JP5428309B2 - Terminal device, electronic device, content data providing system, control method, control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal device that can perform mutual authentication, a content data providing device that provides content data to the terminal device, an electronic device that mediates between the terminal device and the content data providing device, and these devices and devices. The present invention relates to a content data providing system including

  With the development of digital cameras and camera-equipped mobile devices, not only can you take a commemorative photo of a memory, but also you can easily enjoy taking a daily photo with your friends. Along with the development of communication technology, many communication methods using the captured images have been provided.

  In addition, on the bulletin boards provided by many high school girls and junior high school photograph sticker manufacturers and many social network services (SNS), uploaded images can be uploaded between specific members or unspecified numbers. By sharing and publishing images to other people, it is possible to communicate between groups, such as posting comments.

Furthermore, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2 provide a method in which captured images can be shared with a communication partner in real time, and the edited content of the image can be confirmed at the same time (patent) Reference 1 and Non-Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-234594 A (published August 19, 2004) Hand-drawn chat website (Sharp Corporation), Internet <URL: http://tegakichat.jp/> (searched on November 20, 2008)

  However, in the case of an image sharing method using a bulletin board, it is necessary to establish communication by accessing a site where images are stored and entering a password. Furthermore, when an image is shared among specific members, there is a problem that it takes time to register members according to the familiarity.

  In the invention of Patent Document 1, real-time image sharing using a plurality of communication terminals is possible. However, since a method for establishing communication is not clear, it is necessary for security to allow multiple people to communicate simultaneously via the Internet. Issues remain.

  In the inventions of Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2, it is possible to share images and editing contents in real time and play happily, but since the played contents are not stored when it ends, the memories are temporary. It has become a thing. Therefore, it is difficult to look back on the memories you enjoyed with the members who shared the time and excitement. There is also a problem that it is not possible to respond to the need to reflect the situation in the group.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to group a plurality of terminal devices with a simple operation and enhance security, and between the grouped terminal devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal device, an electronic device, a content data device, and a content data providing system that can share content data.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a terminal device according to the present invention includes a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with at least one external terminal device that is in close proximity, and an external terminal device that communicates via the wireless communication unit. Group identification information generating means for generating group identification information for identifying a device as a group of terminal devices, and contents associated with the group identification information for a plurality of terminal devices specified by the group identification information It is characterized by comprising transmission control means for transmitting the group identification information generated by the group identification information generation means to a content data providing apparatus that provides data.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a control method according to the present invention is a method for controlling a terminal device, and includes a wireless communication step of performing wireless communication with at least one external terminal device in proximity via a wireless communication unit, respectively. A group identification information generating step for generating group identification information for identifying the external terminal device and the own device communicated in the wireless communication step as a group of terminal devices, and a plurality of terminal devices specified by the group identification information And a transmission control step of transmitting the group identification information generated in the group identification information generation step to a content data providing apparatus that provides content data associated with the group identification information. .

  According to the above configuration, the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication with at least one external terminal device adjacent to the own device, and the group identification information generation unit includes the external terminal device and the own device that performed wireless communication. Group identification information for identifying a group of terminal devices is generated. The transmission control unit transmits the group identification information generated by the group identification information generation unit to the content data providing apparatus. This content data providing device provides content data associated with the group identification information to a plurality of terminal devices specified by the group identification information.

  Therefore, the content data corresponding to the group can be provided to any one of the plurality of terminal devices recognized as the group. Accordingly, users belonging to a certain group can share content data for each group with other users belonging to the same group via the content data providing apparatus.

  In addition, since the process of grouping a plurality of terminal devices is performed via proximity wireless communication, the grouping process can be performed with a simple operation, and security in the grouping process can be increased. Furthermore, instead of virtually constructing a group, it is possible to easily perform grouping between users who actually face each other.

  In addition, the said wireless communication part should just perform wireless communication only within the transmission distance according to the standard of non-contact-type IC, for example. The transmission distance is, for example, within about 2 mm, within about 10 cm, or within about 70 cm, but wireless communication may be performed only within the transmission distance between these transmission distances.

  The terminal device further includes acquisition means for acquiring content data usable by the own device, and the transmission control means associates the content data acquired by the acquisition means with the group identification information and the content data. It is preferable to transmit to the providing device.

  According to said structure, the content data which the acquisition means acquired matched with group identification information, and is transmitted to a content data provision apparatus as content data which a content data provision apparatus provides.

  Therefore, the content data provided by the content data providing device for each group can be configured by the content data transmitted by the terminal device.

  Therefore, users belonging to a certain group can share content data stored in the content data providing apparatus by other users belonging to the same group with other users belonging to the same group.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said radio | wireless communication part transmits the group identification information which the said group identification information generation means produced | generated to the said external terminal device.

  With the above configuration, group identification information can be transmitted to the terminal devices of other users belonging to the same group, and content data can be transmitted from the content data providing device using the group identification information transmitted by the users belonging to the group. You can receive the offer.

  The terminal device further includes processing means for processing the content data acquired by the acquisition means, and the transmission control means associates the content data processed by the processing means with the group identification information and the content data. It is preferable to transmit to the providing device.

  According to the above configuration, the processing unit processes the content data acquired by the acquisition unit, and the transmission control unit transmits the processed content data in association with the group identification information to the content data providing apparatus.

  Therefore, the content data provided by the content data providing device for each group can be configured by content data processed by the user of the terminal device.

  Accordingly, users belonging to a certain group can share content data processed by other users belonging to the same group with other users belonging to the same group.

  The transmission control means preferably transmits the content data processed by the processing means to the content data providing apparatus at a predetermined time interval.

  With the above configuration, the content data being processed by the user can be shared with other users belonging to the same group as the user.

  Further, a control program for operating the terminal device and causing the computer to function as each of the above means is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In order to solve the above problems, a content data providing apparatus according to the present invention is a content data providing apparatus that provides content data to a terminal device, and acquires group identification information from the terminal device. And content data providing means for providing content data associated with the group identification information to a plurality of terminal devices specified by the group identification information acquired by the group identification information acquisition means. It is said.

  According to the above configuration, the group identification information acquisition unit acquires group identification information from the terminal device, and the content data providing unit determines the group identification for the plurality of terminal devices specified by the acquired group identification information. Content data associated with information is provided.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide content data corresponding to the group to any or all of the plurality of terminal devices recognized as the group. Accordingly, users belonging to a certain group can share content data for each group with other users belonging to the same group via the content data providing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problem, an electronic device according to the present invention includes a wireless communication unit that acquires identification information of each terminal device by performing wireless communication with a plurality of adjacent terminal devices, and the wireless communication unit includes: Group identification information generating means for generating group identification information for identifying a plurality of terminal devices having the acquired identification information as a group of terminal devices, and content data provision for providing content data associated with the group identification information And a transmission control unit that transmits the group identification information generated by the group identification information generation unit to the apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, a control method according to the present invention is a control method for controlling an electronic device, and obtains identification information of each terminal device by performing wireless communication with each of a plurality of adjacent terminal devices. An identification information acquisition step, a group identification information generation step for generating group identification information for identifying a plurality of terminal devices having the identification information acquired in the identification information acquisition step as a group of terminal devices, and the group identification A transmission step of transmitting the group identification information generated in the group identification information generation step to a content data providing apparatus that provides content data associated with the information.

  According to said structure, a radio | wireless communication part acquires the identification information of each terminal device by performing radio | wireless communication with each of the several terminal device close | similar to the own apparatus. The group identification information generating unit generates group identification information for identifying a plurality of terminal devices having the identification information acquired by the wireless communication unit as a group of terminal devices. The transmission control unit transmits the group identification information generated by the group identification information generation unit to the content data providing apparatus. The content data providing apparatus provides content data associated with group identification information.

  Therefore, the content data corresponding to the group can be provided to at least some of the plurality of terminal devices recognized as the group via the content data providing apparatus. Alternatively, it can function as a relay device that acquires content data corresponding to a group from the content data providing device and relays the terminal device and the content data providing device.

  Accordingly, a user belonging to a certain group can share the same content data with other users belonging to the same group via the content data providing apparatus (and the electronic device).

  In addition, since the process of grouping a plurality of terminal devices is performed via proximity wireless communication, the grouping process can be performed with a simple operation, and security in the grouping process can be increased. Furthermore, instead of virtually constructing a group, it is possible to easily perform grouping between users who actually face each other.

  The electronic device further includes image data acquisition means for acquiring image data, and the transmission control means associates the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means with the group identification information, and provides the content data. It is preferable to transmit the content data provided by the device to the content data providing device.

  According to the above configuration, the image data acquisition unit acquires the image data, and the transmission control unit transmits the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit in association with the group identification information to the content data providing apparatus. The transmitted image data is handled as content data provided by the content data providing apparatus.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide image data corresponding to the group to any of a plurality of terminal devices recognized as a group via the content data providing apparatus. Accordingly, users belonging to a certain group can share desired image data (for example, their own captured image data) with other users belonging to the same group via the content data providing apparatus.

  The electronic device further includes an image editing unit that edits the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit, and the transmission control unit associates the image data edited by the image editing unit with the group identification information. Thus, it is preferable to transmit the content data provided by the content data providing apparatus to the content data providing apparatus.

  According to the above configuration, the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit is edited by the image editing unit, and then transmitted to the content data providing apparatus in association with the group identification information.

  Therefore, the image data edited by the image editing means can be provided to at least some of the plurality of terminal devices recognized as a group via the content data providing device. Therefore, users belonging to a certain group can share images edited by users included in the group with other users belonging to the same group via the content data providing apparatus.

  Further, it is preferable that the transmission control unit transmits the image data that has been edited by the image editing unit to the content data providing apparatus at a predetermined time interval.

  With the above configuration, image data being edited by the user can be shared with other users belonging to the same group as the user.

  The content data is image data, and the electronic device acquires content data acquisition means for acquiring image data corresponding to the group identification information from the content data providing device, and image data acquired by the content data acquisition means. It is preferable to further include a printing unit that prints.

  According to said structure, a content data acquisition means acquires the image data corresponding to group identification information from a content data provision apparatus, and a printing part prints the acquired image data.

  Therefore, the image data shared by the group can be easily acquired and printed.

  Also included in the technical scope of the present invention are a control program for operating the electronic device, the control program for causing the computer to function as each of the means, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the control program is recorded.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image data providing system according to the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices, the electronic device that obtains identification information of the terminal devices from the plurality of terminal devices, and the electronic device. And a content data providing device that provides content data associated with the transmitted group identification information.

  Therefore, the content data corresponding to the group can be provided to at least some of the plurality of terminal devices recognized as the group via the content data providing apparatus. Alternatively, it can function as a relay device that acquires content data corresponding to a group from the content data providing device and relays the terminal device and the content data providing device.

  Accordingly, users belonging to a certain group can share content data for each group with other users belonging to the same group via the content data providing apparatus.

  In addition, since the process of grouping a plurality of terminal devices is performed via wireless communication, the grouping process can be performed with a simple operation, and security in the grouping process can be increased. Furthermore, instead of virtually constructing a group, it is possible to easily perform grouping between users who actually face each other.

  As described above, the terminal device according to the present invention includes a group of a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with at least one external terminal device that is in close proximity, and a group of external terminal devices that communicate with each other via the wireless communication unit. Group identification information generating means for generating group identification information for identification as a terminal device, and content for providing content data associated with the group identification information to a plurality of terminal devices specified by the group identification information Transmission control means for transmitting the group identification information generated by the group identification information generation means to the data providing device.

  A control method according to the present invention includes a group of a wireless communication process for performing wireless communication with at least one external terminal apparatus in proximity via a wireless communication unit, and the external terminal apparatus and its own apparatus that have communicated in the wireless communication process. A group identification information generating step for generating group identification information for identification as a terminal device, and content for providing content data associated with the group identification information to a plurality of terminal devices specified by the group identification information A transmission control step of transmitting the group identification information generated in the group identification information generation step to the data providing device.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a wireless communication unit that acquires identification information of each terminal device by performing wireless communication with each of a plurality of adjacent terminal devices, and a plurality of terminals that have the identification information acquired by the wireless communication unit. Group identification information generating means for generating group identification information for identifying a device as a group of terminal devices, and content data providing apparatus for providing content data associated with the group identification information, the group identification information generating means Transmission control means for transmitting the group identification information generated by.

  The control method according to the present invention includes an identification information acquisition step of acquiring identification information of each terminal device by performing wireless communication with a plurality of adjacent terminal devices, and the identification information acquired in the identification information acquisition step. A group identification information generating step for generating group identification information for identifying a plurality of terminal devices as a group of terminal devices, and the group identification to a content data providing device for providing content data associated with the group identification information And a transmission step of transmitting the group identification information generated in the information generation step.

  Therefore, a plurality of terminal devices can be grouped with a simple operation and with increased security, and content data can be shared between the grouped terminal devices.

[Embodiment 1]
The following describes one embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image sharing system (content data providing system) 200 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image sharing system 200 includes a plurality of mobile phones (terminal devices) 1, 50, 51, 52 and a server (content data providing device) 20. The plurality of mobile phones 1, 50, 51, and 52 can be communicably connected to the server 20 via a network 201 such as the Internet.

  A plurality of mobile phones 1, 50, 51, 52 are grouped by an operation described later, and a shared album that can be used only by mobile phones belonging to the group is provided by the server 20.

(Configuration of mobile phone 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone 1. As shown in the figure, the mobile phone 1 includes a wide area communication unit (network communication unit) 2, a proximity communication unit (wireless communication unit) 3, a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, a primary storage unit 12, and a voice input / output unit 13. The display unit 14 and the operation unit 15 are provided.

  The wide area communication unit 2 is a communication circuit for connecting to the server 20 via a network 201 such as a combination of a wireless telephone network and the Internet.

  The proximity communication unit 3 is a communication circuit that performs proximity wireless communication (short-range wireless communication) with at least one other mobile phone (external terminal device) that is close to the own device, for example, FeliCa (registered trademark) and The apparatus includes a reader / writer for a non-contact type IC card (IC chip) in a so-called non-contact type IC card (IC chip) technique (or handover technique). In other words, the proximity communication unit 3 is a wireless communication unit capable of communicating and authenticating with a communication device that has approached itself a predetermined distance or more.

  The handover technique refers to communication connection information of a secondary communication carrier stored in a non-contact type IC that is read out between two communication terminals that communicate with each other through the secondary communication carrier, and read communication setting information (communication This is a technology for establishing a P2P connection by a secondary communication carrier based on connection information) and performing data communication. A wireless communication system is mainly used as the secondary communication carrier. In other words, this handover technique is characterized in that if communication terminals exchange communication setting information with each other at a relatively close distance in advance, communication can be performed even if the distance between the communication terminals is some distance thereafter. .

  The proximity communication unit (wireless communication unit) applicable to the present invention may be a close contact type (transmission distance within about 2 mm) in a non-contact type IC card standard, a proximity type (transmission distance within about 10 cm), It may be a proximity type (transmission distance is within about 70 cm). That is, the proximity communication unit applicable to the present invention only needs to perform wireless communication only within a transmission distance according to the standard of a non-contact type IC card or a non-contact type IC chip. However, the close contact type is preferable from the viewpoint of security. Since the transmission distance changes according to the change in the standard of the non-contact type IC, the transmission distance described above is only an example and does not limit the present invention.

  In addition, there are a plurality of international standards (type A, B, C technical methods) for contactless IC cards, but the proximity communication unit applied to the present invention conforms to any standard. Also good. Note that the type A technology method (conformity standard ISO / IEC14443) is a standard for contactless IC cards developed by Philips. The type B technology method (conforming standard ISO / IEC14443) is capable of higher communication speed than type A. The type C technical method (conforming standard ISO / IEC18092) is a standard including FeliCa (registered trademark), and is mainly spread in Japan.

  When the mobile phone 1 and another mobile phone are brought into contact with each other by the proximity communication unit 3, wireless communication can be performed between them. In particular, the proximity communication unit 3 acquires the terminal ID (mobile ID, terminal identification information) of the mobile phone from the other mobile phones 50 and 51, and the group ID generated by the group ID management unit 7 to be described later, Send to other mobile phones 50 and 51.

  The proximity communication unit 3 includes a memory 4 and a reading / writing unit 5.

  The memory 4 is a non-volatile memory that stores minimum information used for authentication, such as various personal information including the terminal ID of the mobile phone 1 and electronic money information.

  The read / write unit 5 is a non-contact type IC card reader / writer that performs proximity wireless communication with another mobile phone, and communicates with the terminal ID and other mobile phones from the other mobile phone. The communication setting information necessary for the operation is read, the communication setting information is stored in the memory 4, and the ID of another mobile phone is output to the group ID management unit 7.

  Note that the reading / writing unit 5 may store the terminal ID of another mobile phone in the memory 4.

  The storage unit 11 stores images held by the user, group IDs necessary when using a shared album, images of the shared album, and the like. Various programs (for example, image editing programs) for operating the control unit 10 are also stored in the storage unit 11.

  An image editing program for editing the shared image may be preinstalled in the mobile phone 1 or downloaded when the server 20 is accessed.

  The primary storage unit 12 is a memory that temporarily stores information necessary for the processing of the control unit 10, and includes, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The voice input / output unit 13 is a device that performs voice input / output, such as a microphone and a speaker.

  The display unit 14 is a display device that displays images, messages, and the like, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display.

  The operation unit 15 is a device for a user to input, such as an operation button, an input stick, or an input dial.

  The control unit 10 includes a communication control unit (transmission control unit) 6, a group ID management unit (group identification information generation unit) 7, and an image editing unit (acquisition unit, processing unit) 8.

  The group ID management unit 7 generates a group ID (group identification information) for identifying another mobile phone and its own device communicated via the proximity communication unit 3 as a group of mobile phones.

  The image editing unit 8 acquires an image (content data) that can be used by the device, and edits (processes) the acquired image. In particular, the image editing unit 8 shares an image with another mobile phone, and a plurality of users It is possible to edit the same image using each mobile phone.

  The communication control unit 6 controls the wide-area communication unit 2 and the proximity communication unit 3 to transmit / receive information, images, and the like related to authentication between the other mobile phones 50 and 51 and the server 20. In particular, the communication control unit 6 transmits the image data acquired by the image editing unit 8 (or the image data edited by the image editing unit 8) to the server 20 in association with the group ID generated by the group ID management unit 7. .

  Since the mobile phones 50 and 51 have the same configuration as the mobile phone 1, the description thereof is omitted.

(Configuration of server 20)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the server (server system) 20. As shown in the figure, the server 20 includes a storage unit 21, a control unit 30, and a communication unit 41.

  The storage unit 21 includes a personal information DB (data base) 22 that stores information on a user who uses the server 20, an image DB 23 that stores images received via the mobile phone 1 and the like, and a composite material used by the user for image editing. And a display DB 25 for storing information for associating each image with a comment, music, and the like.

  In particular, the personal information DB 22 includes a group information management table 22a for managing group IDs. The display DB 25 includes album information 25a in which information necessary for displaying the shared album is recorded.

  The synthetic material is, for example, a graffiti tool such as a stamp or an image for editing, text information such as a comment on the image, BGM, audio information, or the like.

  The control unit 30 includes a group management unit 31, a registration unit 32, an album management unit (content data providing unit) 33, an acquisition unit (group identification information acquisition unit) 38, and a display page creation unit 39.

  The communication unit 41 is a communication device for communicating with the mobile phone 1 or the like via the network 201.

  The acquisition unit 38 acquires group management information (including a group ID), images, and various instructions from the mobile phone 1 or the like via the communication unit 41, and outputs the acquired information to an appropriate functional block.

  The group management unit 31 registers the group management information acquired from the mobile phone 1 or the like in the group information management table 22a. The group management information includes the ID of the group and the terminal ID of each mobile phone belonging to the group.

  The registration unit 32 registers an image acquired from the mobile phone 1 or the like in the image DB 23 and registers a composite material acquired from the mobile phone 1 or the like in the composite material DB 24.

  The album management unit 33 provides a shared album (content data) associated with the group ID to the mobile phone specified by the group ID acquired by the acquisition unit 38. The album management unit 33 includes an image position determination unit 34, a composite image creation unit 35, an album page creation unit 36, and a search unit 37.

  The image position determination unit 34 determines the positional relationship between the image and the composite material or the arrangement of the images in the shared album in accordance with the user instruction acquired by the acquisition unit 38, and information indicating the determined positional relationship or arrangement (arrangement information) Is registered in the display DB 25. In particular, the image position determination unit 34 records in the album information 25a information specifying an image that the user has instructed to add to the shared album and information regarding the arrangement of the image in the shared album.

  Based on the positional relationship determined by the image position determination unit 34, the composite image generation unit 35 generates an edited image that is a composite image combining the image and the composite material.

  The search unit 37 searches the album information 25a for a shared album corresponding to the group ID transmitted from the mobile phone 1 or the like, and outputs the information on the shared album to the album page creation unit 36 when the corresponding shared album exists. To do.

  The album page creation unit 36 creates each page of the shared album using the shared album information output from the search unit 37 and the edited image output from the composite image creation unit 35.

  The display page creation unit 39 creates an image (screen display image) displayed on the display unit 14 of the mobile phone 1 or the like. This image includes a shared album page created by the album page creation unit 36, an edited image created by the composite image creation unit 35, an image registered by the user in the image DB 23, or a combination thereof.

(Processing flow in the image sharing system 200)
Next, an example of a processing flow in the image sharing system 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in the image sharing system 200. In the figure, the flow of processing in the mobile phone 1, the mobile phones 50 and 51, and the server 20 is described in parallel.

  The mobile phones 1, 50, and 51 can individually access the server 20 to view and edit the individually registered images. However, the mobile phones 1, 50, and 51 are registered as one group, You can view and edit the group's shared albums. Here, a process of grouping mobile phones 1, 50, 51 and updating a shared album stored in server 20 (or newly created) will be described.

  First, communication start processing (grouping processing) is performed between the mobile phone 1 and the mobile phones 50 and 51 (S1, S11). By this processing, group management information for managing the mobile phones 1, 50, 51 as one group is generated. This group management information includes a group ID for identifying the group. Details of this communication start process will be described later.

  When the grouping of mobile phones is completed, the user of the mobile phone 1 selects an image for image editing (S2). The image editing unit 8 acquires the image selected by the user from the storage unit 11.

  When an instruction to perform image editing is acquired from the user (YES in S3), the image editing unit 8 sends the group management information including the group ID and the terminal ID of the mobile phone 1, 50, 51 via the wide area communication unit 2. It transmits to the server 20 (S4).

  When the acquisition unit 38 of the server 20 receives the group management information via the communication unit 41 (S21), the acquisition unit 38 outputs the group management information to the group management unit 31 and the search unit 37. The group management unit 31 records the received group management information in the group information management table 22a.

  When the search unit 37 receives the group management information, the search unit 37 searches the album information 25a for a shared album corresponding to the group ID included in the group management information, and when the corresponding shared album exists (YES in S22). Information on the shared album is output to the album page creation unit 36 (S23).

  On the other hand, if the corresponding shared album does not exist (NO in S22), search unit 37 outputs an instruction to create a new album to album page creation unit 36. Upon receiving the instruction, the album page creation unit 36 creates a new album (S24).

  Thereafter, the mobile phone 1 transmits the group management information and the image selected in step S2 to the mobile phones 50 and 51 via the proximity communication unit 3 according to the user's instruction (S5).

  The cellular phones 50 and 51 acquire group management information and images via the proximity communication unit 3, and store the acquired group management information and images in the storage unit 11 (S12). The group management information may be stored in the memory 4. Moreover, group ID may be transmitted from the mobile phone 1 to the mobile phones 50 and 51 instead of the group management information (group ID and each terminal ID belonging to the group).

  Thereafter, the mobile phones 1, 50 and 51 perform simultaneous communication and edit the transmitted and received common images (S6 and S13). Details of this image editing process will be described later.

  When the editing of the image is completed, the mobile phone 1 transmits the edited image (edited image) to the server 20 together with an album update command that instructs to update the shared album (S7). The album update command includes the group ID, but may further include information indicating the arrangement of the edited image in the shared album. That is, the user may specify the arrangement of the edited images in the shared album.

  Upon receiving the album update command and the edited image from the mobile phone 1, the acquisition unit 38 of the server 20 outputs the edited image to the registration unit 32 and outputs the album update command to the image position determination unit 34. The registration unit 32 registers the edited image in the image DB 23. The image position determination unit 34 records information specifying the edited image and information related to the arrangement of the edited image in the shared album in the album information 25a. The shared album is updated by these processes (S25).

  Thereafter, the mobile phone 1 ends the simultaneous communication with the mobile phones 50 and 51 (S8).

  Then, the cellular phones 1, 50, 51 store the edited image in the storage unit 11 of the own device (S9).

(Flow of grouping process in mobile phone 1, 50, 51)
Next, details of processing for grouping a plurality of mobile phones 1, 50, 51 will be described. The number of mobile phones to be grouped may be two, or four or more.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of processing for grouping a plurality of mobile phones. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display screen of the parent device in the process of grouping mobile phones. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the slave unit in the process of grouping mobile phones.

  Here, description will be made on the assumption that the mobile phone 1 is a parent device and the mobile phones 50 and 51 are child devices. The relationship between the parent device and the child device is relative, and any mobile phone can be both the parent device and the child device.

  First, the mobile phone 1 acquires an instruction to perform grouping from the user using the mobile phone 1 as a parent device. At this time, the mobile phone 1 displays a screen 211 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the mobile phones 50 and 51 obtain from the user an instruction to perform grouping using the mobile phones 50 and 51 as slave units. At this time, the screen 218 shown in FIG.

  When the user brings the mobile phone 1 and the mobile phone 50 into contact, the mobile phone terminal ID and various types of communication setting information (communication information) necessary for performing wireless communication between the two via the proximity communication unit 3 are obtained. Data are transmitted / received to / from each other (S31, S41).

  The near field communication unit 3 stores the acquired communication setting information in the memory 4 and outputs the ID of the communication partner mobile phone to the group ID management unit 7 via the communication control unit 6. The group ID management unit 7 stores the received mobile phone ID in the primary storage unit 12 (S32, S42).

  At this time, the telephone number and user name of the mobile phone 50 are displayed on the display unit 14 of the mobile phone 1 (screen 212). A personal information table in which a mobile phone terminal ID is associated with personal information such as a user name and a telephone number of the mobile phone is stored in the storage unit 11 in advance, and the group ID management unit 7 stores the personal information table. By referencing, the display unit 14 displays the user name and telephone number corresponding to the acquired terminal ID. On the other hand, the display unit 14 of the mobile phone 50 displays the phone number and user name of the mobile phone 1 (screen 219). The personal information table may be stored in the storage unit 11 of the mobile phone 50 in advance, and the phone number and user name of the mobile phone 1 may be displayed based on the personal information table.

  At this time, since it is determined that the mobile phone 1 is a parent device and the mobile phone 50 is a child device, the flag indicating the parent-child relationship is transmitted and received in the subsequent grouping process. By deactivating the “Register” button on the screen 220 (a button for instructing to perform grouping processing as a parent device), erroneous registration may be prevented.

  Subsequently, the user brings the mobile phone 1 and the mobile phone 51 into contact with each other, and the terminal ID and the communication setting information are exchanged and stored between the mobile phone 1 and the mobile phone 51 (screen 213).

  When the group ID management unit 7 receives an instruction from the user that the grouping operation has been completed (YES in S33) (screen 214), the ID of the other mobile phone stored in the primary storage unit 12 is one. When there is the above (YES in S34), the mobile phone having the terminal ID stored in the primary storage unit 12 (that is, the mobile phone 50/51) and its own device are identified and managed as a group of mobile phones. Group management information is generated (S35). This group management information includes a group ID, which is group identification information, and a terminal ID of a mobile phone belonging to the group.

  The group ID may be selected from group IDs that can be used in the server 20, or may be newly generated according to a predetermined rule.

  Then, the group ID management unit 7 stores the group management information in the storage unit 11 as a group management table.

  Thereafter, the group ID management unit 7 displays an instruction to input a group name on the display unit 14 (screen 215). On this screen 215, the names of mobile phone users belonging to the group and the number of users (group number) are also displayed.

  When the user inputs a group name via the operation unit 15 (S36), the group ID management unit 7 receives the group name and records it in the group management table (S37).

  At this time, the group ID management unit 7 determines whether or not the group name input by the user has already been registered by referring to the group management table stored in the storage unit 11. Then, a message indicating that the registration has been completed is displayed (screen 216). If it has already been registered, a message to that effect is displayed (screen 217).

  Thereafter, according to the user's instruction, the group ID management unit 7 sends the group management information including the group ID, terminal ID, group number, group name, and group member name recorded in the group management table to the mobile phones 50 and 51. And transmitted via the proximity communication unit 3. When this group management information is received, the group management information is displayed on the display unit 14 of the mobile phones 50 and 51 (screen 221).

  The grouping process may be set to end when a predetermined time elapses after an instruction to start the grouping process is input. The group ID management unit 7 may manage this elapsed time. The predetermined time may be appropriately set by the user in consideration of the number of mobile phones to be grouped.

  In addition, group IDs may be transmitted from the mobile phone 1 to the mobile phones 50 and 51 instead of group management information (including group IDs and terminal IDs belonging to the group). The mobile phones 50 and 51 can acquire a shared album from the server 20 as long as the group ID is acquired. For security reasons, a password may be registered at the time of group construction or user registration with the server 20, and a shared album may be acquired using the group ID and password. In this case, the communication control unit 6 may transmit the group ID and password to the server 20 when acquiring the shared album.

(Image editing process flow)
Next, an example of the flow of image editing processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of image editing processing.

  Here, the image editing process in the mobile phone 1 will be described, but the flow of the image editing process is common to the mobile phones 1, 50, and 51.

  First, an edited image transmitted from another mobile phone 50/51 is acquired (S51). When the mobile phone 1 first edits an image, this step is omitted, and the image selected in step S2 in FIG. 4 is edited.

  When an instruction to edit the image is obtained from the user (YES in S52), the image editing unit 8 displays the image to be edited (edited image) on the display unit 14 and performs a graffiti display for image editing ( S53).

  When the user inputs an instruction to edit the editing target image using the operation unit 15, the image editing unit 8 edits the editing target image according to the instruction (S54).

  While the user is editing the image, the image editing unit 8 outputs the image being edited (the image being edited) to the communication control unit 6 at a predetermined time interval, and the communication control unit 6 displays the image being edited. It transmits to other mobile phones 50 and 51 via the wide area communication unit 2. In addition, images edited by the mobile phones 50 and 51 are also transmitted to the mobile phone 1 at predetermined time intervals. With this configuration, a plurality of users can simultaneously edit the same image using their mobile phones. The predetermined time interval may be appropriately set by those skilled in the art or may be configured to be set by the user. The predetermined time interval is, for example, an interval of 2 to 3 seconds.

  The image editing unit 8 also transmits the image being edited together with the album update command including the group ID via the communication control unit 6 to the server 20 via the wide area communication unit 2 at a predetermined time interval (S55). That is, the image editing unit 8 has a function of updating the shared album. Upon receiving the album update command and the image being edited, the acquisition unit 38 of the server 20 outputs the image being edited to the registration unit 32, and the registration unit 32 stores the image being edited in the image DB 23.

  Further, the acquisition unit 38 outputs an album update command to the image position determination unit 34, and the image position determination unit 34 includes the received image being edited in the shared album corresponding to the group ID included in the album update command. Thus, the album information 25a is changed. That is, the image position determination unit 34 records information associating the image being edited with the shared album corresponding to the group ID in the album information 25a. At this time, the image position determination unit 34 determines the arrangement of the image being edited in the shared album so that the image being edited is displayed in the shared album in time series (in the order received), and the album information 25a is displayed. Record.

  With this configuration, even if each user individually edits an image to be edited, the image being edited can be centrally managed as a shared album. In addition, since the image being edited is displayed in chronological order in the shared album, it can be enjoyed as a simple animation (para-manga) by developing the image being edited in order. Also, since the shared album during image editing is automatically updated, the shared album can be updated without the user being aware of it.

  On the other hand, when an instruction not to edit the image is obtained from the user (NO in S52), image editing unit 8 does not edit the selected image, and if the image is edit data (in S56). YES) A graffiti is displayed (S57). If the image is not editing data, the image editing unit 8 waits to receive a new image to be edited (return to S51).

  When an instruction to end image editing is acquired (YES in S58), image editing unit 8 ends a series of image editing processing.

(Process after shared album update)
As described above, after the shared album stored in the server 20 is updated by a plurality of mobile phones 1, 50, 51 at the same time (or at different times), the server can be accessed from each mobile phone (for example, the mobile phone 1). 20 to check the contents of the shared album.

  In that case, the communication control unit 6 of the mobile phone 1 transmits the group ID to the server 20 via the wide area communication unit 2. The search unit 37 of the server 20 searches for a shared album corresponding to the received group ID, and the album page creation unit 36 creates each album page of the corresponding shared album. The display page creation unit 39 creates a display page (display screen) including at least a part of the album page created by the album page creation unit 36. The communication unit 41 transmits the display page created by the display page creation unit 39 to the mobile phone 1. The mobile phone 1 displays the received display page on the display unit 14.

  With this configuration, the shared album corresponding to the group ID can be viewed and edited from the mobile phone specified by the group ID.

  Further, by transmitting the group ID and text data to the server 20, a comment indicated by the text data can be given to the shared album corresponding to the group ID. The image position determination unit 34 may perform the association between the text data and the shared album.

(Effect of the image sharing system 200)
As described above, in the image sharing system 200, it is possible to provide a shared album corresponding to the group to any of a plurality of mobile phones recognized as the group. Therefore, users belonging to a certain group can share the shared album with other users belonging to the same group via the server 20.

  Moreover, since the process which groups a some mobile phone is performed via the near field communication part 3, while being able to perform the said grouping process by simple operation, the security in the said grouping process can be improved.

(Example of change)
The server 20 may associate the image being edited and the sound or music designated by the user and store them as moving image data. In this case, the image position determination unit 34 may record information that associates the image being edited with the sound or music stored in the composite material DB 24 in the album information 25a.

  The content data stored in the server 20 and shared by the mobile phones 1, 50, 51 is not limited to the shared album (image data), but may be audio data such as a user's message or music such as a ringtone. Data, text data such as a diary, or moving image data created by the user may be used. Furthermore, the image editing unit 8 may create moving image data by combining a plurality of editing process images with audio data or music data.

  In addition, data (for example, image data) stored in the mobile phone is maintained between the mobile phones by maintaining communication for a certain period of time after the mobile phones exchange terminal IDs via the proximity communication unit 3. May be configured to transmit and receive.

  Further, the mobile phone 1 may store the image edited by the image editing unit 8 in the storage unit 11 included in the mobile phone 1 itself. Further, the communication control unit 6 of the mobile phone 1 may transmit the image data edited by the image editing unit 8 to the server 20 at a predetermined time interval. With this configuration, the user of the mobile phone 1, 50, 51 can share the image being edited with other members belonging to the same group via the server 20.

  The shared album may be displayed on a bulletin board provided on the home page.

  In addition, the mobile phone 1 establishes a P2P connection by the secondary communication carrier based on the communication setting information read between the mobile phones 1 and 50 via the proximity communication unit 3 and is a communication unit different from the proximity communication unit 3 Communication may be performed between the mobile phones 1 and 50 (for example, a short-range communication unit including a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module or a module that performs communication via infrared rays).

[Embodiment 2]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the member similar to Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a composite image communication system (content data providing system) 300 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the composite image communication system 300 includes a plurality of mobile phones 1, 50, a photographic printing apparatus (electronic device) 100, and a server 20. For simplicity, FIG. 9 shows two mobile phones 1 and 50, but any number of mobile phones may be used.

  As shown in the first embodiment, any one of the plurality of mobile phones 1 and 50 becomes a master unit for grouping processing, and the mobile phone is grouped (or before grouping), the photo printing apparatus 100 However, here, a configuration will be described in which the photographic printing apparatus 100 serves as a base unit for grouping processing to group the mobile phones 1 and 50 together.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the grouped mobile phones 1 and 50 can create a shared album in the server 20 by using the group ID, and browse and edit the shared album.

(Configuration of Photographic Print Device 100)
The photo printing / printing apparatus (or photo sticker) 100 has a function of taking a photograph of the user (photographing function), a function of allowing the user to edit graffiti etc. on the photographed photo (editing function), and an edited It has a function for printing an image (print function). Note that all these functions are not essential. For example, a configuration in which the print function is omitted may be employed.

  The photography printing apparatus 100 provides the user with the above functions by collecting a fee from the user. In addition, a time limit is provided for each function, and the user uses each function within this time limit.

  The server 20 receives an edited image, which is an image obtained by performing an editing process on the photographed image from the photograph printing apparatus 100, and additional information including information on an e-mail address input by the user, and a cellular phone. 1 is a server system that performs a process of transmitting the edited image data to the mobile phone 1 in response to an access from 1.

  The server 20 and the photographic printing apparatus 100 are communicatively connected by a communication medium. Examples of the communication medium include dedicated line connection, but the communication mode is not particularly limited. Similarly, the server 20 and the mobile phones 1 and 50 are communicatively connected by a communication medium. Examples of the communication medium include a combination of a wireless telephone network and the Internet, but the communication form is not particularly limited.

  The cellular phones 1 and 50 have a telephone function using a wireless telephone network such as a cellular telephone network or a PHS (registered trademark: Personal Handyphone System) telephone network, and also have a data communication function and an information processing function using the wireless telephone network. It is an information processing terminal. Note that the information processing terminal applied to the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone, and can perform data communication with the server 20 regardless of wired or wireless, and can perform information processing. Any device may be used as long as it is a terminal.

(Usage form of composite image communication system)
A usage form of the composite image communication system 300 will be schematically described. The user plays a game using the photo printing apparatus 100 installed in an amusement facility or the like. In this game, the user takes a photograph, and performs a process of writing an editing image on the photographed image, such as a so-called graffiti, as an editing process for the photographed image on the photograph photographing printing apparatus 100. As part of this editing process, the user writes a desired picture or character with a dedicated pen, or selects a stamp and synthesizes the stamp pattern with the photographed image.

  Then, the photographed print apparatus 100 prints and outputs an edited image obtained by combining the photographed image with the image for editing, so that the user can obtain the printed matter as a game result. Further, in the composite image communication system 300, the user can transmit an edited image to the mobile phone 1. In this case, the user registers (inputs) the e-mail address of the mobile phone 1 in the photographic printing apparatus 100, so that the photographic printing apparatus 100 transmits the edited image information and the additional information to the server 20. As the identification information (ID) as the owner of the edited image, and in order to receive information from the server, the mail address of the own mobile phone may be registered. It is assumed that the terminal ID is registered as identification information. Thus, the user's game on the photo printing apparatus 100 is completed.

  The server 20 stores the edited image information and the additional information sent from the photographic printing apparatus 100 in association with each other. Then, the server 20 transmits a mail indicating the address information of the page from which the edited image can be acquired to the user's mail address. The user accesses the page of the address indicated in the received mail using his / her mobile phone 1 and obtains the edited image to display the edited image on the mobile phone 1.

  In addition, when the photographic printing apparatus 100 transmits the edited image information and the additional information to the server 20, it is preferable that the transmission data includes association information that enables these associations. The association information may be transmitted by being included in the data of each information, or may be transmitted separately from the data of each information.

(Appearance of the photography printing apparatus 100)
Next, the external configuration of the photographic printing apparatus 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b). The photography printing apparatus 100 includes a photographing unit 120 that photographs a user's photograph, an editing unit 130 that allows a user to edit graffiti and the like on the photograph (photographed image), and a photograph that the user has edited. And a printing unit 140 that outputs (edited image) to print paper. 10A shows an appearance from the photographing unit 120 side in the photographic printing apparatus 100, and FIG. 10B shows an appearance from the editing unit 130 and the printing unit 140 side.

  FIG. 11 is a front view of the editing unit 130a. The configuration of the editing unit 130b is the same as that of the editing unit 130a, and is not shown here. The editing unit 130b is provided facing the editing unit 130a. Hereinafter, the editing unit 130 will be collectively described.

  The editing unit 130 is for executing an editing process such as graffiti on a captured image after the user finishes the shooting process by the shooting unit 120. The touch panel unit 131, the touch pen 132, and the voice output unit 133 are used. Etc. Each unit of the editing unit 130 is controlled by the control unit 110. Details of the above-described units will be described later.

  FIG. 12 is a front view of the printing unit 140. In the present embodiment, the printing unit 140 is provided on the side surfaces of the editing unit 130a and the editing unit 130b. Therefore, FIG. 12 illustrates the side surface of the editing unit 130. The printing unit 140 prints an edited image after the user completes the editing process by the editing unit 130 on a sticker sheet, and discharges the printed sticker sheet. In the present embodiment, print discharge ports 144a and 144b are provided on the side of the editing unit 130, and the sticker sheet of the edited image edited by the editing unit 130a is discharged from the print discharge port 144a, and the editing unit 130 The sticker sheet of the edited image that has been edited in 130b is discharged from the print discharge port 144b.

  In the photographic printing apparatus 100 configured as described above, the user first enters the photographic space provided with the photographic unit 120 and executes the photographic process, and then the editing unit 130 (the editing unit 130a or the editing unit 130b). The editing process is carried out by moving to the editing space provided, and a series of processes of the game are enjoyed in such a flow that the printing unit 140 receives the sticker paper on which the photographed image or the edited image is printed in the printing space.

  As described above, in the photographic printing apparatus 100, the photographing unit 120 and the editing unit 130 are provided in different spaces. Therefore, even when a set of users is performing editing processing in the editing unit 130, other users can start shooting processing. Thereby, it is possible to improve a rotation rate.

  In addition, the editing process in the editing unit 130 is basically provided with a time limit. On the other hand, the editing process time may be unlimited until another user enters the shooting process, and the time limit may be set for the editing process from the time when another user starts the shooting process.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), the photography printing apparatus 100 has a structure including two editing units 130, and includes a first editing unit 130a and a second editing unit 130b. Is installed face-to-face. As described above, by providing more editing units 130 than the photographing unit 120, it is possible to disperse the processing time related to the editing process that is a bottleneck and improve the rotation rate. However, the photography printing apparatus 100 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration. The installation position of the editing unit 130 is not particularly limited, and the number of installations may be one editing unit 130. If the installation location can be secured, three or more editing units 130 may be provided. Good.

(Configuration of Photographic Printing Apparatus 100—Overview)
Next, operations of the control unit 110 and each part of the photographic printing apparatus 100 in the photographic printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the photo printing apparatus 100. As shown in the figure, the photographic printing apparatus 100 includes a photographing unit 120, an editing unit 130, a printing unit 140, a control unit 110, a recording unit 150, and a wide area communication unit 160.

  The control unit 110 comprehensively controls the operations of the above-described units included in the photographic printing apparatus 100. The control unit 110 is configured by a PC (personal computer) -based computer, for example. And operation control of various composition is performed by making a computer run a control program. This program may be in the form of reading and using what is recorded on a removable medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be in the form of reading and using what is installed on a hard disk or the like. Further, when the control unit 110 is configured to be connected to a communication network such as the Internet, a form in which the program is downloaded via the communication network, installed on a hard disk, and the like can be considered.

  The photographic printing apparatus 100 includes a recording unit 150 configured by a nonvolatile storage device such as the hard disk described above. Examples of the contents stored in the recording unit 150 include the control program, an OS (Operating System) program, various other programs, operation setting values in the camera unit 123, image data of a captured image and an edited image, and the like. Examples of the operation setting values in the camera unit 123 include white balance values set at the time of shipment and maintenance of the photographic printing apparatus 100, various parameter values related to image processing when adjusting the brightness and the like of the captured image, and the like. Can be mentioned.

  The imaging unit 120 executes an imaging process, and includes a coin processing unit 121, an illumination unit 122, a camera unit 123, a captured image display unit 124, a camera image display unit 125, and an operation unit 126. Although not shown here, the photographing unit 120 may include a voice output unit for performing voice guidance so as to prompt a user to perform an operation.

  The coin processing unit 121 performs coin insertion / return processing when collecting charges from the user. When it is determined that a predetermined coin has been inserted, the control unit 110 is notified. And control part 110 will perform charge processing, if a notice from coin processing part 121 is received. That is, the control part 110 counts the notification from the coin process part 121, and controls various operation | movement with respect to a user according to the money | rate which the user input.

  The illumination unit 122 functions as a photographic flashlight such as a strobe lamp at the time of shooting, and also functions as a normal illumination. In this embodiment, a flash lamp is used as the light source, but a light source that emits continuous light, such as a fluorescent lamp, can also be used. Further, a fluorescent lamp or the like can be provided as an auxiliary light source in the vicinity of the flash lamp. By using a continuous light source or an auxiliary light source, it is possible to infer a shot at the time of shooting from a live view image before shooting.

  The camera unit 123 mainly takes a photograph of a user as a subject, and is configured by a digital camera including, for example, a lens group, a diaphragm, a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor, and the like. The camera unit 123 is configured to be able to switch, for example, a lens group to be used and an aperture so as to be able to cope with both whole body photography and close-up photography.

  The captured image display unit 124 provides a user interface to the user, and displays various images, various operation buttons, and the like. The operation unit 126 is an input device for inputting an instruction signal for the user to perform a game operation on the photo printing apparatus 100. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 126 is realized as a touch panel integrated with the captured image display unit 124. That is, a GUI screen such as operation buttons is displayed on the captured image display unit 124. When the display screen of the photographed image display unit 124 is pressed by a user's finger (or a pointing device such as a touch pen), an instruction signal indicating a button or an image corresponding to the position is input to the inside of the photograph printing apparatus 100. Is done.

  The photographed image display unit 124 is configured by providing a touch panel on the surface of a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display element or a CRT, for example. By displaying the captured image captured by the camera unit 123 on the captured image display unit 124, the user can check the captured image. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 126 is configured as a touch panel provided integrally with the captured image display unit 124. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation unit 126 is provided with, for example, a numeric keypad or a cross key. It may be configured as an input device such as a remote controller or a keyboard.

  The camera image display unit 125 displays a real-time video captured by the camera unit 123, that is, a live view image before shooting. By displaying the live view image on the camera image display unit 125, the user can confirm the image in advance and start shooting.

  The editing unit 130 executes an editing process, and includes a touch panel unit 131, a touch pen 132, an audio output unit 133, and a proximity communication unit (wireless communication unit) 134.

  The touch panel unit 131 provides a user interface to the user, and includes an edited image display unit 131a and an operation reception unit 131b. The edited image display unit 131a displays an image to be edited in the editing process (an image to be edited) and a result of editing the captured image (an edited image). The operation accepting unit 131b accepts a user instruction signal input by using a pointing device such as a touch pen, and transmits it to the inside of the photographic printing apparatus 100.

  The touch pen 132 is used for a user to perform fine operation input on the touch panel unit 131 in image editing processing or the like, and is disposed near the touch panel unit 131. The user can select a button displayed according to the progress of the process or draw an image such as a graffiti by bringing the touch pen 132 into contact with or approaching the touch panel unit 131.

  For example, when the screen of the touch panel unit 131 is pressed with the touch pen 132, an instruction signal indicating a button or an image corresponding to the position is input into the photography printing apparatus 100. Thereby, the user can perform graffiti on the photographed image, press a stamp, or select a print target image to be printed.

  In the present embodiment, two touch pens 132 are provided to facilitate image editing by a plurality of users. However, only one touch pen 132 may be provided to simplify the configuration. Yes, and more than two can be deployed for more than two users. Similarly, a plurality of touch pens 132 can be provided.

  The voice output unit 133 outputs guidance voices and sound effects for various operations, and is provided at an appropriate position of the photographic printing apparatus 100. For example, a speaker is used as the audio output unit 133.

  The proximity communication unit 134 is a communication circuit that performs proximity wireless communication (short-range wireless communication) with a mobile phone that is close to the device itself. For example, a non-contact IC card (IC chip) called FeliCa (registered trademark) Reader / writer. In other words, the proximity communication unit 134 is a wireless communication unit capable of communicating and authenticating with a mobile phone (communication device) that is close to a predetermined distance from itself. The proximity communication unit 3 enables wireless communication with the mobile phones 1 and 50. In particular, the proximity communication unit 134 obtains a terminal ID (identification information) of each mobile phone by performing wireless communication with each of the plurality of mobile phones.

  The proximity communication unit 134 includes a non-volatile memory (not shown) that stores minimum information used for authentication, such as various personal information such as terminal IDs of the mobile phones 1 and 50 and electronic money information. .

  The printing unit 140 executes a printing process by printing a captured image and / or an edited image selected as a printing target, and includes an ID tag reader / writer unit 141 and a printer unit 142. A seal paper 145 and an ID tag 144 as an output medium for photographic prints are delivered to the printing unit 140 as a seal paper unit 143 as a set.

  When image data to be output is sent from the control unit 110, the printer unit 142 prints on the sticker sheet 145 based on the image data. For example, a sublimation printer is used as the printer unit 142. When a sublimation printer is used, a sublimation ink film is delivered as a set in addition to the sticker paper 145 and the ID tag 144.

  The ID tag reader / writer unit 141 reads out various identification information recorded in the ID tag 144 and outputs it to the control unit 10. The ID tag 144 is configured by an IC chip having a memory function. Examples of the identification information include a unique ID, the number of sheets, a sheet type, and ink-specific color information (when an ink film is set).

  Based on the identification information read by the ID tag reader / writer unit 141, the control unit 110 determines whether the attached sticker paper 145 and the ink film can be used in the photography printing apparatus 100, and can be used. The printer unit 142 can be operated only when That is, it is set so that only the sticker paper 145 and the ink film specified in the photo printing apparatus 100 can be used.

  Further, by counting down the number of sheets each time sticker paper is used based on the number of sheets information recorded in the ID tag 144, the remaining number of sheets can be grasped. Therefore, when the remaining number of sheets is reduced, a configuration that warns the user with a display means or the like can avoid a problem such as running out of sheets during use by the user. .

  When counting down the number of sheets, it is desirable to rewrite the sheet number information recorded in the ID tag 144. As a result, when the paper is used up, the information on the number of sheets recorded in the ID tag 144 is also zero, and the ID tag 144 can be invalidated.

  Further, by reading the paper type information recorded in the ID tag 144 and the color information unique to the ink, and correcting the color component of the image data in consideration of these, the seal paper 145 and the ink film are accurately obtained. Image output can be performed.

  As the ID tag 144, there are a non-contact type ID tag capable of performing data communication wirelessly and a contact type ID tag provided with a terminal. The ID tag reader / writer unit 141 includes these It corresponds to either one or both.

  In this embodiment, the seal sheet 145 is assumed to be a seal sheet including an adhesive sheet and a release sheet attached to the adhesive surface of the adhesive sheet, but is not limited thereto. The photographic printing apparatus 100 of the present invention can be configured to use a paper-like sheet that is a normal paper-like medium instead of the sticker paper 145.

  The wide area communication unit 160 is a communication circuit for connecting to the server 20 via a network 201 such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), and a local area network (LAN). Note that the photographic printing apparatus 100 and the server 20 may be communicably connected via a dedicated line.

  Moreover, the photography printing apparatus 100 of the present invention may include a curtain part 127. The curtain unit 127 provides a curtain as a background of the captured image. Curtains with various colors and patterns are prepared, and can be freely selected by the user at the time of shooting, or can be automatically selected by the photographic printing apparatus 100. The plurality of curtains are arranged so as to overlap the back of the shooting space (facing the shooting unit 120), and at the time of shooting, the selected curtain is installed in the foreground so that it is reflected behind the subject. The installation of the selected curtain may be executed by the background control unit 116 of the control unit 110 controlling the curtain unit 127, or may be configured to be manually performed by the user himself / herself.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the curtain part 127 was set as the structure which provides a some curtain, it is not limited to this. One type of curtain can be installed in the curtain unit 127. In this case, if a plurality of types of background images for synthesis are prepared and the background image desired by the user is synthesized in the editing process, even if there is only one type of curtain, the user can have various preferences. Can respond.

(Configuration of Photographic Printing Device 100-Details)
Next, the control unit 110 and the recording unit 150 of the photographic printing apparatus 100 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 10 further includes a captured image acquisition unit (image data acquisition unit) 111, an image editing unit (image editing unit) 112, a print image creation unit 113, and a communication processing unit (transmission control unit). 115, a group ID management unit (group identification information generation means) 114, and a background control unit 116. Note that the background control unit 116 is as described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  The recording unit 150 includes a captured image recording unit 151 that records captured images, and an editing image recording unit (image storage unit) 152 that records editing images such as background images, frame images, and stamp images provided in image editing. , An edited image information recording unit 153 that records information about an edited image, a print image recording unit 154 that records a print image, and user information such as a terminal ID, a group ID, and an e-mail address of a mobile phone owned by the user. A personal information DB 155 and a model information recording unit 156 that records model information of a mobile phone that performs wireless communication via the proximity communication unit 134 are included.

  As will be described later, the shared album acquired from the server 20 is temporarily recorded in the captured image recording unit 151. However, a recording unit for temporarily recording the shared album may be provided. .

  The captured image acquisition unit 111 acquires a captured image (image data) created by capturing a subject from the camera unit 123. The captured image acquisition unit 111 records the acquired captured image in the captured image recording unit 151.

  The image editing unit 112 executes image editing on a captured image in accordance with a user operation. Examples of image editing include adding a background image and / or a frame image read from the editing image recording unit 152, adding a stamp image read from the editing image recording unit 152 to an arbitrary position, or using a touch pen. For example, adding graffiti. However, the image editing is not limited to the above-described example, and the editing is executed by the user operating any input means (input unit) connected to the photography printing apparatus 100, and the original photographed image is changed. Any editing process may be used as long as the edited image can be obtained as a result of the addition.

  The image editing unit 112 records the edited image information related to the data included in the edited image and the edited content in the edited image information recording unit 153.

  The print image creation unit 113 creates a print image in which an edit image corresponding to the size of each divided area is arranged in each of the plurality of divided areas. The size and arrangement of the edited image in the print image are usually determined by the user selecting one of a plurality of patterns, but may be determined freely by the user, It may be determined at random. The print image creation unit 113 records in the created print image recording unit 154. Then, the control unit 110 instructs the printer unit 142 to print the print image recorded in the print image recording unit 154 on the sticker sheet 145 at an appropriate timing.

  The group ID management unit 114 acquires the terminal ID of each mobile phone from the plurality of mobile phones 1 and 50 via the proximity communication unit 134, and manages the plurality of mobile phones having the terminal ID as one group Generate group management information. This group management information includes the ID of the group and the terminal ID of the mobile phone belonging to the group. Further, the group management information may include model information of mobile phones belonging to the group and personal information of the user such as an e-mail address.

  The group ID management unit 114 records group management information in the personal information DB 155 and records model information in the model information recording unit 156 in association with the group ID. The model information may include communication setting information necessary for communicating with the mobile phone via the proximity communication unit 134.

  The communication processing unit 115 executes communication processing with the server 20 via the wide area communication unit 160. The communication processing unit 115 performs transmission / reception processing of the edited image and additional information edited by the image editing unit 112, and performs processing of converting the edited image into an appropriate data format along with transmission / reception of the edited image. Note that the conversion processing can be performed entirely by the server 20 in order to provide a high-resolution image, for example. When the edited image to be transmitted to the server 20 is shared by the group set by the user, the communication processing unit 115 associates the edited image with the group ID (and terminal ID) and sets the server. 20 is transmitted.

  The communication processing unit 115 may transmit the image acquired by the captured image acquisition unit 111 to the server 20 in association with the group ID.

(Processing flow in the photographic printing apparatus 100)
Next, an example of the flow of processing in the photographic printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow in the photographic printing apparatus 100. FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are diagrams illustrating an example of a display screen of the touch panel unit 131 included in the photographic printing apparatus 100. Here, an example of processing when the two mobile phones 1 and 50 are grouped by the photographic printing apparatus 100 will be described. In FIG. 14 and the like, “mobile phone” may be abbreviated as “mobile phone” in some cases.

  First, when a coin is inserted (YES in S61), coin processing unit 121 determines that a predetermined coin has been inserted, and notifies control unit 110 to that effect. Then, upon receiving the notification from the coin processing unit 121, the control unit 110 activates a shooting application so that the user can perform shooting.

  Thereafter, the user takes a plurality of photographs in the photographing space (S62). At this time, the user can take a picture while visually recognizing his / her appearance displayed on the camera image display unit 125. The user selects an image to be edited from the captured images as a keep image, and the selected captured image is recorded in the captured image recording unit 151.

  Next, the control unit 110 displays an instruction to move to the editing space provided with the editing unit 130 on the camera image display unit 125 or the like (S63). In accordance with this instruction, the user moves to the editing space.

  Then, the group ID management unit 114 of the control unit 110 displays an instruction to perform authentication by the mobile phone on the touch panel unit 131 of the editing unit 130 (S64).

  In accordance with this instruction, the user of the mobile phone 1 holds the mobile phone 1 over the proximity communication unit 134 provided in the editing unit 130 or makes light contact with the surface of the proximity communication unit 134. With this operation, the terminal ID of the mobile phone 1 is input to the group ID management unit 114 via the proximity communication unit 134. The group ID management unit 114 stores the acquired terminal ID of the mobile phone 1 in a primary storage memory (not shown) that can be used by itself.

  On the other hand, the user of the mobile phone 50 holds the mobile phone 50 over the proximity communication unit 134. With this operation, the terminal ID of the mobile phone 50 is input to the group ID management unit 114 via the proximity communication unit 134. The group ID management unit 114 stores the acquired terminal ID of the mobile phone 50 in the primary storage memory.

  The editing unit 130 includes two proximity communication units 134 so that two users can be authenticated at the same time. Therefore, the mobile phones 1 and 50 can be authenticated at the same time. Note that the mobile phone may be authenticated one by one. When three or more users authenticate, the authentication of the third mobile phone may be continued after the authentication of the two mobile phones is completed.

  When the two users complete the authentication, as shown in FIG. 15, the touch panel unit 131 displays that the authentication has been completed. At this time, the phone numbers and user names of the mobile phone 1 and the mobile phone 50 may be displayed. When displaying the telephone number and the user's name, the telephone number and the user's name may be registered in the personal information DB 155 in advance in association with the mobile phone terminal ID.

  When receiving an input from the user indicating that all the mobile phone authentications have been completed, the group ID management unit 114 identifies group management information for identifying and managing the terminal ID stored in the primary storage memory as one group. The group management information is generated and stored in the personal information DB 155. This process ends the authentication process (group registration process) (S65). At this time, the group ID management unit 114 may cause the user to input the name of the group and include the input group name in the group management information.

  When performing the authentication process, the group ID management unit 114 displays a screen asking whether the displayed member may be registered as a group on the touch panel unit 131, as indicated by “A” in FIG. .

  If the group has already been registered, the group ID management unit 114 displays a screen asking the user whether to acquire a shared album corresponding to the group ID from the server 20 or another shared album (FIG. 16 ( a) “B”). The other shared album is a shared album corresponding to a group ID of a group including a combination of the mobile phones 1 and 50 that have been authenticated this time among a plurality of groups to which the mobile phone 1 or 50 belongs.

  At this time, the group ID management unit 114 displays the names of the members included in the group indicated by the group ID, and causes the user to select one of them (FIG. 16B). Further, the group ID management unit 114 displays the group ID and group name included in the group management information including the name (user name) selected by the user (FIG. 16C). That is, the ID and group name of a group to which a certain user belongs are displayed. The user selects a desired group ID from the displayed group IDs. By this operation, it is determined which group the user of the mobile phone 1 will perform the subsequent operation as a user belonging to.

  Next, the user performs an image editing process on the image taken in S62 or the image included in the shared album acquired from the server 20 (S66). Details of this image editing process will be described later.

  After that, upon receiving an instruction from the user to transmit the image captured in step S62 or the image edited in step S66 to the mobile phone 1/50, the communication processing unit 115 transmits the image via the wide area communication unit 160 or the proximity communication unit 134. Is transmitted to the mobile phone 1 · 50 (S67).

  If the image captured in step S62 is transmitted without being edited, step S66 is omitted.

  Next, the print image creation unit 113 creates a print image for printing the photographed image or the edited image on the sticker sheet 145, and instructs the printer unit 142 of the printing unit 140 to perform processing for printing the print image. In response to this command, the printer unit 142 starts the printing process (S68).

  While the printing process is being performed, the control unit 110 performs a subsequent customer service process using the touch panel unit 131 (S69). This post-service process is a process of executing a corresponding application so that a mini game such as a game in which a questionnaire can be input or an image can be transmitted to a mobile phone.

  Thereafter, the control unit 110 displays an instruction to move to the printing space in which the printing unit 140 is arranged on the touch panel unit 131 (S70). In accordance with this instruction, the user moves to the print space.

  Then, the printer unit 142 of the printing unit 140 discharges the sticker sheet 145 on which the photographed image or the edited image is printed (S71).

(Details of image editing process)
Next, an example of the flow of image editing processing in the photographic printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of image editing processing in the photographic printing apparatus 100. In the figure, the process flow in the server 20 is also described, and the process flow in the server 20 will also be described. The description will be made on the assumption that the user of the mobile phone 1 performs the following operation. Further, in the same figure, the photo printing apparatus 100 is abbreviated as “photo sticker”.

  First, the user inputs an instruction to acquire an editing target image (S81). Upon receiving this instruction, the image editing unit 112 acquires an image designated by the user from the captured image recording unit 151 and displays the image on the edited image display unit 131a. At this time, the communication processing unit 115 transmits the image designated by the user to the server 20.

  The registration unit 32 of the server 20 stores the received image in the image DB 23 (S101).

  Thereafter, when it is detected that the user has selected to use the shared album (YES in S82), group ID management unit 114 has the terminal ID of mobile phone 1 out of the group IDs registered in personal information DB 155. Is acquired as a member, and the group ID is displayed on the touch panel unit 131 (S83).

  When it is detected that the user has selected one of the displayed group IDs (YES in S84), group ID management unit 114 acquires from server 20 a shared album corresponding to the group ID selected by the user. The communication processing unit 115 is instructed to do so. In response to this instruction, the communication processing unit 115 transmits a shared album request for acquiring the shared album to the server 20.

  Upon receiving the shared album request, the album management unit 33 of the server 20 acquires the shared album corresponding to the group ID selected by the user from the storage unit 21, and takes the acquired shared album via the communication unit 41 as a photographic print. Transmit to device 100. More specifically, the search unit 37 searches the album information 25 a for a shared album corresponding to the group ID included in the shared album request, and the album page creation unit 36 stores the searched shared album in the storage unit 21. It is created by using various stored information (S102). The shared album created by the album page creation unit 36 is incorporated into the display screen image displayed on the touch panel unit 131 of the photography printing apparatus 100 by the display page creation unit 39, and is transferred to the photography printing apparatus 100 by the communication unit 41. It is transmitted (S103).

  Upon receiving the shared album, the photographic printing apparatus 100 temporarily stores the shared album in the photographic image recording unit 151 (S85).

  The user may select a plurality of group IDs and select a plurality of shared albums (NO in S86). In this case, the process of acquiring the shared album from the server 20 is repeated.

  When it is detected that the user has pressed the edit start button (YES in S86), image editing unit 112 displays an edit screen on touch panel unit 131 and starts accepting an edit operation input (S87).

  Then, the image editing unit 112 causes the edited image display unit 131a to display the editing target image designated by the user (S88). This image to be edited can be selected from images included in the received shared album. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting an image to be edited from images included in the shared album. As shown in the figure, an image included in the shared album may be displayed, and an image selected by the user may be displayed as a thumbnail image. Alternatively, the captured image and the image from the shared album may all be displayed in the thumbnail image area. Since the number of images that can be displayed on the thumbnail screen is limited, it is preferable that the images can be forwarded with arrows or the like.

  Thereafter, the image editing unit 112 edits the editing target image in accordance with the user's instruction (S89). While the editing target image is being edited, the communication processing unit 115 associates the image data being edited by the image editing unit 112 with the group ID selected by the user and transmits the image data to the server 20 at a predetermined time interval. To do. With this configuration, an image being edited can be added to the shared album.

  When it is detected that the predetermined time has elapsed or the end button has been pressed (YES in S90), image editing unit 112 ends the editing input reception (S91). At this time, the image editing unit 112 transmits the edited image to the server 20 via the communication processing unit 115.

  The registration unit 32 of the server 20 registers the received edited image in the image DB 23 (S104).

  In the above description, the case where a shared album is acquired from the server 20 has been described. However, image editing materials such as stamps and frames previously used in the photography printing apparatus 100 and various contents are acquired from the server 20. May be. Further, the timing for acquiring the content from the server 20 may be after the edit start button is pressed, and is not particularly limited.

  Further, after playing on the photo shoot printing apparatus 100, the shared album can be viewed and edited by the mobile phone 1 accessing the server 20 as in the first embodiment.

  Further, the case information of the mobile phone 1, the shooting date and time of the image, and the shooting location information are attached to the image transmitted from the photographic printing apparatus 100 to the server 20. Good.

(Modification example of the photo printing apparatus 100)
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the ID of the mobile phone 1 is acquired by the proximity communication unit 134 including the reader / writer for the non-contact IC card has been described. However, IEEE (Institut of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11a, 11b , 11g and other wireless LAN (Local Area Network) modules, Bluetooth (registered trademark) modules, or modules that perform communication via infrared light, etc. The ID of the telephone 1 may be acquired.

  Further, the proximity communication unit 134 may be provided in another part of the photographic printing apparatus 100 such as the imaging unit 120 and the printing unit 140.

  Further, an image edited by the image editing unit 112, an image acquired by the captured image acquisition unit 111, or a shared album acquired from the server 20 may be transmitted to the mobile phone 1 via the proximity communication unit 134 or the wide area communication unit 160. Good. With this configuration, it is possible to save the user from accessing the server 20 in order to acquire the image or shared album. As a result, it is possible to continue playing while maintaining a pleasant atmosphere when taking pictures. In addition, the shared album stored in the server 20 can be used as a backup of the shared album stored in the storage unit 11 of the mobile phone 1.

  In addition, when an image or a shared album is transmitted from the photo print apparatus 100 to a mobile phone, the image or shared album may be transmitted to all mobile phones belonging to one group, or a specific belonging to one group The image or shared album may be transmitted to the mobile phone. The image or shared album transmitted to the specific mobile phone can be shared through authentication between mobile phones.

  Moreover, after acquiring the terminal ID of the mobile phone 1 via the proximity communication unit 3, communication with the mobile phone 1 may be maintained for a certain period of time, and information such as personal information possessed by the mobile phone 1 may be acquired.

  Further, the photography printing apparatus 100 and the server 20 may be realized as one apparatus.

[Embodiment 3]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. Note that members similar to those in the first and second embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a photo print system (content data providing system) 400 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the photo print system 400 includes a plurality of mobile phones 1, 50, a desktop printer (electronic device) 60, and the server 20. The desktop printer 60 is a small printer on the desktop, but the present invention may be applied to a large printer installed on the floor. The desktop printer 60 has an advantage that the installation location can be easily changed. Further, the number of mobile phones included in the photo print system 400 is not particularly limited.

  As shown in the second embodiment, the desktop printer 60 can be a master unit for grouping processing to group a plurality of mobile phones. Here, as shown in the first embodiment, a plurality of mobile phones are grouped. A configuration in which the desktop printer 60 is used after one of the mobile phones becomes a parent device for grouping processing and the mobile phones are grouped will be described. Since the process of grouping mobile phones has already been described, it will not be repeated here. The case where the desktop printer 60 is used using the grouped mobile phones 1 will be described below.

  FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the desktop printer 60. As shown in the figure, the desktop printer 60 includes a proximity communication unit (wireless communication unit) 61, a touch panel unit 62, an audio output unit 65, a wide area communication unit 66, a control unit 70, a storage unit 80, and a printing unit 81. Yes.

  Similar to the proximity communication unit 3, the proximity communication unit 61 is a communication circuit that performs proximity wireless communication with a mobile phone that is close to the device itself. For example, the proximity communication unit 61 is a non-contact IC card (IC chip) of FeliCa (registered trademark). ) Reader / writer. In other words, the proximity communication unit 61 is a wireless communication unit capable of communicating and authenticating with a mobile phone that is closer to the mobile phone than a predetermined distance.

  The wide area communication unit 66 is a communication circuit for connecting to the server 20 via a wireless communication network and the Internet (network 201).

  The touch panel unit 62 is a user interface for a user to input an instruction, and includes an image display unit 63 that displays an image and an operation reception unit 64 that receives a user operation. The image display unit 63 is provided with a touch panel on the surface of a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display element or a CRT.

  The voice output unit 65 is a speaker that outputs voice data for voice guidance.

  The printing unit 81 prints out an image designated by the user (in particular, an image acquired by the group ID management unit 72 from the server 20), and includes a printer unit 82 and a discharge unit 83.

  The control unit 70 controls each unit of the desktop printer 60, and includes an acquisition unit 71, a group ID management unit (group identification information generation unit) 72, a print control unit 73, a communication control unit (content data acquisition unit) 74, and A display control unit 75 is provided.

  The acquisition unit 71 acquires an image to be printed and a terminal ID (or group ID) from the mobile phone 1 via the proximity communication unit 61.

  The group ID management unit 72 records the terminal ID or group ID acquired by the acquisition unit 71 in the group ID management table 80a of the storage unit 80, and receives an image corresponding to the group ID from the server 20 via the communication control unit 74. get.

  The print control unit 73 controls the printing unit 81 to print the image to be printed acquired by the acquisition unit 71 or the image acquired from the server 20.

  The communication control unit 74 acquires an image (content data) corresponding to the terminal ID or group ID of the mobile phone 1 from the server 20 by controlling the wide area communication unit 66.

  The display control unit 75 controls the image display unit 63 to display an image to be printed.

(Processing flow in the photo print system 400)
Next, an example of the flow of processing in the photo print system 400 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow in the photo print system 400. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the desktop printer 60 when performing the authentication process. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the desktop printer 60 when an image to be printed is selected.

  First, the group ID management unit 72 of the desktop printer 60 performs a display prompting the user to perform an authentication operation on the image display unit 63 and performs similar voice guidance from the voice output unit 65 (S121). FIG. 22A shows an example of a display screen that prompts the user to perform an authentication operation.

  When the user of the mobile phone 1 holds the mobile phone 1 over the proximity communication unit 61 of the desktop printer 60, the terminal ID of the mobile phone 1 is transmitted to the proximity communication unit 61 (S111). At this time, the desktop printer 60 may acquire a group ID in addition to the terminal ID.

  When group ID management unit 72 acquires the terminal ID of mobile phone 1 (YES in S122), display control unit 75 displays the personal information corresponding to the acquired terminal ID as shown in FIG. 22B. This is displayed on the part 63. The displayed personal information may be registered in advance in the group ID management table 80a, or may be acquired from the mobile phone 1 at the time of authentication.

  Then, the control unit 70 of the desktop printer 60 performs billing processing using the acquired terminal ID (S123). In the mobile phone 1 as well, billing processing is performed in response to a request from the desktop printer 60 (S112).

  When the billing process ends, the desktop printer 60 and the mobile phone 1 perform a process (image acquisition process) of transmitting and receiving an image to be printed (print target image) (S124, S113). Details of this image acquisition process will be described later.

  When the image acquisition process ends, the display control unit 75 of the desktop printer 60 displays the acquired print candidate image on the image display unit 63 (S125).

  When there are a plurality of print target images, the display control unit 75 displays a screen for instructing the user to select at least one of the plurality of print target images, as in a screen 231 of FIG. When the user selects at least one of the print target images (S126), the printer unit 82 selects a print sheet (S127).

  Then, the control unit 70 performs billing settlement processing according to the number and size of the print target images selected by the user (S128).

  Thereafter, the printer unit 82 prints the print target image on the printing paper (S129), and discharges the printed photo from the discharge unit 83 (S130).

  Note that the image displayed on the image display unit 63 in step S125 can be doodled using the pen attached to the desktop printer 60, and the user can select the image doodled in step S126 as a print target image. May be. In this case, the same configuration as that of the touch pen 132, the operation receiving unit 131b, and the image editing unit 112 provided in the photo printing apparatus 100 may be added to the desktop printer 60.

(Image acquisition process flow)
Next, an example of the flow of image acquisition processing will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of image acquisition processing. Here, it is assumed that the desktop printer 60 has acquired the group ID together with the terminal ID of the mobile phone 1 at the time of authentication.

  First, the desktop printer 60 performs a display on the image display unit 63 to prompt the user to perform an authentication operation when the mobile phone that requested printing has not been authenticated (NO in S161). According to this instruction, the user of the mobile phone holds the mobile phone over the proximity communication unit 61 of the desktop printer 60 and performs an authentication operation (S151).

  Thereafter, the print control unit 73 of the desktop printer 60 displays a screen for inquiring whether to acquire the print target image from the mobile phone 1 or from the server 20 on the image display unit 63.

  When an instruction to acquire a print target image from the server 20 is received from the user (NO in S163 and YES in S165), the group ID management unit 72 displays the group ID acquired at the time of authentication as shown in a screen 232 in FIG. The list is displayed on the image display unit 63, and the group ID is selected by the user (S166). At this time, the group ID management unit 72 may display the names of members belonging to the group as shown on the screen 233.

  When an instruction to select one of the displayed group IDs is received from the user (YES in S167), group ID management unit 72 obtains a shared album for acquiring a shared album corresponding to the selected group ID. The request is transmitted to the server 20 via the communication control unit 74 and the wide area communication unit 66.

  Upon receiving the shared album request, the search unit 37 of the server 20 searches the album information 25a for a shared album corresponding to the group ID included in the shared album request (S171), and the album page creation unit 36 searches for the shared An album is created by using various types of information stored in the storage unit 21. The shared album created by the album page creation unit 36 is incorporated into the display screen image displayed on the touch panel unit 131 of the desktop printer 60 by the display page creation unit 39 and transmitted to the desktop printer 60 by the communication unit 41 ( S172).

  When the shared album is acquired from the server 20 via the wide area communication unit 66 and the communication control unit 74, the group ID management unit 72 stores the acquired shared album in the storage unit 80 (S168).

  On the other hand, when an instruction to acquire the print target image is received from the mobile phone 1 from the user (YES in S163), the print control unit 73 displays a screen for instructing the user to transmit the print target image on the image display unit 63. (S164). In accordance with this instruction, the user selects at least one image stored in the storage unit 11 of the mobile phone 1. The mobile phone 1 transmits the image selected by the user to the desktop printer 60 via the proximity communication unit 3.

  When the print target image is acquired from the mobile phone 1, the print control unit 73 stores the acquired print target image in the storage unit 80 (S168). By such processing, the mobile phone 1 can be used as a data recording medium, and a desired image can be printed easily. Note that the transmission of the image to be printed from the mobile phone 1 to the desktop printer 60 may be performed simultaneously with the authentication process.

(Other changes)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, the information processing terminal applied to the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone, and can perform data communication with the server 20 regardless of wired or wireless, and can perform information processing. Any device may be used as long as it is a terminal.

  In addition, each block of the mobile phone 1/50, the server 20, the photographic printing apparatus 100, and the desktop printer 60 described above, particularly the control unit 10, the control unit 30, the control unit 70, and the control unit 110 are configured by hardware logic. Alternatively, it may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the cellular phone 1/50, the server 20, the photographic printing apparatus 100, and the desktop printer 60 have a central processing unit (CPU) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, and a ROM (read only) that stores the program. memory), a RAM (random access memory) for expanding the program, a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data, and the like. The object of the present invention is to provide program codes (execution format program, intermediate code program, intermediate code program, mobile phone 1/50, server 20, photo shoot printing apparatus 100, and desktop printer 60 which are software for realizing the functions described above. A recording medium in which the source program is recorded so as to be readable by a computer is supplied to the cellular phone 1/50, the server 20, the photo printing apparatus 100, and the desktop printer 60, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) serves as the recording medium. This can also be achieved by reading and executing the recorded program code.

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  In addition, the cellular phone 1/50, the server 20, the photographic printing apparatus 100 and the desktop printer 60 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR (high data rate), mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  Multiple terminal devices can be grouped with a simple operation and with increased security, and content data can be shared among the grouped multiple terminal devices. Therefore, the present invention provides a mobile phone and various services. The present invention can be suitably applied to a system that combines devices (for example, a server system, a photographic printing device, and a printing device) or devices that constitute the system.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image sharing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the said image sharing system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process which groups a some mobile phone in the said image sharing system. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the mobile phone of the main | base station in the process which groups the said mobile phone. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the mobile telephone of the subunit | mobile_unit in the process which groups the said mobile telephone. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the image editing process in the said mobile telephone. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the synthetic | combination image communication system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the external appearance from the imaging | photography part side in the photographic printing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (b) is a figure which shows the external appearance from the edit part and the printing part side. It is a front view of the editing part with which the said photography printing apparatus is provided. It is a front view of the printing part with which the above-mentioned photography photography printing device is provided. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the said photography photography printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when the said photography printing apparatus acquires terminal ID of a mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen when registering a group in the said photography printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the image edit process in the said photography photography printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen when selecting the edit object image from the image contained in a shared album in the said photography photography printing apparatus. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a photographic print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the desktop printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process in the said photograph print system. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the said desktop printer at the time of performing an authentication process. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the said desktop printer when selecting the image for printing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the image acquisition process in the said desktop printer.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile phone (terminal equipment)
3 Proximity communication unit (wireless communication unit)
6 Communication control unit (transmission control means)
7 Group ID management unit (group identification information generating means)
8 Image editor (acquisition means, processing means)
20 server (content data providing device)
33 Album management section (content data providing means)
38 acquisition unit (group identification information acquisition means)
50.51 Mobile phone (terminal equipment)
60 Desktop printer (electronic equipment)
61 Proximity communication unit (wireless communication unit)
72 Group ID management unit (group identification information generating means)
74 Communication control unit (content data acquisition means)
81 Printing section 100 Photographic printing device (electronic equipment)
111 Captured image acquisition unit (image data acquisition means)
112 Image editing unit (image editing means)
114 Group ID management unit (group identification information generating means)
115 Communication processing unit (transmission control means)
134 Proximity communication unit (wireless communication unit)
300 Composite Image Communication System (Content Data Providing System)
400 Photo print system (content data provision system)

Claims (10)

A wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with at least one external terminal device in proximity,
Group identification information generating means for generating group identification information for identifying the external terminal device and the own device communicated via the wireless communication unit as a group of terminal devices;
The group identification information generated by the group identification information generating means is transmitted to a content data providing apparatus that provides content data associated with the group identification information to a plurality of terminal devices specified by the group identification information. Transmission control means;
Acquisition means for acquiring content data that can be used by the device;
Processing means for processing the content data acquired by the acquisition means,
The terminal device characterized in that the transmission control means transmits the content data, which is continuously processed by the processing means, to the content data providing apparatus in association with the group identification information at a predetermined time interval.   The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit transmits group identification information generated by the group identification information generation unit to the external terminal device.   A control program for operating the terminal device according to claim 1 or 2 for causing a computer to function as each of the means. A terminal device control method,
A wireless communication step of performing wireless communication with each of at least one external terminal device in proximity via the wireless communication unit;
A group identification information generating step for generating group identification information for identifying the external terminal device and the own device communicated in the wireless communication step as a group of terminal devices;
The group identification information generated in the group identification information generation step is transmitted to a content data providing apparatus that provides content data associated with the group identification information to a plurality of terminal devices specified by the group identification information. A transmission control process, an acquisition process for acquiring content data usable by the device,
A processing step of processing the content data acquired in the acquisition step,
In the transmission control step, the content data that has been processed by the processing step is transmitted to the content data providing apparatus in association with the group identification information at a predetermined time interval. A wireless communication unit for acquiring identification information of each terminal device by performing wireless communication with each of a plurality of adjacent terminal devices;
Group identification information generating means for generating group identification information for identifying a plurality of terminal devices each having the identification information as a group of terminal devices;
Transmission control means for transmitting the group identification information generated by the group identification information generation means to a content data providing apparatus that provides content data associated with the group identification information;
Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data;
Image editing means for editing the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means,
The transmission control unit associates the image data, which has been edited by the image editing unit, with the group identification information, as content data provided by the content data providing apparatus, at a predetermined time interval. An electronic device that transmits to a providing device. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a printing unit that prints the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit. A control program for operating the electronic device according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the computer functions as each of the means. A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program according to claim 7 is recorded. A control method for controlling an electronic device,
An identification information acquisition step of acquiring identification information of each terminal device by performing wireless communication with each of a plurality of adjacent terminal devices;
A group identification information generating step for generating group identification information for identifying a plurality of terminal devices each having the identification information as a group of terminal devices;
A transmission step of transmitting the group identification information generated in the group identification information generation step to a content data providing device that provides the content data associated with the group identification information;
An image data acquisition process for acquiring image data;
Including an image editing step of editing the image data acquired in the image data acquisition step,
In the transmission step, the image data that has been edited by the image editing step is associated with the group identification information, and the content data is provided at predetermined time intervals as content data provided by the content data providing device. A control method comprising transmitting to a device. A plurality of terminal devices;
The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein identification information of the terminal device is obtained from each of the plurality of terminal devices,
A content data providing system including a content data providing apparatus that provides content data associated with group identification information transmitted from the electronic device.

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