JP2002049798A - Method, system and device for managing image data and recording medium with image data management program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a customer to readily browse and to purchase a photograph photographed by a photographer on a URL over the Internet. SOLUTION: In this image data managing method provided with laboratory terminal devices 3A, 3B and 3C, and so on which are installed in respective laboratory shops A, B, C, and so on an can transfer data to digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C and so on and an image data managing device 1, which is connected to the respective laboratory terminal devices 3A, B, 3C, and so on via a network 2 and has a storing means 12 for storing a plurality of original image data, the managing device 1 opens image data for browsing in the case of receiving a browsing request from a customer and transmits the original image data subjected to protect processing to the terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C and so on instructed by the customer in the case of receiving order contents about customer information, information specifying an original image and desired receiving place information from customer terminal devices 5A and 5B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data management system in which a customer purchases digital image data read based on, for example, a photographic image via a network such as the Internet and prints it on a photographic paper using a digital printer. The present invention relates to a method, an image data management system, an image data management device, and a recording medium on which an image data management program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order for a customer to obtain a photograph image of, for example, a famous photographer, a photograph book or a CD-ROM
I had bought all the photo books. Alternatively, the customer browses images stored in the image data management device by accessing image data management for managing image files from the terminal device via the Internet, and selects and purchases necessary ones. .

[0003]

However, the purchased photo book or CD-ROM photo book contains a large number of pictures, and a photo book or a CD containing pictures that the customer does not want. -Since the entire ROM photo book had to be purchased, it was sometimes expensive.

[0004] Further, even a CD-ROM photo book is stored in a small data capacity of a low resolution due to the data capacity. It was difficult to obtain high quality prints.

[0005] By the way, a photo book that is not sold well may be out of print for the sake of the publisher, and it is difficult for customers to obtain desired photographic images after the out of print.

[0006] On the other hand, from the viewpoint of photographers and publishers, there are cases in which even though enormous expenses are required to actually publish a photo book, the entire collection cannot be sold and the expenses cannot be recovered. Also, even if a photo book was produced, not all of it was exhibited in a bookstore, and it was difficult to predict as a business. For this reason, from the standpoint of both the photographer and the customer, the photographs taken by the photographer cannot be said to be used effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is an image data which enables a customer to easily browse and purchase a photograph taken by a photographer using a management device on the Internet. It is an object to provide a management method, an image data management system, an image data management device, and a recording medium on which an image data management program is recorded.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a lab terminal device installed at each lab store and capable of transferring data to a digital printer.
An image data management method comprising: an image data management device connected to each laboratory terminal device via a network, the image data management device having a storage unit for storing a plurality of original image data. When there is an application, the image data for browsing is disclosed, and the image data management device receives the customer information, the information specifying the original image, and the order contents regarding the desired receiving location information from the customer terminal device, and receives the protected original data. An image data management method characterized by transmitting image data to a terminal device designated by a customer.

According to the above arrangement, when the customer side terminal device requests the image data management device to provide the original image data, the image data management device transmits the protected image data to the terminal device designated by the customer. Is done.
Then, the protected image data is released from the protection processing by a release key, the image data is read by the terminal device designated by the customer, and the digital printer performs the photographic processing.

[0010] According to the second aspect, the storage means is provided with image data for browsing. Therefore, when there is a browsing application from a customer, the image data for browsing is disclosed to the customer. Since the image data is for viewing, the data capacity is small, the load on the image data management device is light, and the image data can be easily viewed at a comfortable speed.

According to the third aspect, when there is a browsing request from a customer, the image data management device processes the original image data into browsing image data, so that it is necessary to separately store browsing image data. Therefore, the storage capacity of the storage means can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect, the image data management device transmits the original image data after confirming receipt of the image data from the customer, so that the customer pays for the image data,
When the image data management device confirms receipt of the image data fee, the image data is transmitted to the terminal device designated by the customer.

According to the fifth aspect, since the protection of the protected original image data is released by inputting a release key, the release operation is easy.

According to the present invention, since the release key is an order number issued when the image data management device receives a request for providing original image data from the customer terminal device, the release key is issued when the customer places an order. When the order number is input, the protection processing is released and the image data is read.

According to the seventh aspect, since the release key is the identification number of the digital printer of the lab shop designated by the customer, the protection processing is performed when the identification number of the digital printer connected to the lab shop designated by the customer is inputted. Is released and the image data is read.

According to the eighth aspect, the customer-side terminal device designates a lab store which requests image data printing, and the image data management device transmits the image data to the lab terminal device of the designated lab store. When the lab shop is designated by the side terminal device, the image data is transmitted to the lab terminal device.

To achieve the above object, a ninth aspect of the present invention relates to a lab terminal installed at each lab store and capable of transferring data to a digital printer, and connected to each lab terminal via a network. An image data management system comprising an image data management device having storage means for storing a plurality of original image data, wherein the management device discloses image data for browsing in response to a browsing request from a customer. Disclosure means, and information for specifying an original image from a customer terminal device, and protected image data transmitting means for transmitting original image data protected for an order related to desired receiving place information to a terminal device designated by a customer. It is configured as a characteristic image data management system.

According to the above arrangement, when the customer terminal device requests the image data management device to provide the original image data, the protected image data is transmitted from the image data management device to the terminal device designated by the customer. Is done.
The protected image data is released from the protection processing by a release key, the image data is read by the terminal device designated by the customer, and the digital printer performs the photographic processing.

To achieve the above object, a tenth aspect of the present invention relates to a lab terminal installed at each lab store and capable of transferring data to a digital printer, and connected to each lab terminal via a network. Storage means for storing a plurality of original image data, image data disclosing means for disclosing image data for browsing in response to a browsing request from a customer, and specifying an original image from a customer terminal device And a protected image data transmitting means for transmitting, to the terminal device designated by the customer, original image data which has been protected in response to the order for the information and the desired receiving location information.

According to the above arrangement, when the customer terminal device requests the image data management device to provide the original image data, the protected image data is transmitted from the image data management device to the terminal device designated by the customer. Is done.
The protected image data is released from the protection processing by a release key, the image data is read by the terminal device designated by the customer, and the image data is managed by the digital printer.

In order to achieve the above object, a twelfth aspect of the present invention is directed to a lab terminal installed at each lab store and capable of transferring data to a digital printer, and connected to each lab terminal via a network. And an image data management device having an image data management device having storage means for storing a plurality of original image data, wherein the management device has a browsing application from a customer, When the image data management device discloses the image data and receives the customer information, the information for specifying the original image, and the order details relating to the desired receiving location information from the customer terminal device, the terminal that designated the protected original image data by the customer. It is configured as a recording medium on which an image data management program characterized by transmission to an apparatus is recorded.

According to the above configuration, when the customer terminal device requests the image data management device to provide the original image data, the image data management device transmits the protected image data to the terminal device designated by the customer. Is done.
Then, the protected image data is released from the protection processing by a release key, the image data is read by the terminal device instructed by the customer, and the image data management program is recorded by the digital printer. Medium.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital print ordering system according to this embodiment.

The server 1 functioning as an image data management device is installed in each of the lab shops A, B, C,... Via a network 2 such as the Internet (hereinafter, the network will be described by exemplifying the Internet). Are connected to the lab terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C... And the customer terminal devices 5A, 5B.

Each of the lab terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C,.
Digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C,... Are connected respectively.

The server 1 corresponds to an information storage device and the like managed by a company that manufactures and sells a digital printer (digital photo automatic developing device). A photographic image taken by a photographer such as a professional photographer is read by a scanner, and the server 1 reads the digital image. This is stored as image data.

Then, the customer enters the customer terminal devices 5A, 5B
By accessing the server 1 with..., The images stored in the image data storage unit 12 (see FIG. 3) of the server 1 can be browsed.

The digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C
Means digital image data taken by a digital camera or digital image data obtained by reading an image of a film or the like with a scanner or the like, and furthermore, image data downloaded from the server 1 is used on a photographic paper by a digital exposure device. A device that exposes a predetermined image and develops the exposed photographic paper to obtain a print.

As the digital exposure apparatus, for example, a PLZT element (a transparent ferroelectric ceramic obtained by adding lanthanum to lead zirconate titanate) is linearly arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the printing paper piece. A line exposure device composed of a shutter array and a light source, and a light source, a color filter that rotates at a constant speed and has R (red), G (green), and B (blue) regions; A digital micromirror device (trademark: Texas Instruments, USA; hereinafter, referred to as DMD) that reflects light transmitted through the filter in a predetermined direction, a lens that forms an image of the light reflected by the DMD on a piece of photographic paper, and the like. Surface exposure device or the like can be used.

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of the laboratory terminal device and the digital printer.

The lab terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C... For reading image data stored in a storage medium such as a memory card, and for directly reading an image formed on a film or photographic paper. Scanner 32, a display (display unit) 305 for displaying a read image and an operation screen for accessing the server 1 on a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse for inputting predetermined image processing and print processing instructions Input unit 3
03 and a predetermined process is performed on the image data to be printed,
It is composed of an overall processing device (not shown) for converting the data into control data for controlling the exposure device, outputting the data to digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C,... And connecting to the server 1 or the like via the Internet 2. Have been. As can be understood from this description, the laboratory terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C,...
L (Uniform Resource Locato
r) has substantially the same function as a personal computer system widely used to utilize r);
It also functions as a control device for the digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C,. The customer brings the image data captured by the digital camera and stored in the memory card to the lab terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C,... Of the lab stores A, B, C,. The memory card is read as digital image data by the image data reading unit 306, and the image data is stored in the image data storage unit 304.

The digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C,.
Magazines 41 and 42 in which plural types (for example, two types) of long photographic papers having different widths are wound and stored, and photographic paper drawn from the magazines 41 or 42 are cut into a predetermined size, and the cut photographic paper pieces are cut. Lab terminal devices 3A, 3
Exposure unit 43 for exposing images (image data) transmitted from B, 3C,..., Development processing unit 44 for developing, bleaching, fixing and stabilizing the exposed photographic paper pieces, and drying the developed photographic paper pieces And a sorter unit 46 that sorts the dried photographic paper pieces into, for example, order units. The digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C,.
Does not include a light source, a lens, a shutter, and the like for enlarging and exposing an image on a film on a piece of photographic paper in a conventional analog printer.

Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the server.

[0035] The server 1 is a computer in which a normally used program is stored. In accordance with the registered lab store IDs (identification information) of the lab stores A, B, C,..., The name, location, telephone number, e-mail address, ID number of the digital printer used, etc. An additional information storage unit 11 composed of a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk device for storing information and an image data management program are stored. The image data of the customer is stored and stored. Storage means constituted by a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk device for storing image data of the customer in accordance with the customer ID (identification information), and an image data storage (HDD) 12 functioning as a program recording medium; , According to the image data ID transmitted from the lab terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C,... A search unit 13 which is constituted by a ROM in which CPU and storing a predetermined search program for reading and searching the image data of the image being lab terminal device 3A, 3B,
Customer ID and image data ID transmitted from 3C ...
Is received, and the image file 400 (see FIG. 7, which includes image data and additional information, which will be described later) retrieved and read by the retrieval unit 13 is sent to the laboratory terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C
, And a communication unit 14 including a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and a modem.

Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the laboratory terminal device.

The lab terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C... Transmit the customer ID, the image data ID, and the printer ID to the server 1 via the Internet 2, and transmit the image data, the image data ID, and the printer data transmitted from the server 1. A communication unit 301 including a DSP and a modem for receiving an ID and the like, a CPU and a ROM storing a predetermined program, and the like, and the lab terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C
... An overall control unit 302 for performing overall control and, for example, a keyboard and a mouse.
D, etc., an input unit 303, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, etc., an image data storage unit 304 for storing the image file 400 transmitted from the server 1, etc., and a CRT, LCD, etc. It is composed of a monitor display device 33 (see FIG. 2),
D, an image data reading unit 3 for displaying image data ID of an image to be printed on a monitor and a memory card reader for reading image data stored in a memory card brought in by a customer.
And an image data output unit 308 for outputting image data to the digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C...

Next, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the customer terminal device.

The customer terminal devices 5A, 5B...
Communication unit 5 for transmitting D, image data ID, image data, etc.
01, an RO storing a CPU and a predetermined program
M, etc., and a total control unit 502 for controlling the entirety of the customer terminal devices 5A, 5B,... An input unit 503 for inputting a name of the image, a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, and an image data storage unit 504 for storing image data and the like read by a scanner;
A display unit 505 for displaying a procedure for inputting a customer ID and displaying an image to be printed, and a memory card reader for reading stored image data. And an image data reading unit 506.

Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image photographed by a photographer, where (a) is an original image and (b) is a preview image.

The original of the original image 602 is, for example, a reversal film photographed by a photographer on a 4 × 5 inch film, and is digital data which is read into image data by a high-resolution scanner. The original image data has a minimum image data size of at least 1.5 MB and is quite large.
02. On the other hand, the preview image 604 is obtained by reducing the image data of the original image 602 to a small data size of about 100 kB, and is considerably small in image data size. Then, a large number of preview images 604 are stored in the image data storage unit 12 of the server 1 and used as image data for browsing. The reason why the preview image 604 has a small data size is that the communication time (browsing time of the customer) for screen display and browsing of the customer is reduced, and a large amount of the preview image 604 is stored in the image data storage unit 12 of the server 1. Is to be stored.

Since the preview image 604 is published on the monitor, the preview image 604 is protected in order to protect the copyright of the photographer and prevent unauthorized use by a third party.
The company name of the operating company of the image data management device 1, the logo,
It is also possible to perform processing such as adding a watermark. The preview image 604 is subjected to a color reduction process so that the image of the original image 602 is not impaired and the browsing is not hindered.
Filtering such as edge emphasis can be performed to protect copyright and prevent abuse of rights.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an image file.

The image file 400 includes, for example, JPEG
Image data body (original image data) 401 of the image
And an image data ID as additional information in the header portion
(ID number) 402, printable number ID 403, order ID 404, printer ID 405, and the like are incorporated.

Here, the image data ID (identification number) 40
2 is an identification number set for each photographic image, the printable number ID 403 is the number of prints desired by the customer for each photographic image data, and the order ID 40
4 is an identification number for each order when the customer places an order, and the printer ID 405 is an operating company of the image data management device 1 for each printer installed in the lab stores A, B, C. This is an identification number (serial number) assigned in advance by the printer manufacturer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a customer to select a desired image from the preview images on the server.

First, the customer accesses the server 1 via the Internet 2 (step S101), and the monitor 33
Is used to browse the preview image (step S10).
3). Then, a desired image is selected (step S10).
5) Inputting the image ID of the desired image, the desired number of prints, the customer ID, and the name of the desired receiving lab shop from the customer to the server 1
03 and transmitted from the transmission unit 501 (step S1).
07).

The server 1 receives the image data request from the customer (step S109) and notifies the customer of the fee (step S113). The designated lab shop receives a print request from a customer via the Internet 2 (step S111).

The customer receives the notification of the image data fee from the server 1 (step S115), and pays with a credit card, electronic money, or the like, and the server 1 confirms the receipt of the fee (Yes in step S117). Then, the image file 400 (see FIG. 7) including the image data and the additional information is transmitted to the laboratory designated by the customer (step S12).
1). If the fee is not paid by the customer (No in step S117), the server 1 treats the image data request of the customer as canceled (step S119).

The lab store that the customer has designated for receiving the print is
The image file 400 is received from the server 1 (step S
123), and print processing is performed by the printer (step S12).
5) When all the prints have been completed, the customer is notified of the print completion (step S127).

Table 1 shows that a large number of customers A,
6 is a table showing an example of image data orders from B, C..., And information such as an order (acceptance) number, image ID, number of print requests, and printer ID is stored in the additional information storage unit 11 of the server 1. .

[0052]

[Table 1]

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing process in the lab stores. Table 2 shows the lab stores A, B, and C.
.. That display the ordered image data ID stored in the image data storage unit 304 of the terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C,. It is.

[0054]

[Table 2]

In the lab stores A, B, C,..., The lab store terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C,... Receive a print request from a customer (step S201), and thereafter include additional information and image data from the server 1. The image data 400 is received (steps S203 and S205), and the image data
4 is stored.

Next, the printer ID 405 as additional information is searched from the header (head portion) of the image file 400 (step S207), and the printer ID 405 is searched for the printer 4A connected to the lab store terminal device 3A, 3B, 3C. , 4B, 4C,..., And if they are correct (Yes in step S209)
s), as shown in Table 2, the image data ID 402 and the print of the image data ID 402 from the entire list of the image files 400 stored in the image data storage unit 304 in the terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C. Number I
D403 is searched, and the corresponding image data ID 402 is searched.
At step S21.
3). On the other hand, the printer ID 405 is the lab store terminal device 3A.
If the printer ID does not match the printer ID of the printer 4A connected to the printer (No in step S209), the printing is stopped (step S211).

Then, referring to Table 2, the number of discriminable prints is confirmed for the image data ID to be printed, and it is determined whether or not the number of prints is possible (step S215). If so (Yes in step S215), the specified number of sheets are printed (step S217), and the terminal devices 3A, 3B, and 3C are printed.
., The information of the corresponding image data ID 402 is updated from the list shown in Table 2 in the image data storage unit 304 (step S219). If it is not the printable number in step S215 (No in step S215), the specified number (ordered number of prints) in the image data ID has already been printed, and printing is stopped (step S211).

As described above in detail, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the customers A, B, C,... It is a target.

The number of prints based on the image data purchased by the customer in one order is determined by the designated lab stores A, B, and C.
Since the digital printers 4A, 4B, 4C,... Are protected for each printed sheet, they are not illegally used and the copyright of the photographer (photographer) is appropriately protected.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but can be modified as shown below. (1) In the above embodiment, the customer accesses the server 1 connected to the Internet 2 and selects a desired photographic image from the preview screen, and the lab shops A, B, and
C. is designated, and the lab stores A, B, C,... Receive the image data of the photographic image from the server 1 and perform the print processing. However, instead of this, the customer owns the digital printer. , The image data is received from the server 1 by the customer terminal devices 5A, 5B,.
It is also possible to print with a digital printer connected to 5B. In this way, the customer does not have to go to the lab shop to eliminate the complexity. (2) In the above embodiment, the customer is the customer terminal device 5A, 5B
The server 1 connected to the Internet 2 was accessed by using..., And the desired photographic image was selected from the preview screen.
Access the server 1 connected to the Internet 2 from the lab store terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C,... Of B, C, and select a desired photographic image from the preview screen. The lab store terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C,...
Digital printers 3A, 3 connected to 3B, 3C ...
B, 3C,... In this case, the lab stores A, B, C... Correspond to customers, and the lab store terminal devices 3A, 3B, 3C. This eliminates the need for the customer to possess the customer terminal devices 5A, 5B,..., So that the customer has more options for accessing the server 1. (3) In the above-described embodiment, the embodiment in which the customer goes to the lab stores A, B, C, and receives the completed print has been described, but instead, the lab stores A, B, C,. Can be delivered to the customer by a courier service or the like, or a digital printer can be provided on the server 1 side, printed on the server 1 side, and directly delivered to the customer. In this way, the customer can obtain the print without going to the lab stores A, B, C... Even if there is no lab store A, B, C. It is possible to receive services provided by the image data management system. (4) In the above embodiment, the server 1 transmits the image file after confirming the receipt of the image file from the customer. Instead, the server 1 makes a contract between the customer and the server 1 in advance, and transmits the image file fee. Alternatively, cash on delivery or debit from a bank account may be used. In this way, the customer does not need to pay for the payment each time, and the image data management device 1 does not need to confirm the receipt each time. (5) In the above embodiment, the preview image is configured to be browsed on the server 1.
It is also possible to record a preview image on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distribute this CD-ROM so that the customer can see it and make a selection. In this way, even a customer who does not have the customer terminal devices 5A, 5B,... Can access the server 1. (6) In the above-described embodiment, when a plurality of prints are desired in order for one image data, the order ID is added with the number of printable pages as information in the header of the image file. It is also possible to perform a protection process for each image data. In this way, if the customer desires to print a plurality of sheets, the image data transmission time is slightly longer, but the image data is surely protected for each sheet and illegal use can be prevented. (7) In the above-described embodiment, the embodiment in which the image data for the purchased number is printed at once by the digital printer is exemplified. However, the required number of image data may be stored without being printed at one time instead. It can be printed accordingly. In this case, since the image data is digital image data, it is possible to prevent a change with time (deterioration). (8) In the above embodiment, the order ID 40 is used as the release key.
4 or one of the printer IDs 405 is applied, but instead, the order ID 4
04 and the printer ID 405 can be applied. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent unauthorized use and protect copyright. (9) In the above embodiment, the storage means of the image data management device has been described as storing both the original image data and the image data for browsing. Instead, the storage means stores only the original image data. In addition, the image data management device can also process the original image data into image data for browsing when there is a browsing application from the customer. With this configuration, it is not necessary to separately store the image data for browsing in the storage unit, so that the storage capacity of the storage unit can be reduced. (10) In the above embodiment, the Internet is exemplified as the network. However, the present invention can be executed in a network in a specific area.

[0061]

As described above, according to the first, eighth, ninth, and tenth aspects of the present invention, a customer can easily obtain a desired high-quality photographic image one by one. Further, it is economical because a required amount (number) of necessary photographic images can be obtained without purchasing unnecessary photographic images.

The image data management device can be widely disclosed and sold to customers without the abuse of its own image data and with its copyright protected.

According to the second aspect, since the image data having a small data capacity is used for browsing the customer, the time required for displaying the screen and browsing the customer can be reduced.

According to the third aspect, the storage capacity of the storage means in the image data management device can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect, since the image data management device transmits the image data after confirming the receipt of the image data fee from the customer, the copyright is reliably protected.

According to the fifth aspect, since the order number is unknown only to the customer who ordered the image data, the situation where the image data is illegally downloaded and printed is prevented, and the copyright is reliably protected.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, except for the lab store designated by the customer, the I / O of the printer connected to the lab terminal device is performed.
Since D (identification number) is not known, the situation where image data is illegally downloaded and printed is prevented, and copyright is reliably protected.

According to the seventh aspect, since the image data is transmitted to the designated lab terminal device, the customer can receive the print without receiving the image data and transmitting the image data to the lab terminal device. Is eliminated. Also,
Since there is no need to receive large-capacity image data at the terminal device on the customer side, the line is not restricted for a long time during reception, and large-capacity storage means is not required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital print ordering system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of a laboratory terminal device and a digital printer connected to the laboratory terminal device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a laboratory terminal device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a customer terminal device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image taken by a photographer;
(A) is an original image, and (b) is a preview image.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an image file.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which a customer selects a desired image from preview images.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print process in a lab store.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server (image data management device) 2 Internet 3A, 3B, 3C ... Laboratory terminal device 4A, 4B, 4C ... Digital printer 5A, 5B ... Customer terminal device 12 Image file storage part (storage means, recording medium) 401 Image data body (Original image data) 404 Order ID (Release key) 405 Printer ID (Release key) 602 Original image (Original image data) 604 Preview image (Image data for browsing) A, B, C ... Lab store

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03B 27/46 G03B 27/46 B G06F 12/14 320 G06F 12/14 320A F-term (Reference) 2H106 BA95 5B017 AA03 BA02 CA16 5B049 AA05 BB11 CC05 CC08 CC36 DD01 DD05 EE01 EE07 FF02 FF03 FF04 FF09 GG04 GG07 GG10

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A lab terminal device installed at each lab store and capable of transferring data to a digital printer, and storage means connected to each lab terminal device via a network and storing a plurality of original image data. An image data management method comprising: an image data management device, wherein the image data management device discloses image data for browsing when a browsing application is received from a customer, and the image data management device transmits the image data management device from a customer terminal device. Upon receiving the customer information, the information specifying the original image, and the order details regarding the desired receiving location information,
An image data management method comprising transmitting protected original image data to a terminal device designated by a customer. 2. The image data management method according to claim 1, wherein said storage means includes image data for browsing. 3. The image data management method according to claim 1, wherein the image data management device processes the original image data into image data for browsing when there is a browsing application from a customer. 4. The image data management method according to claim 1, wherein the image data management device transmits the original image data after confirming receipt of the image data payment from the customer. 5. The image data management method according to claim 1, wherein the protection of the protected original image data is released by inputting a release key. 6. The image data management method according to claim 5, wherein the release key is an order number issued when the image data management device receives a request for providing original image data from a customer terminal device. . 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the release key is an identification number of a digital printer at a lab store designated by the customer.
Described image data management method. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the customer-side terminal device specifies a lab store that requests image data printing, and the image data management device transmits the image data to the lab terminal device of the specified lab store. 8. The image data management method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. A lab terminal device installed at each lab store and capable of transferring data to a digital printer, and storage means connected to each lab terminal device via a network and storing a plurality of original image data. An image data management system including an image data management device, wherein the management device specifies an original image from an image data disclosure unit that discloses image data for browsing in response to a browsing request from a customer, and a customer terminal device. A protected image data transmitting means for transmitting, to a terminal device designated by a customer, original image data which has been protected in response to an order relating to information and desired receiving location information. 10. A lab terminal device installed at each lab store and capable of transferring data to a digital printer, and an image data management device connected to each lab terminal device via a network, comprising a plurality of original images. Storage means for storing data; image data disclosing means for disclosing image data for browsing in response to a browsing request from a customer; information for specifying an original image from a customer terminal device; A protected image data transmitting means for transmitting the original image data to a terminal device designated by the customer. 11. A lab terminal device installed at each lab store and capable of transferring data to a digital printer, and storage means connected to each lab terminal device via a network and storing a plurality of original image data. A recording medium recording an image data management program for managing image data with an image data management device, wherein the management device discloses browsing image data when a browsing request is received from a customer, When receiving the customer information, the information specifying the original image, and the order details regarding the desired receiving place information from the customer terminal device, the management device transmits the protected original image data to the terminal device designated by the customer. Recording medium storing an image data management program to be executed.