image file storage unit 103. That is, in this embodiment, three different types of image files including “original image” are held for one registered image. This process is performed in steps S1 to S3. As shown in FIG. 3, when the vertical and horizontal sizes are reduced, the capacity of the image file is also reduced. At the same time, three pieces of image information are stored in the image information holding unit 104.

  FIG. 4 is a table showing image information stored in the image information holding unit 104. When one image file is registered, for example, three records indicated by ID = 10, 11, 12 are inserted (added) into the table. The “type” item (column) corresponds to the type information holding unit 105. The item (column) of “image ID” corresponds to the related information holding unit 106. The item (column) of “scheduled date and time of deletion” corresponds to the storage time limit holding unit 107.

  In the “type” column of ID = 10, “original image” is shown. In the case of ID = 11, “large thumbnail” is shown. ID = 12 indicates “small thumbnail”. This information is stored in the process of step S3. In addition, items (columns) of “image ID” of ID = 10, 11, and 12 indicate information (image ID = 1001) indicating relevance that all images are the same. This information is stored in the process of step S4.

  FIG. 5 is a table showing information managed by the type-specific image storage expiration management unit 108. This table describes the storage period from the event occurrence for each type. For example, when the type information is “large thumbnail”, “4 months” from “new registration” is stored. When this image is registered, a storage period of 3 months is acquired for “original image”, 4 months for “large thumbnail”, and 5 months for “small thumbnail”. This process is executed in step S5. By adding the acquired storage period to the current time, the scheduled deletion date and time is calculated and stored in the item (column) of “scheduled deletion date and time” corresponding to the storage time limit holding unit 107. This process is executed in step S6. For example, the registration date and time of the image ID = 1001 in FIG. 4 is “2005/10/11 19:30: 00”.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing page transition when a viewer browses an image. When browsing the image published by the registrant, the viewer first starts browsing from the image list display page 201. The image list display page 201 displays “small thumbnail” images. Viewers can see more images with smaller size images.

  Next, a transition is made from the image list display page 201 to the image detail display page 202. The image detail display page 202 displays an image of “large thumbnail”. The viewer can see the details in a large image.

  Further, the image detail display page 202 is changed to the original image display page 203. On the original image display page 203, an image of “original image” is displayed. The viewer can use this image for printing or the like.

  Note that the viewer does not always have to make the transition according to the above procedure or the reverse procedure. For example, the viewer does not need to make a transition to the original image display page 203 or the image detail display page 202, and can terminate the browsing at an arbitrary time. it can. Each page is displayed by the type-specific image display processing unit 111. The display page transition control is performed by the image display page control processing unit 112.

(Image list display process)
As described above, the image registered by the registrant is first disclosed to the viewer as an image list display. In the image list display, images of “small thumbnail” are used among the image types. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the image list display processing procedure. This processing program is stored in a storage medium in the general-purpose PC constituting the image browsing server device 1 and is executed by the CPU.

  First, it is determined whether or not an image list display is requested from the viewer to the image browsing server device 1 (step S11). If the image list display is not requested, this processing is terminated as it is. On the other hand, when image list display is requested, a list L of “small thumbnail” images used for image list display is acquired (step S12).

  The number N of elements of the acquired list L is acquired (step S13). A variable i = 1 is set and initialized (step S14). The i-th element TS (i) of the list L is acquired (step S15). It is determined whether or not the “large thumbnail” type associated with the element TS (i) exists (step S16).

  If the “thumbnail large” type exists, a link to an image detail display page that displays an image of “thumbnail large” determined to be present is set in the display information (step S17). The “small thumbnail” type storage period PS is acquired from the type-specific image storage time limit management unit 108 (step S18). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the “large thumbnail” type does not exist, the process proceeds to step S18.

  The storage period LS (i) is determined from the acquired storage period PS and the current time (step S19). When the storage period LS (i) is longer than the value stored in the storage period storage unit 107 of the element TS (i), the value of the storage period storage unit 107 is updated to the storage period LS (i) (step S20). ). The processing in steps S18 to S20 is performed by the image storage time limit determination processing unit 109.

  The image file of the element TS (i) is acquired from the image file storage unit 103 and set as display information (step S21). A value 1 is added to the variable i (step S22). It is determined whether or not the variable i is larger than the number N of elements (step S23). When the variable i is larger than the number N of elements, the display information set by the above process is transmitted to the browser client PC (step S24). Thereafter, this process is terminated. On the other hand, when the variable i is less than or equal to the number N of elements, the process returns to step S15. Thereby, the processing of steps S15 to S21 is executed for all elements “small thumbnail” of the list L. Note that the above-described overall processing is performed by the type-specific image display processing unit 111 except for the processing specifically specified. In this way, the storage deadline is updated using the display processing of the image list display screen as a trigger (cause).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an image list display screen displayed on the browser client PC. In the image list display screen 301, the icon 302 links to an image detail display page that displays an image of the “large thumbnail” type. Whether or not to display the icon 302 is determined by the processing in steps S16 and S17. For example, since there is a “large thumbnail” type image in image 1, icon 302 is displayed, but in image 2, there is no “large thumbnail” type image, so icon 302 is not displayed.

  FIG. 10 is a table showing image information when performing image list display. FIG. 4A shows image information immediately before the image list display, and FIG. 4B shows image information immediately after the image list display.

  In the image information of FIG. 9A, image 1 is represented by ID = 3. In ID = 3, the type is “small thumbnail” type, and image ID = 101 indicating the related information. The process of step S16 is to search for an image having an image ID = 101 and a “large thumbnail” type. In this case, since ID = 2 is found, the process proceeds to step S17.

  Image 2 is represented by ID = 7. In this case, in the process of step S16, even if a “large thumbnail” type having the same image ID = 102 as ID = 7 is searched, it cannot be found. Therefore, the process proceeds from step S16 to step S18.

  FIG. 5B shows image information immediately after the viewer displays the image list at “2005/11/01 11:30:30”. Specifically, the case where the element TS (i) is ID = 3 is shown.

  The storage period PS acquired in the process of step S18 is 3 months from the “viewer access” record of the “small thumbnail” type with reference to the storage period management information by type (see FIG. 5). In the process of step S19, assuming that the storage period PS is simply the current time plus the storage period PS, the storage period LS (i) is “3 months after“ 2005/11/01 11:30 ”. 2006/02/01 11:30: 00 ".

  In the process of step S20, the current storage deadline is “2006/02/15 07:15:23” from “scheduled deletion date and time” of ID = 3 in FIG. 10A, and is acquired by the process of step S19. Since it is longer than the storage period LS (i), the update is not performed. Therefore, “scheduled deletion date / time” of ID = 3 in FIG. 10B is the same as that in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the element TS (i) is ID = 7, as in the case of ID = 3, the storage time limit LS (i) is “2006/02/01 11:30:30”. In the process of step S20, the current storage deadline is “2006/01/11 19:30” from “scheduled deletion date / time” of ID = 7 in FIG. 10A, and the storage acquired in the process of step S19. Since it is shorter than the time limit LS (i), it is updated. Therefore, the “scheduled deletion date / time” with ID = 3 in FIG. 10B is updated from FIG. 10A and becomes “2006/02/01 11:30”.

  As described above, when the viewer performs the image list display, the storage period of all “small thumbnails” types to be displayed is “2006/02/01 11:30” at the shortest. .

(Image details display process)
As described above, the viewer can transition from the image list display screen to the image detail display for the “large thumbnail” type. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed image display processing procedure when using a “large thumbnail” image file. This processing program is stored in a storage medium in the general-purpose PC constituting the image browsing server device 1 and is executed by the CPU.

  Using the “large thumbnail” type TL, it is determined whether or not a detailed image display is requested by the viewer (step S31). If the image detail display is not requested, this processing is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, when image detail display is requested, it is determined whether or not there is an “original image” type associated with the type TL (step S32). When it is determined that the “original image” type exists, a link to an original image display page for displaying the original image is set in the display information (step S33). The “large thumbnail” type storage period PL is acquired from the type-specific image storage time limit management unit 108 (step S34). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S32 that the “original image” type does not exist, the process proceeds to step S34.

  The storage period LL is determined from the acquired storage period PL and the current time (step S35). When the determined storage period LL is longer than the value stored in the storage period storage unit 107 of the “large thumbnail” type TL, the value of the storage period storage unit 107 is updated to the storage period LL (step S36). .

  The “small thumbnail” type TS associated with the “large thumbnail” type TL is acquired (step S37). The “small thumbnail” type storage period PS is acquired from the type-specific image storage time limit management unit 108 (step S38). The storage period LS is determined from the acquired storage period PS and the current time (step S39).

  When the determined storage limit LS is longer than the value stored in the storage limit storage unit 107 of the acquired “small thumbnail” type TS, the value of the storage limit storage unit 107 is updated to the storage limit LS (step S40). ). The processing of steps S34 to S40 is performed by the image storage time limit determination processing unit 109. An image file of the “large thumbnail” type TL is acquired from the image file storage unit 103 and set as display information (step S41). The display information set by the above process is transmitted to the browser client PC (step S42). Thereafter, this process is terminated. Note that the above-described overall processing is performed by the type-specific image display processing unit 111 except for the processing specifically specified. In this way, the storage deadline is updated using the display processing of the image detail display screen as a trigger (cause).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an image detailed information display screen. On the detailed image information display screen 401, when an associated original image exists, a link 402 to the original image display page is displayed.

  Basically, the display is performed by the same processing as the processing from step S16 to step S21 when the “small thumbnail” image is browsed in the image list display processing. In the present embodiment, when the “large thumbnail” image is displayed, the storage period of the “small thumbnail” image is also updated in the processes of steps S37 to S40. That is, the storage period of the “small thumbnail” image is set to be always longer than that of the “large thumbnail”.

  In the present embodiment, since the viewer always browses the image detail display page 402 from the image list display page 301, such processing is performed. Note that in the case of a system in which the viewer can directly browse the “large thumbnail” image, the processing in steps S37 to S40 may be omitted.

  Similarly, when the link 402 is selected and there is a request for displaying an original image, the storage period of the “original image” is updated, and “large thumbnail” and “thumbnail” are associated with the order relationship of the browsing display pages described above. The storage period of “small” images is also updated.

(Flow of automatic deletion processing)
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in which the image browsing server apparatus 1 automatically deletes an image file. This processing program is stored in a storage medium in the general-purpose PC constituting the image browsing server device 1 and is executed by the CPU. This automatic deletion processing is performed by the image automatic deletion processing unit 110. Examples of triggers (causes) for automatic deletion processing include execution at a date and time determined in advance in a schedule, a case where the storage area becomes smaller than a threshold value, and a case where a registrant requests.

  First, a list DL of images to be subjected to automatic image deletion processing is acquired (step S51). The number N of elements of the acquired list DL is acquired (step S52). The variable i is initialized to 1 (step S53). The storage period L (i) of the i-th image is acquired from the storage period holding unit 107 (step S54).

  It is determined whether or not the acquired storage time limit L (i) is before the current time (step S55). If it is before the current time, the i-th image file is deleted from the image file storage unit 103, and the image information of the i-th image file is deleted from the image information holding unit 104 (step S56). A value 1 is added to the variable i (step S57). On the other hand, if the storage time limit L (i) is not before the current time in step S55, the process of step S57 is performed as it is.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the variable i is larger than the number N of elements (step S58). If the variable i is larger than the number N of elements, this process is terminated. On the other hand, when the variable i is equal to or less than the number N of elements, the process returns to step S54.

  Note that the automatic image deletion processing target when acquiring the list DL in step S51 includes all images, designation by an image registrant, designation by a physical image storage location, and the like. In any case, all types of images composed of “small thumbnail”, “large thumbnail”, and “original image” are deleted after the storage period has expired. It is also possible to specify the type of image as the target for automatic image deletion processing. In this case, only the designated type of image is deleted.

  According to the image browsing system of the first embodiment, for one registered image, one or more small (capacity) image files representing the image are created, and different size image files are used on the display screen. To do. Since a display screen (image list display screen) of a small image file is often used, the storage deadline is updated with a screen display process as a trigger (cause). As a result, with the passage of time, many small-sized image files that are often viewed remain, and large-sized image files such as original images that are not often viewed are deleted. As a result, it is possible to shorten the storage period of the large-capacity image file, and it is possible to browse more images within the limited capacity without affecting the viewing.

  In this way, the larger the size of the image file, the less frequently the browsing frequency is expected, and thus it is difficult to extend the storage period. Therefore, a large-sized image file that has not been browsed is easily deleted by the automatic deletion process. Thereby, the storage area can be used effectively. Conversely, the more frequently browsed image files are, the longer the storage time limit, so that the influence on browsing can be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the storage deadline is updated when a new image is registered and when the image is displayed. However, in the second embodiment, the storage deadline is set when the registrant sets the image browsing prohibition for each type. Update. Since the configuration of the image browsing system is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted by using the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 14 is a table showing storage period management information used by the type-specific image storage period management unit 108 in the second embodiment. In the storage expiration management information 501, information is set such that the image file of “original image” is stored for 3 days from “browsing prohibition setting”. As a result, when the browsing prohibition of the original image is set, the storage period of the original image is determined after 3 days by the image storage period determination processing unit 109 and stored in the storage period holding unit 107.

  As described above, according to the image browsing system of the second embodiment, it is possible to preferentially automatically delete an image file of the type set to “browsing prohibited”.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and any configuration can be used as long as the functions shown in the claims or the functions of the configuration of the present embodiment can be achieved. Is also applicable.

  For example, another type of image file created in the type-specific image file creation process 102 may be an image file with a low resolution instead of a thumbnail image having a small vertical and horizontal size. In this case, similar to the above embodiment, the capacity is smaller than that of the original image, and thus the same effect can be obtained. When the original image is a high-definition and large-capacity image file, both the thumbnail image and the low-resolution image may be used together as another type of image file.

  In addition, by having each type of storage period management information used by the type-specific image storage period management unit 108 for each registrant, it is possible to set different storage periods for each registrant.

  In addition, the image browsing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to an image browsing system including a client PC and a server device connected to a network such as an intranet or the Internet, and may be applied to a single device. is there.

  In the above embodiment, the case where three types of image files including “small thumbnail”, “large thumbnail”, and “original image” are created has been described. However, the number of image files created for each type is two or two. There may be four or more, and is not particularly limited.

  The object of the present invention is also achieved by the following. That is, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus. The computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. The program code and a storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Further, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, or a CD-RW can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. Further, an optical disc such as a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a DVD + RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the following cases are included. That is, based on the instruction of the program code, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing. The case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by such processing is also included.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on an instruction of the program code, a CPU or the like provided with the extension function in the extension board or the extension unit performs part or all of the actual processing. The case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by such processing is also included.

  The image browsing apparatus of the present invention can be applied to any system that stores and browses image files via a network regardless of whether they are an intranet or the Internet.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the image browsing system in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the registration process sequence at the time of registering the image file uploaded by the user (registrant) from client PC3. It is a figure which shows specifically the registered image file and image information. 4 is a table showing image information stored in the image information holding unit 104. 6 is a table showing information managed by a type-specific image storage time limit management unit. It is a figure which shows the page transition at the time of a viewer browsing an image. It is a flowchart which shows an image list display process procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the image list display process procedure following FIG. It is a figure which shows the image list display screen displayed on a viewer's client PC. It is a table which shows the image information at the time of performing an image list display. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an image detail display processing procedure when using an image file of “large thumbnail”. It is a figure which shows an image detailed information display screen. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in which the image browsing server apparatus 1 deletes an image file automatically. It is a table which shows the storage term management information utilized by the type-specific image storage term management unit in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image browsing server device 3, 5 Client PC
102 Image File Creation Processing Unit by Type 104 Image Information Holding Unit 109 Image Storage Time Limit Determination Processing Unit 110 Image Automatic Deletion Processing Unit

Claims (11)

An image browsing device for registering a viewable image file,
Another image file creating means for creating another type of image file representing the same image from the registered image file;
Image storage means for storing the registered image file and the created another type of image file;
A storage deadline determining means for determining a storage deadline of the stored image file by type;
An image browsing apparatus comprising: deletion means for deleting an image file that has reached the determined storage deadline. Image file display means for displaying the image file by type on the screen;
A storage period management means for managing the storage period of the image file by type,
The storage deadline determining means determines the storage deadline of the stored image file based on the managed storage period for each type based on the screen display of the image file by the image file display means. The image browsing apparatus according to claim 1.   The image browsing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage deadline determining unit updates a storage deadline of the type-specific image file displayed on the screen.   4. The storage period determining means updates the storage period of the type-specific image files that are smaller in size than the type-specific image files displayed on the screen and are not displayed on the screen. Image browsing device.   4. The image browsing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an image file display control unit that prioritizes an image file having a small capacity as an image file displayed by the image file display unit. Comprising browsing prohibition setting means for setting the image file to browsing prohibition,
3. The image browsing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage period management means manages the storage period of the image file set to the browsing prohibition in a period shorter than the storage period of other image files.   2. The image browsing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separate image file creating means creates an image file of a type having a smaller vertical and horizontal size than the registered image file as the different type of image file.   2. The image browsing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the different image file creating means creates an image file of a type having a resolution lower than that of the registered image file as the different type of image file. An image file management method for managing viewable image files registered in an image browsing device,
Another image file creating step for creating another type of image file representing the same image from the registered image file;
An image storage step of storing the registered image file and the created another type of image file in a storage device;
A storage expiration date determining step for determining a storage expiration date of the stored image file by type;
An image file management method comprising: a deletion step of deleting an image file that has reached the determined storage deadline.   The program which has a computer-readable program code for implement | achieving the image browsing apparatus in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8.   A storage medium storing the program according to claim 10.

Images