JP2001092826A - Digital image allotting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital image allotting method by which highly useful image information can be allotted through a computer network. SOLUTION: On a server S side, the segmenting range of an image requested from the user C of a network N for allotment is acquired as positional information and the whole or part of an original image stored in an original image storing means S3 is segmented based on the acquired positional information. Then an image processing means S4 performs prescribed image processing. The image-processed data are recorded in another image storing means S5 as allotment data and the data recorded in the storing means S5 are down- loaded to the user C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital image distribution method, and more particularly, to an image technique for processing and distributing a digital image according to a request of a user of a computer network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as one of computer networks (hereinafter simply referred to as a network), a so-called Internet (The Internet) has been proposed as one that can be used by unspecified persons.
Internet), where WWW (Wo
A multimedia information communication service called rld Wide Web is provided.

[0003] This multimedia information communication service is
A terminal computer connectable to the Internet,
Anyone with data browsing software (web browser) possessed by the WWW server on the Internet can easily use it, and the number of users has recently increased significantly. Dissemination of information using information and communication services has also been widely practiced.

[0004] By the way, in providing image information using such a multimedia information communication service,
Various devices have been devised so far. For example, when transmitting image information as data, image data was initially transmitted for each single image.However, this method increases the data capacity when attempting to transmit precise image data, and Will take a long time to send,
There is a problem that an image is not displayed for a long time on the terminal computer. For this reason, recently, a plurality of image data having different resolutions for one image are prepared in a structural (hierarchical) manner on a WWW server providing image information.
A method has been established in which image data having a lower resolution (that is, smaller in data capacity) is transmitted in order.

On the other hand, recently, it is also possible to arbitrarily enlarge and display only a part of one image displayed on the screen of the terminal computer.
This is when managing image data on the WWW server side.
This is because a single image is divided into a plurality of pixels and managed, and in this case, the WWW server side requests the terminal computer to enlarge the image (that is, the cutout range of the image specified by the terminal computer). Is obtained as position information, and image data of a pixel corresponding to the position information is extracted and transmitted.

Therefore, when the Internet user tries to obtain desired image information, the user of the Internet searches the WWW to provide a desired image.
The server is searched for and the image data is obtained (displayed on a screen, downloaded to a storage medium, printed by a printing device, etc.) by the above-described method.

[0007]

When image information is obtained by using such a conventional method, as described above, the user must use image information (one image) prepared in advance on the WWW server side. (Or image data corresponding to a part of the image), and image information cannot be obtained in a form truly desired by the user.

[0008] That is, there are various types of image information provided from the WWW server. For example, when the provided image information is an aerial photograph image, the user not only has the image data but also the aviation image. Information such as the location where the photograph was taken and the scale of the aerial photograph is required, and since only the image data is obtained, it is often inconvenient for subsequent use. In addition, there is also a problem that the scale of the aerial photograph provided by the WWW server cannot be known when a part of the aerial photograph is obtained in an enlarged manner. Further, there is a case where it is desired to add additional information or related information to the obtained image information without being limited to the aerial photograph.

[0009] Further, in the conventional image information provision mode, since the user and the WWW server are one-to-one,
For example, if a specific group of image information is to be shared by a group of multiple users, the joint users may
There is a problem in that it is necessary to access the WW server, and it is not possible to provide a service in accordance with an actual use form.

Further, in the conventional image information providing mode, the destination of the image information, the type of the provided image, etc.
Since the information is not recorded and managed on the W server side, there has been a problem that the information provider cannot provide well-provided information.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital image distribution method capable of distributing high-value image information in a computer network.

[0012]

To achieve the above object, a digital image distribution method according to the present invention is a digital image distribution method using a network, wherein a user of the network requests distribution. An image cutout range is remotely obtained as position information via the computer network, and the entire or partial range of the original image specified based on the obtained position information is cut out and subjected to predetermined image processing. The distribution data is created in a predetermined distribution mechanism, so that the user can download the data.

That is, according to the digital image distribution method of the present invention, as described above, the state of an image being viewed on a terminal computer of a network (which part of an image is being viewed) is determined by the provider of image data. Assuming that recognition is possible, the state of the image being viewed is acquired as position information, and the image data of the original image held by the provider is subjected to predetermined processing (image processing) and distributed based on the acquired position information. I do. Note that various processes can be performed as the image processing. For example, processes such as processing of the original image itself and synthesis / trimming with other information are performed. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to add various additional information and related information to the image data of the original image at the stage of the image processing, and to provide image information with high added value for the user. Can be. In the present invention, the distribution data is recorded in a separate distribution mechanism for data distribution,
Since the user can obtain the distribution data by accessing the distribution mechanism, the data can be distributed to a plurality of persons at once.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
When recording the distribution data in the distribution mechanism, recording the distribution management information in a predetermined database, and electronically notifying the user that the image is ready for distribution based on the distribution management information. It is characterized by.

In this case, as the distribution management information, information for specifying the user (for example, a customer code or contact information of the user) and information for specifying the distribution data (for example, a file name assigned to the distribution data). Recorded in the database. Then, when the distribution data is recorded in the distribution mechanism, the user is individually notified that the preparation for distribution is completed based on the information. Therefore, the user can quickly and reliably know whether or not the image data requested by the user is available.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the distribution management information includes information for specifying the user, and only individuals or groups registered in the distribution management information are distributed from the distribution mechanism. It is preferable to set so that data can be downloaded. As a result, the distribution data recorded in the distribution mechanism can be used only by the person who has made the distribution request, so that it is possible to provide an image distribution method suitable for providing information as a business.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a digital image distribution method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a network system to which the digital image distribution method of the present invention is applied. In the network system shown in FIG. 1, a computer (information) comprising a terminal computer C1 of a user (client) C and a server S for providing various information including image information in response to a request from the terminal computer C1 (Providing means) S1 are interconnected via a network N.

More specifically, the terminal computer C1
Is a general-purpose computer having a not-shown display device and input / output device (display, keyboard, etc.) or a device that can be connected to the network N and can transmit and receive data via the network (for example, a television having a communication function). In this terminal computer C1, browsing software capable of browsing (displaying) various information provided by the information providing means S1, particularly image information provided by the server S is stored. Have been.
In addition, the terminal computer C1 displays, on the terminal computer C1, the state of the image being browsed by the browsing software (whether the entire image (original image) provided from the server S is displayed or the original image is displayed). (Coordinate indicating means) is stored which has a function of specifying whether a part of the image is enlargedly displayed) and recognizing the specified range as coordinates (position information) with respect to the original image.

On the other hand, the server S includes the information providing means S1 for transmitting information on the network N, and further includes a database means S2, an original image storage means S3, an image processing means S4, and an image storage means (distribution means). Mechanism) S5 as a main part.

More specifically, the information providing means S1 comprises:
A communication general-purpose computer connected to the network N. The information providing means S1 allows the user C to browse image information stored in the server S through the terminal computer C1. .

The database means S2 is a database for storing and managing predetermined data. The database means S2 acquires attribute information (authentication information) of the user C obtained through communication with the terminal computer C1 and an image of an image requested to be distributed. The database means S2 stores and manages various kinds of information necessary for an authentication procedure and image processing, which will be described later, such as position information, and text information input by the terminal computer C1 together with the position information.

The original image storage means S3 is a database for storing original image data which is the basis of image information which can be browsed by the terminal computer C1 through the network N. The database stores a plurality of image data. Is stored.

The image processing means S4 extracts the image data stored in the original image storing means S3 based on the data stored in the database means S2, and processes the image data for distribution (image processing). And a computer for performing predetermined image processing software.

The image storage means S5 includes the image processing means S
4 is a file server for storing the distribution data processed by the server 4 and distributing (downloading) the stored distribution data to the terminal computer C1 of the user C in response to access from the user C.

The communication of various types of information including image information between the terminal computer C1 of the user C and the information providing means S1 of the server S configured as described above is performed by using an existing technology, for example, an HTML (Hyper Text Mark-
Up Language), information communication technology using hyperlinks such as XML.

In the communication between the terminal computer C1 and the information providing means S1, the terminal computer C1 (or the user C) which permits communication with the server S is registered in the database means S2 in advance and the authentication ( Confirmation) procedure is preferably performed, but it may be possible to communicate with all terminal computers C1 (or users C) connected to the network N without performing this authentication procedure.

As described above, on the premise that the terminal computer C1 and the information providing means S1 are connected, the digital image distribution method of the present invention responds to a request from the user C as follows. Thus, a predetermined digital image is distributed.

A: Processing procedure on the user C side (1) First, when the user C wants to deliver an image, the user starts the software installed in the terminal computer C1 and starts the image to be delivered. To the terminal computer C1
Is displayed on the display device. At this time, if a function of the server S can cut out a part of the image displayed on the display device and display it in an enlarged manner, a part of the desired image is cut out and displayed in an enlarged manner on the display device. .

(2) When the display of the predetermined image for which distribution is requested is completed, the user C performs a predetermined operation for causing the terminal computer C1 to execute the distribution request processing as the next step. This operation is performed, for example, by displaying a button indicating execution of a distribution request on the screen of the display device of the terminal computer C1, setting the cursor to this button, and clicking the button to execute the distribution request processing. Preferably.

When the distribution request processing is executed, the terminal computer C1 uses the coordinate indicating means to change the state of the currently displayed screen (that is, whether the entire original image is displayed or whether the original image is displayed). (A part of the display image is enlarged) is recognized as the coordinates (position information) of the display image with respect to the original image, and the position information is transmitted to the information providing means S1. Specifically, for example, when the display image is a part of the original image, the positions of a pair of opposing vertices among the four corners of the display image are recognized as coordinates with respect to the original image.

When the position information of the display screen is transmitted to the information providing means S1, the position information is used as the attribute information of the user C used in the authentication procedure at the time of connection and the mode of processing. Is recorded in the database means S2 as a distribution request together with the information indicating.

B: Processing Procedure I on Server S (Image Processing) When a distribution request is made from the user C, the image processing means S4 detects this distribution request and performs the following predetermined image processing. Execute. The confirmation of the presence / absence of the distribution request can be made by configuring the information providing unit S1 to transmit a trigger signal to the image processing unit S4 when the distribution request is made,
Alternatively, a method is employed in which the image processing unit S4 checks the database unit S2 for the presence or absence of a distribution request at a predetermined cycle set in advance.

(1) When the distribution request from the user C is confirmed, the image processing means S4 first reads data necessary for image processing from the database means S2. Specifically, for example, the storage location of the original image to be subjected to image processing (in other words, the image for which the user C has requested distribution), the position information of the image being viewed, and the image processing mode (necessary In addition to the image data of the original image stored in the original image storage unit S3, all data necessary for image processing, such as the resolution of the image data to be used and the type of template to which the image is attached, is read.

(2) Next, the image processing means S4 reads the image data of the original image required for image processing from the original image storage means S3 based on the data read from the database means S2. Do,
The image data is synthesized according to the selected image processing mode.

Specifically, first, it is recognized whether the image requested by the user C to be distributed is the whole or a part of the original image. If it is a part of the original image, the image of the part for which the distribution request is made based on the position information is cut out (trimmed) from the original image read out from the original image storage means S3, and The cut-out image is stored in a storage unit (memory) built in the image processing unit S4, and predetermined image processing such as a synthesis process with the template is performed to create distribution data. When the image requested to be distributed is the entire original image, it goes without saying that the image processing is performed by cutting out the entire original image.

C: Processing Procedure II on Server S (Distribution Preparation) When the image processing is performed in this way and distribution data is created, the created distribution data is then stored in the image storage unit S5 in preparation for distribution. It is recorded and stored.

In the image storage means S5, only the user C who has made the above distribution request can download the distribution data. Specifically, for example, the distribution data is stored in a data storage area (folder) set for each user C who has made the distribution request with a name that can be distinguished from other data, and specified. Access of a person other than the user C who has made the access is prohibited. The distribution data stored in this folder is stored in a predetermined image format. When the distribution data is used by a plurality of groups, the distribution data is stored in a folder assigned to the group, and the members (individual users) of the group individually download the distribution data. Is made possible.

D: Processing Procedure III on Server S (Management of Distribution History, etc.) When the preparation of distribution data is completed in this way, these histories are recorded in the database means S2. Specifically, when the creation of the distribution data in the image processing unit S4 is completed, information such as a predetermined flag indicating the completion of the creation of the distribution data and the creation date and time of the distribution data is transmitted to the database unit S2 as distribution management information. Be recorded.

E: Processing Procedure IV on Server S (Notification of Distribution Preparation Completion) This distribution management information is used to notify user C that the creation of distribution data has been completed. Specifically, at the time when the recording of the distribution management information is completed, it is configured to notify the user C that the data distribution is possible. That is, at the same time as the recording of the distribution management information is completed, the fact that the preparation for distribution is completed is transmitted to the user C by an electronic transmission method such as electronic mail.

For this transmission, it is preferable to provide an interface for presenting a link to the data storage area of the image storage means S5, so that the user C can easily access the image information requested by the user C. In addition, it is possible to securely access and download the distribution data. When the user C accesses the distribution data, it is preferable that the distribution data is recorded in the database means S2 as the distribution management information, so that the server S distributes the distribution data to the user C. The presence or absence of completion can be easily determined. The deletion of the distribution data is configured to be performed manually by the user or the administrator or based on the information such as the distribution data creation date and time in the database means S2.

[0042]

Next, a specific embodiment of the digital image distribution method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system in which the digital image distribution method of the present invention is applied to an aerial photograph image distribution system using the Internet. In FIG. 2, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) C1 'in an environment connectable to the Internet N' is used as the terminal computer C1 of the user C as shown in FIG. The WWW server S1 'connected to the Internet N' is used.

On the WWW server S1 'side, a database server S2' is used as the database means S2.
However, an image storage database server S3 'for storing data of a plurality of aerial photograph images as the original image storage means S3.
Is an image processing server S4 'as the image processing means S4.
However, FTP (file transfer) is used as the image storage means S5.
Protocol server S5 ', and an image data management server S6, a mail server S7, and a printer server S8.

[0045] The image data management server S6 is a WWW server.
The image data held by the image storage database server S3 'is stored in a predetermined format so that only an arbitrary part of the aerial photograph image provided by the server S1' on the Internet N 'can be enlarged and displayed on the screen of the personal computer C1'. The image data management server S6 is a server that manages data in a format. The image data management server S6 includes predetermined software for realizing such functions. Then, the image data management server S6 acquires the position information of the aerial photograph image being browsed by the personal computer C1 based on the function of the software, and stores this position information in the database server S.
2 '.

The mail server S7 is a server for notifying the completion of the above-mentioned distribution preparation. When the above-mentioned distribution preparation is completed, the mail server S7 sends a request to the user C who has made a distribution request from the mail server S7. An e-mail E notifying the completion of the distribution preparation is transmitted.

The printer server S8 is a server for printing, on a paper medium, distribution data on which predetermined image processing has been performed by the image processing server S4 '. The printer server S8 transmits the distribution data via the printer S81. Printable. In FIG. 2, the symbol P indicates a paper medium on which the distribution data is printed.

In the aerial photograph image distribution system configured as described above, the aerial photograph image stored in the image storage database server S3 'in the image processing server S4' according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. Is synthesized with predetermined text data and the like, and is distributed to the user C as distribution data.

That is, first, as described in “A: Processing procedure on the side of user C”, the user C
By operating 1 ', the aerial photograph requested to be distributed is displayed on the display device, and the distribution request processing is executed.

At this time, in this embodiment, an input column for text data is provided on the screen of the personal computer C1 'for performing the distribution request processing, and the user C writes communication items and the like in accordance with the display of the input column. The setting is made so that the distribution request processing can be performed while doing so.

When the distribution request processing is executed, the image data management server S6 sets the current personal computer C
The position information of the aerial photograph image displayed in 1 'is recorded in the database server S2'.

When the image processing server S4 'confirms that the above distribution request has been made, then, as shown in step 1 of FIG. 3, first, the image storage database server S3'
The image data is extracted by selecting the file specified by the position information from the aerial photograph image data (here, it is assumed that the file is managed for each aerial photograph).

Then, as shown in step 2 of FIG. 3, the image data extracted based on the coordinates specified by the position information is trimmed. Specifically, if the aerial photograph image being viewed on the personal computer C1 'corresponds to an entire aerial photograph, the entire aerial photograph is cut out, and the image being viewed is a single aerial photograph. If it is a part of the image data, the image data corresponding to the part is cut out.

As the next step for the image data cut out in this way, as shown in step 3 of FIG. 3, a process of enlarging / reducing to the designated size is performed. This is because when the user C who has finally received the distribution data prints the image by simply trimming the image data in step 2 in FIG. 3 as described above, the cutout range is too large or too small.
Since the image part of the aerial photograph may exceed the size of the printing paper or may be too small for the printing paper, the process of adjusting the size of the image data in advance to prevent such a situation It is. At this time, the size of the printing paper is specified individually in the above-described distribution request processing, or the paper size is fixed in advance (fixed to A4 size in this embodiment).

Then, the image data enlarged / reduced to a predetermined size in the following step 4 in FIG. 3 within a range of a mount size (A4 size in the illustrated example) that matches a predetermined print paper size. Synthesis processing with predetermined text data or the like is performed. In this embodiment, the text data and the like synthesized in step 4 of FIG. 3 are recorded in the database server S2 ', as shown in FIG. The user C's company name (or name), the distance map (reduced scale) corresponding to the final aerial photograph image, and the profile of the aerial photograph image (1. title to 6. photograph number in the illustrated example). .

Finally, the process proceeds to step 5 in FIG. 3 to perform processing for adjusting the resolution (144 dpi in the illustrated example) of the image data finally supplied as the distribution data. The data is given a predetermined file name and recorded in the FTP server S5 '. In the present embodiment, when it is desired to print and distribute the distribution data on a paper medium, the distribution data is transferred to the print server S8 and distributed in a state of being printed on the paper medium. .

It should be noted that the above-described embodiments and examples merely show preferred embodiments of the present invention.
The present invention is not limited to this, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the digital image distribution method of the present invention is applied to an aerial photograph image distribution system using the Internet has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the Internet but may be applied to other networks. The distribution target is not limited to the aerial photograph image, and other image information can be distributed as long as the image information is converted into digital data.

Although not particularly shown in the above embodiment, it is also possible to set so that the distribution data stored in the image storage means S5 cannot be downloaded by the user C after a predetermined period has elapsed.

[0060]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
In distributing a digital image using a computer network, a user remotely obtains a cut-out range of an image requested to be distributed by the user via the computer network as position information, and obtains an original image based on the obtained position information. All or part of the data is cut out and subjected to predetermined image processing to create distribution data, and this distribution data is recorded in a predetermined distribution mechanism so that the user can download the data. The user can easily and easily acquire information having added value than the raw image information browsed through the network.

Therefore, the present invention is suitable for distributing an image, such as an aerial photograph image, which requires addition of a profile such as a scale.

Further, since the data to be distributed is stored in a predetermined distribution mechanism, the data can be shared by a plurality of persons instead of the data distribution in a one-to-one relationship as in the related art.

Further, according to the present invention, the distribution management information includes information for specifying the user, and is set so that only individuals or groups registered in the distribution management information can download distribution data from the distribution mechanism. By doing so, the use of data by anyone other than the person who has made the distribution request is suppressed, so that it is suitable for distribution of image data as a commercial activity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network system to which a digital image distribution method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system in which the digital image distribution method of the present invention is applied to an aerial photograph image distribution system using the Internet.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image processing in the aerial photograph image distribution system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 C1 terminal computer S1 information providing means S2 database means S3 original image storing means S4 image processing means S5 image storing means (distribution mechanism) N network

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for distributing digital images using a computer network, wherein a user of the computer network remotely acquires a cut-out range of an image requested to be distributed as position information via the computer network, Based on the acquired position information, the whole or a part of the specified original image is cut out, subjected to predetermined image processing to create distribution data, and the distribution data is recorded in a predetermined distribution mechanism. A digital image distribution method, wherein the user can download the digital image. 2. When the distribution data is recorded in a distribution mechanism, distribution management information is recorded in a predetermined database, and based on the distribution management information, it is electronically notified that the user is ready for image distribution. The digital image distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the digital image distribution is performed in a serial manner. 3. The distribution management information includes information for identifying the user, and is set so that only individuals or groups registered in the distribution management information can download distribution data from the distribution mechanism. The digital image distribution method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The digital image distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the data of the original image is aerial photograph data. 5. The digital image distribution according to claim 4, wherein the distribution data includes information indicating an aerial photograph profile such as a scale and a photographing location of the aerial photograph included in the distribution data. Method.