JP2001346155A - Image data processing unit and photographing device rental method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a rental service of a photographing device such as a digital camera, a print service of an image photographed by the rented photographing device or a transmission service of photographed image data. SOLUTION: The image data processing unit of this invention is provided with a contact or contactless I/F 104 that connects with a digital camera 100 with or without contact, a PC 102 that receives photographed image data from the connected digital camera 100, a touch panel-attached display device 103 that instructs the contents of output processing with respect to the received image data, and a high-speed photo printer 105 that outputs the image data on the basis of the contents of the instructed output processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data processing apparatus for renting a photographing device such as a digital camera and processing image data photographed by the lent photographing device, and a photographic device lending method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid development of digital cameras, many digital cameras have become widespread instead of film cameras. Since a digital camera does not require a film, there is no need for labor such as development, and further spread is considered in the future.

[0003]

However, photographing equipment such as a digital camera may be inconvenient to carry to a photographing place, though it is small and light. Further, unlike a film camera, a digital camera does not have a disposable one, and therefore, it is inconvenient if there is no rental service when the user forgets the photographing device or wants to take a photo immediately.

[0004] Even if there is a rental service for photographing equipment, a camera using film only needs to take out only the photographed film from the photographing equipment and return only the camera itself. However, since the image data is recorded in the built-in memory, when returning the digital camera, the customer must rewrite the image data on a removable recording medium, which complicates the operation. There is.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is a rental service of photographing equipment such as a digital camera, a print service of an image photographed by the rented photographing equipment, or data of photographed image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image data processing apparatus and a photographing device lending method for realizing the transmission service of the above.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems are solved,
In order to achieve the object, an image data processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is connected to a photographing device connecting means for connecting a photographing device such as a digital camera in a contact or non-contact manner, and the photographing device connecting means. Image data input means for inputting captured image data from a photographing device;
An output processing content instructing means for instructing an output processing content for the image data input by the image data input means; and outputting the image data based on the output processing content instructed by the output processing content instructing means. Image data output means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data processing apparatus comprising: a photographing device connecting means for contacting or non-contacting photographing devices such as a digital camera; and a photographing device connected by the photographing device connecting means. Image data input means for inputting captured image data from a device, destination specifying means for specifying a destination for the image data input by the image data input means, and destination specified by the destination specifying means Image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data based on the image data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image data processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising information necessary for a card settlement of a customer using the photographing device (hereinafter referred to as “ Card information), and card information storage means for storing the card information input by the card information input means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing device lending method, wherein a photographing device such as a digital camera is lent, and an image photographed from the photographing device returned after being lent in the lending step is returned. An image data acquisition step of acquiring data, an image data processing step of printing the image data acquired by the image data acquisition step on a recording sheet, or recording the image data on a recording medium, or transmitting the image data to a designated destination, It is characterized by including.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. (Hardware Configuration of Image Data Processing Apparatus) FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image data processing device according to an embodiment. In the block diagram of FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a lending digital camera, and reference numeral 101 denotes an image data processing device. The digital camera 100 captures an image, converts the captured data into digital data, performs predetermined image processing (for example, image compression) on the converted data, and stores a memory (not shown) built in the digital camera 100. To memorize.

The image data processing apparatus 101 is desirably installed in a place where the digital camera 100 is returned, for example, in a convenience store or a station stand. The image data processing apparatus is configured to include a PC (personal computer) 102, a display device 103 with a touch panel, a contact or non-contact I / F (interface) 104, and a high-speed photographic printer 105.
Further, an album binding machine 106 may be provided.

Here, in the PC 102, 111 is
The CPU that controls the entire system is denoted by 112.
The RAM used as the work area 11 is
Is a ROM storing a boot program and the like.
Is a hard disk (HD) that stores various data,
Each is shown.

The display device 103 with a touch panel is
By touching the screen displaying the operation procedure and a predetermined portion (such as a button) of the screen with a finger or the like, an operation instruction, that is, an instruction of the content of the output process for the input image data can be input. The screen may display not only the operation procedure but also an image captured by the digital camera 100 and input to the image data processing apparatus 101. Thereby, the customer can determine whether or not to print while viewing the captured image.
In addition, the operation instruction includes, for example, an output form (whether to print or transmit to a designated address), and how many pieces of image data to print when printing.

A contact or non-contact I / F (interface) 104 converts image data (and control data for the image data) stored in a memory (not shown) into an image by the digital camera 100. This is an interface for taking in the data processing device 101. The contact type and the non-contact type can be considered as the taking-in form. For the contact type, for example, there is a method of connecting with a cable cord or a method of connecting a predetermined terminal of the digital camera 100 to a terminal prepared in the image data processing apparatus 101 in advance.

The non-contact type is, for example, “Blue” as a connection by infrared communication or a short-range wireless communication technology.
tooth "can be used. This "Bluet
"ooth" has a frequency band of 2.45 GHz, a connection distance coverage of about 10 m, and a transfer rate of 1 Mbps. Therefore, if a port conforming to “Bluetooth” is provided, it is possible to easily connect.

The high-speed photographic printer 105 is a full-color printer, and realizes high-quality photographic printing by a laser system or an inkjet system. Further, the album binding machine 106 creates a photo album by arranging and binding the photos printed by the high-speed photo printer 105 in a predetermined order. Thereby, the digital camera 100
The album of the memories can be completed on the spot where the is returned, so that it is not necessary to bring back only the photos and arrange the album later. The customer will purchase a printed photo or created album for a predetermined fee.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image data processing apparatus includes an image editing unit 201, a wireless or wired telephone line 202, and a media drive 203 instead of the high-speed photo printer 105 and the album binding machine 106. May be provided. Here, the digital camera 100,
The image data processing device 101, PC (personal computer) 102, display device 103 with touch panel, and contact or non-contact I / F (interface) 104 have the same configuration as the above-described respective components shown in FIG. Is omitted.

The image editing unit 201 edits image data input by the image data processing apparatus 101 and captured by the digital camera 100. Image data editing refers to, for example, determining a frame of an image and adjusting color and brightness. Further, drawing characters and illustrations on the image data itself is also included in the image data editing process. Specifically, RAM 112, RO
The image data is edited by the CPU 111 executing an application program recorded on a recording medium such as M113 or HD114.

A wireless or wired telephone line 202 is a line for connecting to a network such as the Internet.
01 is transmitted via the network to the destination specified by the customer. Specifically, the above function is realized including an interface such as a modem. The designation of the destination can be performed by the display device 103 with a touch panel in accordance with the guidance display. Then, the customer pays a transmission fee for image data (including other fees).

The media drive 203 is a drive such as a CD ROM drive, a DVD drive, and an MO drive. The media drive 203 is a media (not shown) that is input to the customer's desired media and input image data or input and edited by the image editing unit 201. And writes the image data. Then, the customer can purchase the written media for a predetermined fee, take the media home, and play it back at home or the like.

In FIG. 2, instead of the high-speed photographic printer 105 and the album binding machine 106, an image editing unit 201, a wireless or wired telephone line 202, and a media drive 203 are provided. ,
In addition to the high-speed photographic printer 105 and the album binding device 106, a configuration may be provided that includes an image editing unit 201, a wireless or wired telephone line 202, and a media drive 203.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image data processing apparatus 101 is a wireless or wired CAT (Credit).
Authorization Terminal (credit inquiry terminal) 301 may be provided. Here, the digital camera 100 and the image data processing device 10
1, a PC (personal computer) 102, a display device 103 with a touch panel, a contact or non-contact I / F (interface) 104, and a high-speed photographic printer 105 are shown in FIG.
Since the configuration is the same as that of each of the components described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

The wireless or wired CAT 301 reads data recorded on a credit card or debit card, transmits the data to a card company or a bank, and authenticates whether the card is valid. When lending the digital camera 100, prior approval can be obtained with a user (customer) credit card or debit card for compensation for damage or theft of the digital camera.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image data processing apparatus 101 may include a POS communication unit 401. Here, digital camera 100, image data processing device 101, PC (personal computer) 10
2. Display device 103 with touch panel, contact or non-contact I / F (interface) 104, high-speed photographic printer 1
05 has the same configuration as the above-described components shown in FIG. Also, wireless or wired C
The AT 301 has the same configuration as the above-described configuration unit shown in FIG.

The POS communication unit 401 communicates with the POS (po
int of sales: point-of-sale information management), and manages service information such as when it was rented and returned at retail stores. A personal computer may be used as the POS register, and a bar code reader or a bar code printer that can be connected to the personal computer may be provided separately from the POS communication unit 401. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a procedure of a photographing device lending method according to the embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, first,
Lending the digital camera 100 to a customer (step S
501).

The customer rents the digital camera 1
At 00, an image is taken. Then, it is determined whether or not the digital camera 100 has been returned after photographing has been completed (step S502). Then, after waiting for the return, if returned (Yes at Step S502), the image data recorded in the digital camera 100 is acquired (Step S503).

Next, it is determined whether or not all the image data has been acquired (step S504). If not all the image data has been acquired yet (step S504: No), the process proceeds to step S503 and all the image data are acquired. Steps S503 and S504 are repeated until image data is obtained. If all the image data has been acquired (Yes at Step S504), predetermined image data processing, specifically, image data processing according to a customer's instruction is performed (Step S505), and all processing ends.

It should be noted that the image data processing apparatus is installed in a chain of convenience stores in a lump, and the rental / return data is shared between the chain stores so that the digital camera 100 can be rented at any chain store. The digital camera 100 can be returned to a chain store different from the chain store that rented the digital camera 100.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the digital camera 100 can be rented anytime and anywhere, and the digital camera 100 can be returned anywhere. Can be obtained as Further, at the time of return, the photographed image data is transmitted to a desired address so that the photographed image data is stored in a recording medium, and there is no need to carry the recording medium. Also, C
Since the digital camera 100 is provided with the AT terminal function, the digital camera 100 can be lent out safely by inputting data such as a credit card and a debit card.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Advantageous Effects of the Invention An image data processing apparatus and a method for renting a photographing device that realize a rental service of a photographing device such as a digital camera and a print service of an image photographed by the rented photographing device or a transmission service of photographed image data are obtained. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image data processing device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating another example of the hardware configuration of the image data processing device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another example of the hardware configuration of the image data processing device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating another example of the hardware configuration of the image data processing device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a photographing device lending method according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 digital camera 101 image data processing device 102 PC (personal computer) 103 display device with touch panel 104 contact or non-contact I / F (interface) 105 high-speed photo printer 106 album binding machine 111 CPU 112 RAM 113 ROM 114 HD (hard disk) 201 Image editing unit 202 Wireless or wired telephone line 203 Media drive 301 Wireless or wired CAT (Credit Out)
(horizontal Terminal: credit inquiry terminal) 401 Communication unit with POS

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C022 AA13 AC69 5C052 AA12 AA17 AB02 DD02 5C053 FA04 FA08 FA14 KA01 KA24 LA03 LA14

Claims (4)

[Claims] A photographing device connecting means for connecting a photographing device such as a digital camera in a contact or non-contact manner; and an image data inputting device for inputting photographed image data from the photographing device connected by the photographing device connecting means. Output processing content instructing means for instructing the content of output processing for the image data input by the image data input means; outputting the image data based on the content of the output processing instructed by the output processing content instructing means An image data processing device comprising: 2. A photographing device connecting means for connecting a photographing device such as a digital camera in a contact or non-contact manner, and an image data inputting device for inputting photographed image data from the photographing device connected by the photographing device connecting means. A destination instructing unit that instructs a destination for the image data input by the image data input unit; and an image data transmitting unit that transmits the image data based on the destination instructed by the destination instructing unit. An image data processing device, comprising: 3. Information required for card payment of a customer who uses the photographing device (hereinafter referred to as “card information”).
3. The image data processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a card information input unit configured to input a card information; and a card information storage unit configured to store card information input by the card information input unit. 4. 4. A lending step of renting out a photographing device such as a digital camera, an image data acquiring step of acquiring photographed image data from the photographing device lent and returned in the lending step, and the image data acquiring step An image data processing step of printing the image data acquired on the recording paper, recording the image data on a recording medium, or transmitting the image data to a designated destination.