JP2002077862A - Digital picture communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital image communication system which is capable of storing digital images opened to the public and the other digital images closed to the public on a network in a server by discriminating between them without getting access over and over to a different image storage region which is set different for each setting of digital images. SOLUTION: A user inputs a publicity setting information which instructs that each digital image that is sent to a server is set open or closed to the public on a network through PCs 510 to 540 and a digital camera 600a, and the digital images and the publicity setting information are transmitted in correlation with each other. When a center server 110 receives the digital images and publicity setting information sent from the user, the center server 110 stores the digital images in either an open image storage 121 or a closed image storage 122 provided in an image storage 120 in accordance with the content of the publicity setting information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital image communication system in which a server storing digital images and a plurality of terminal devices transmit and receive digital images via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a personal computer of a general user, a digital camera (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a "terminal device"), etc., access a server via a network such as the Internet and own the user. A digital image communication system (hereinafter, referred to as a “digital image communication system”) that stores digital images in the server and enables the digital images stored in the server to be used by individuals or made public to an unspecified number of individuals. Also called “system”).

In such a digital image communication system, for example, a user who has made a contract for using the system (hereinafter referred to as a "contractor") can store images in an image storage device such as a hard disk drive provided in a server. A part of the area is allocated to store the digital image transmitted from the contractor, and the digital image is managed for each allocated image storage area.

[0004] In this system, the user has been able to set digital images such as public and private on the Internet for each of the allocated image storage areas.

[0005]

However, in the conventional digital image communication system, various settings for the digital image stored in the server can be made only for each image storage area for storing the digital image. Can not. Therefore, in the case where the contractor stores digital images having different settings such as disclosure and non-disclosure on the Internet in the server, it is necessary for the contractor to individually allocate an image storage area to each digital image. .

When storing a plurality of digital images having different settings, the contractor cannot access the plurality of image storage areas at the same time. It is very convenient, for example, when access from other users temporarily concentrates on the server, etc., it takes time to re-access, and it is necessary to redo the designation of the storage destination one by one. Was bad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a digital image which a user wants to publish on a network without re-accessing a different image storage area for each digital image setting. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital image communication system capable of distinguishing a digital image desired to be kept secret from a digital image and storing it in a server.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a digital image communication system according to the present invention comprises a server for storing digital images and a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network. A digital image communication system for transmitting and receiving a digital image between a terminal device and a server, wherein the terminal device sets public / private setting information for setting public / private setting on a network for each digital image. Setting information receiving means for receiving from the user, and first image transmitting means for associating the public setting information received by the setting information receiving means with the digital image and transmitting the digital image to a server, the server comprising: An image storage unit for storing the digital image transmitted from the storage unit in association with the disclosure setting information; Is characterized by comprising an access limiting means for limiting based access from the terminal apparatus by other users to the public setting information for said digital image being paid.

As described above, the terminal device can receive the input of the public setting information from the user for each digital image, and the server associates the digital image transmitted from the terminal device with the public setting information. By storing the digital image, the user can distinguish between the digital image that he / she wants to publish on the network and the digital image that he / she wants to keep private on the server without having to re-access the different image storage area for each digital image setting. can do.

Further, in the present invention, the server further includes an identifier accepting unit for accepting a first identifier transmitted from a terminal device, and the access control unit includes a first identifier received by the identifier accepting unit. Is matched with the second identifier registered in the server, the access to the digital image designated as private and associated with the second identifier is permitted,
It is possible to prevent a user who does not know the second identifier from illegally accessing the digital image designated to be closed.

Further, in the present invention, the server further comprises:
A period setting unit that sets a period for storing a digital image in the image storage unit according to whether the digital image is disclosed or not, and a case where the digital image is stored in the image storage unit. And a charging means for performing charging according to whether the system is open or closed, so that the charging amount and the image storage period are set so as to be beneficial to both the system provider and the contractor. be able to.

Still further, according to the present invention, the server further stores a restricted digital image serving as a reference for imposing a restriction when the digital image transmitted from at least a terminal device of another user is stored by the image storage means. Restricted image storage means, and storage restriction means for restricting the storage of the digital image designated to be disclosed among the digital images transmitted from the terminal device by the other user by the image storage means based on the restricted digital image Therefore, a digital image that the user does not want to disclose (for example, a digital image in which the user's face is photographed) can be prevented from being disclosed by another user.

Still further, according to the present invention, the storage restricting means may further store, among the digital images transmitted from the terminal device by the other user, a digital image designated to be non-public, to the image storing means. Is stored based on the restricted digital image, so that it is possible to prevent the digital image from being stored in the image storage unit, which violates public order and morals.

Still further, the present invention is characterized in that the server further comprises image search means for searching a digital image stored in the image storage means for a digital image based on a predetermined search digital image. The user can easily search for a desired digital image. Still further, according to the present invention, the image search means performs a first search on only digital images designated to be public among digital images stored in the image storage means,
A second search for all digital images stored in the image storage means is selectively executed according to an instruction from a user transmitted from the terminal device.

Still further, the present invention is characterized in that the second search is executed only based on the search digital image including a face image of a user who has made a contract with the digital image communication system. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an inadvertent search for a digital image instructed to be undisclosed by an instruction from another user.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a digital image transmission system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a digital image communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present digital image communication system includes a center server 110 provided in a photo center 100, a service server 210 provided in a service center 200, and a personal computer provided in a general home or office. (Hereinafter referred to as “PC”.) The configuration is such that the digital cameras 600 and 510 to 540 are connected via the Internet 900.

A center server 110 provided in the photo center 100 stores and manages digital images, and PCs 510 to 54 provided in ordinary homes and offices.
0, and the Internet 9 from the digital camera 600
00 can be accessed. Also,
The center server 110 is, for example, a service server 2 provided in a service center 200 that provides services such as a bank account balance inquiry on the Internet 900.
10 to be able to enjoy the service.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each section of the digital image communication system. Center server 11
0 includes an image storage unit 120, a WWW application server 130, a prohibited image registration unit 140, and the like. The image storage unit 120 includes a public image storage unit 121 and a private image storage unit 122, and can store a digital image transmitted from each contractor.

The public image storage section 121 stores digital images (hereinafter, referred to as "public images") that each contractor desires to make public. The public image can be freely viewed and downloaded by a user other than the owner. The private image storage unit 122 stores a digital image (hereinafter, referred to as a “private image”) that each contractor does not want to disclose in an area assigned to each contractor.
Access to the private image from contractors other than the owner or other users is restricted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of the public image storage unit 121 and the private image storage unit 122. FIG. 3A is a diagram schematically illustrating the contents of the public image storage unit 121. The public image stored in the public image storage unit 121 is associated with a contractor ID for identifying a contractor, date and time information of photographing, an image ID for identifying the image, and various keywords for image search described later. ing.

FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically showing the contents of the secret image storage unit 122. The secret image storage unit 1
The area allocated for each of the 22 contractors includes the contractor I
D and the contractor name are associated with each other. Further, an image ID is further associated with the non-disclosed image stored in the area. The contractor ID, date and time information, and the like assigned to the digital images stored in the public image storage unit 121 and the private image storage unit 122 are hereinafter referred to as “tag information”.

The WWW application server 130
In response to a request transmitted from the terminal device by the user, the prohibited image registration unit 140 and the charging / saving period table 1
50, and the contents of the contractor management table 160,
At the same time, the digital image transmitted from the terminal device is stored in the image storage unit 120 or the image storage unit 1 is updated.
For example, the digital image stored in the storage device 20 can be browsed.

The prohibited image registration section 140 includes a release prohibited image registration section 141 and a storage prohibited image registration section 142.
The banned image registration unit 141 has a banned image storage unit 121
A digital image whose storage is prohibited (hereinafter, referred to as “disclosure prohibited image”) is registered. Digital images (hereinafter, referred to as “storage prohibited images”) whose storage is prohibited in both the public image storage unit 121 and the private image storage unit 122 are registered in the storage prohibited image registration unit 142.

The digital image registered in the prohibited image registration section 140 is transmitted from the terminal device by the contractor. Details such as the registration method will be described later. In the billing / storage period table 150, for each digital image stored in the image storage unit 120, a contractor ID, an image ID,
The storage start date, storage period, and billing amount are registered in association with each other. The storage period is a period during which a digital image is stored in the image storage unit 120, and different periods are set in advance for a public image and a private image by a system administrator. The storage period is usually set to a longer period for the private image than for the public image because the private image is often important to the owner of the image.

The charge amount is determined by storing the digital image in the image storage unit 12.
This is a charge amount when storing in 0, and different charge amounts are set in advance for the public image and the private image by the system administrator in the same manner as the storage period.
Usually, the charge amount is set to be lower for the public image than for the non-public image. This is because the public image is often accessed by the user, and includes elements that are useful for the system provider, such as increasing the name recognition of the system to the public.

In the contractor management table 160, information on the contractor of the system is registered. The information on the system contractor is transmitted from the user's terminal device when the user makes a contract for using the system. The contents of the information and the method of using the system will be described later.

The image storage unit 120, the prohibited image registration unit 140, the billing / storage period table 150, and the contractor management table 160 may be physically stored in the same storage device, or may be individually stored in the storage device. May be provided and stored.
When the user uses the system, each terminal device accesses the center server 110 via the Internet via the communication interface 901, and then makes various requests according to the screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal device.

FIG. 4 shows that the terminal device is the center server 110.
7 shows an example of a menu screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal device when accessing the terminal device. The user can request the center server 110 to use the system by clicking each button on which the contents of use of the system are described on the menu screen.

A description will now be given of the contents of processing in the center server 110 when each button is clicked on the menu screen. (New Contract) When the user uses the present system other than for viewing the public images stored in the public image storage unit 121, the user must make a contract with the system provider in advance.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing in the center server 110 when a new contract is requested from the terminal device side. In the processing shown in the figure, first, the user information transmitted from the terminal device is received,
It is determined whether or not the user information includes all necessary items in the usage contract (step S101, step S1).
02) If all are included, a contract examination is performed (step S103).

The user information transmitted from the terminal device is input by the user according to a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal device. FIG. 6 shows an example of the input screen. As shown in the figure, the user information includes the name, address, date of birth, telephone number, e-mail address, financial institution name, account number, and face image of the user who wishes to use the contract.

The name of the financial institution and the account number are the name of the financial institution such as the bank to which the user has contracted and the number of the account open to the financial institution. This specifies the account for which you wish to debit. The face image is a digital image in which the user's face is photographed, and is used at the time of an image search described later.

The contents of the user information are not limited to the contents described above, but may be variously set in accordance with the use form of the system. The contract examination performed in step S103 in FIG. 5 is for confirming whether the account specified by the user information exists, and is performed using a service provided by the service server 210. When the existence of the account is confirmed, it is determined that the use contract has been established (YES in step S104), and a contractor ID is assigned to the user (step S105).
Then, the user information of the user is stored in the contractor management table 160 in association with the contractor ID, and the user is registered (step S106). Thereafter, the contractor ID allocated in step S105 is transmitted to the terminal device of the user (step S107), and a series of processing ends.

If necessary information is insufficient in the transmitted user information (NO in step S102),
If the account is not confirmed in the contract examination and the contract is not established (NO in step S104), a message to that effect is transmitted to the terminal device (step S108), and the process ends. (Image storage) The contractor sends the center server 1 from the terminal device.
And transmits the digital image to the center server 11
The digital image can be stored in the image storage unit 120 included in “0”.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing in the center server 110 when an image storage request is received from the terminal device side. In the processing shown in the figure, first, a contractor confirmation processing is performed (step S20).
1). In the contractor confirmation processing, the user of the terminal device that has accessed the terminal device is requested to transmit a contractor ID, and thereafter, the contractor ID transmitted from the terminal device is registered in the contractor management table 160. This is the process of collating with the object. Through this processing, it is determined whether the user of the terminal device accessing the center server 110 is a contractor of the system.

In the contractor confirmation processing, if it is determined that the user of the terminal device accessing center server 110 is a contractor (YES in step S202),
The digital image transmitted from the terminal device is received (step S203). The digital image transmitted from the terminal device is provided with public setting information indicating whether it is a public image or a private image for each image represented by the digital image. The disclosure setting information is input from the terminal device by the contractor.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an input screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal device when the contractor inputs the disclosure setting information. On the screen, the digital image to be transmitted is displayed as a digital image having a lower resolution than the original resolution (hereinafter, referred to as “thumbnail image”), and “public”, “non-public” for each thumbnail image. Column is displayed. The contractor can input the disclosure setting information by clicking any of the buttons displayed in the respective columns.

Each digital image is provided with tag information such as date and time information and various keywords by a contractor or the like in advance. When transmitting a digital image instructed to be disclosed in the disclosure setting information, the tag information attached to the digital image is also transmitted to the center server 11.
Sent to 0. When the digital image is received in step S203 of FIG. 7, a storage prohibited image confirmation process is performed in which the digital image is compared with the digital image registered in the storage prohibited image registration unit 142 to determine whether or not the image is a storage prohibited image. (Step S204).

When the digital image is determined not to be a storage-inhibited image by the storage-inhibited image confirmation process (NO in step S205), it is determined whether the digital image is a public image (step S206). If it is determined that the image is a public image, the digital image is compared with the digital image registered in the public image registration unit 141, and a public image confirmation process is performed to determine whether the image is a public image (step S207). .

If it is determined that the digital image received from the terminal device is not a public image in the public image prohibition image confirmation process (NO in step S208), an image ID is assigned to the digital image, and An image storing process for storing a digital image in the public image storage unit 121 or the private image storage unit 122 is performed according to the provided public setting information (step S2).
09), charge / period setting processing is performed (step S21).
0). The billing / period setting process is performed by adding the image ID assigned to the digital image in the image storing process to the step S201.
The contractor ID of the contractor specified in the contractor confirmation process of
This is a process of associating the storage start date, the storage period, and the charge amount with each other and registering them in the charge / storage period table 150.

When the digital image transmitted from the terminal device is a storage-prohibited image (step S20).
5) (YES in step S208), or if the image is a prohibition image (YES in step S208), the digital image is provided with an identifier or the like indicating that the image is a prohibition image and the work memory (not shown) in the center server 110. ).

Then, after performing the processing from step S204 to step S211 for all the digital images received from the terminal device (YE in step S212).
S), it is determined whether or not the digital image stored in step S211 exists in the work memory (step S21).
3) If there is, a prohibited image notification process is performed on the digital image (step S214), and a series of processes ends.

The prohibited image notification processing is for notifying the terminal device that has transmitted the digital image that there is a digital image that could not be stored in the image storage unit 110. A thumbnail image of the digital image stored in the memory may be created and the thumbnail image and a message notifying the thumbnail image may be transmitted, or the digital image may be directly returned to the terminal device.

In the contractor confirmation processing, if it is determined that the user of the terminal device accessing the center server 110 is not a contractor (NO in step S202), a message to that effect is transmitted (step S21).
5) End the process. (Image Browsing) The digital image stored in the image storage unit 120 can be browsed from the terminal device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in the center server 110 when there is an image browsing request from the terminal device side.

In the figure, first, it is determined whether or not a browsing request from a terminal device is for a public image (step S301). If the browsing request is not for a public image (that is, for a non-public image), then a contractor confirmation process is performed (step S302). If it is determined by the contractor confirmation processing that the user of the terminal device that has accessed the system is a contractor (YES in step S303), a search is performed in the area of private image storage unit 122 allocated to the contractor. (Step S304). If a digital image exists in the area (YES in step S305),
While granting access to the digital image,
An image browsing process such as creating a thumbnail image of the digital image permitted to access and transmitting the thumbnail image to the terminal device is performed (step S306), and a series of processes is ended.

In step S301, if the browsing request is for a public image (NO in step S301), image browsing processing is performed on all digital images in public image storage unit 121. Further, when it is determined that the user who accessed in the contractor confirmation processing is not a contractor (NO in step S303),
If there is no undisclosed image in the area assigned to the contractor 2 (NO in step S305), a message to that effect is transmitted to the terminal device (step S307), and the process ends.

(Security) A request to register a digital image to the prohibited image registration unit 140 is made by clicking a "security" button on the menu screen. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the center server 110 when a digital image registration request is made to the prohibited image registration unit 140 from the terminal device side by the contractor.

In the process shown in the figure, first, a contractor confirmation process is performed (step S401). In the contractor confirmation process, when it is confirmed that the user of the terminal device is a contractor (YES in step S402),
Prohibition classification information for specifying whether the transmitted digital image is a public prohibition image or a storage prohibition image is received (step S403).

The prohibition category information is transmitted from the terminal device by the contractor. In FIG.
An example of a screen when a contractor inputs prohibited category information to a terminal device is shown. The contractor can input by clicking either the “disclosure prohibited” button or the “storage prohibited” button on the screen. Upon receiving the prohibition category information in step S403 of FIG.
Next, a digital image to be registered in the prohibited image storage unit 140 is received (step S404), and if the prohibited classification information is "disclosure prohibited", the digital image is registered in the prohibited image registration unit 141 (step S405). Is YES, step S406), and if it is "save prohibited", the digital image is registered in the save prohibited image registration unit 142 (step S40).
If NO in step S407, step S407), a series of processing ends.

When it is determined that the user is not a contractor in the contractor confirmation processing, a message to that effect is transmitted to the terminal device (step S408), and the processing ends. (Image Retrieval) FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the content of processing in the center server 110 when an image retrieval request is received from the terminal device side.

In the process shown in the figure, first, a contractor confirmation process is performed to determine whether or not the access is from a terminal device by the contractor (steps S501 and S502). If it is determined that the access is from the terminal device by the contractor, the search mode information transmitted from the terminal device is received next (step S503). The search mode information is input by a contractor in the terminal device according to an input screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. FIG. 13 shows an example of the search mode input screen.

On the screen shown in FIG. 13, the contractor can input search mode information by clicking either the “recognition search” button or the “normal search” button displayed on the input screen. . "Recognition search"
Is to search for a predetermined digital image from the digital images stored in the image storage unit 120 using an image recognition technique. As the image recognition technique, a known technique such as the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-35068 is used.

The “recognition search” is further divided into the “owner search”
And "General search". FIG. 14 shows an example of a screen for inputting search mode information of “owner search” or “general search”. This figure is displayed when the “recognition mode” button is clicked on the screen shown in FIG. “Owner search” is performed in the contractor management table 16
0 is searched for a digital image including the face image of the contractor who has accessed the system based on the face image of the contractor registered in the image storage unit 120. Is the search target.

The “general search” is for searching based on the search digital image transmitted from the terminal device. Only the public images stored in the public image storage unit 121 of the image storage unit 120 are searched. Search target. on the other hand,
The “ordinary search” on the screen shown in FIG. 13 is based on the search information transmitted from the terminal device and the tag information associated with the digital image stored in the public image storage unit 121 of the image storage unit 120. This is to search for images. The search information is input by the contractor on an input screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal device. FIG.
5 shows an example of a search information input screen.

On the screen shown in FIG. 15, the contractor ID, the photographing date and time, and the keyword can be input. However, it is not always necessary to input all the items, and at least one item is input. do it. Further, the input items are not limited to those of the present example, and may be set freely. Here, returning to FIG. 12, the description of the flowchart is continued.

In step S503, when the search mode information is received, it is determined whether or not the search mode indicated by the search mode information is "recognition search" (step S504), and it is determined that the search mode is "recognition search". Then, it is determined whether the search is “owner search” (step S505). If it is determined that the search is “owner search”, the process proceeds to step S501 from the contractor management table 160
The face image of the contractor specified by the contractor confirmation process in is read and a digital image is searched based on the face image (step S506).

Then, it is determined whether or not there is a digital image detected by the search (step S511).
If there is, the image browsing process is performed on the digital image, and a series of processes ends. If the search mode indicated in the search mode information received in step S503 is “normal search” (NO in step S504), the search information is received from the terminal device, and a digital image search is performed based on the search information. (Step S507, Step S50)
8). If it is not “owner search” in step S505 (that is, “general search”), a digital image for search is received from the terminal device, and a digital image is searched based on the digital image for search ( Step S
509, step S510). Then, step S51
Return to 1.

If it is determined in the contractor confirmation processing that the access is not from the contractor (N in step S502)
O), or when a digital image is not detected in the above image search (NO in step S511), a message to that effect is transmitted to the terminal device (step S513), and the process ends. (Modification) The digital image communication system according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the content of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Modifications can be implemented.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the public image storage unit and the private image storage unit are provided in the image storage unit to store the public image and the private image separately. The identifier of a public image or a private image may be assigned to each image indicated by and stored in the same storage unit. (2) In the above embodiment, the center server
The contractor performs the contractor confirmation process only with the contractor ID when using the system. However, a password is provided for each contractor, and the contractor confirmation process is performed using the password together with the contractor ID. You may consider security.

(3) In the above embodiment, the registration of the digital image in the prohibited image registration unit was performed by the contractor from the terminal device, but the system administrator registers the digital image in the prohibited image registration unit. May be. (4) In the above embodiment, when registering a digital image in the prohibited image registration unit, a contractor ID or the like is associated with the digital image, and the digital image transmitted from the contractor who registered the digital image is registered. For images,
The storage restriction to the image storage unit may not be restricted.

[0062]

As described above, in the digital image communication system according to the present invention, for each digital image stored in the server, the setting of disclosure or non-disclosure on the network can be performed, and the server can perform the setting. The digital image is stored separately for each digital image, so that the digital image to be disclosed on the network and the digital image to be kept private are distinguished without the user having to re-access the different image storage area for each setting of the digital image. It can be stored separately on the server.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a digital image communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of each unit of the digital image communication system according to the present embodiment.

3A is a diagram schematically showing the contents of a public image storage unit 121. FIG. (B) It is a figure which shows the content of the private image storage part 122 typically.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device when the terminal device accesses the center server 110.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing contents in a center server 110 when a request for a new contract is made from the terminal device side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information input screen.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing in the center server 110 when an image storage request is received from the terminal device side.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a disclosure setting information input screen.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing contents in the center server 110 when an image browsing request is made from the terminal device side.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a center server 11 when a digital image registration request is issued from the terminal device to the prohibited image registration unit 140;
7 is a flowchart showing processing contents at 0.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a prohibited category information input screen.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by a center server when an image search request is received from a terminal device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search mode input screen.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a screen for inputting search mode information of “owner search” or “general search”.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a search information input screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Photo center 110 Center server 120 Image storage unit 121 Public image storage unit 122 Private image storage unit 130 WWW application server 140 Prohibited image registration unit 141 Publication prohibited image registration unit 142 Storage prohibited image registration unit 150 Billing / storage period table 160 Contract Management table 210 service server 510-540 personal computer 600 digital camera 900 internet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Yoshihiro Hara 2-3-1-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Manji Takano Azuchi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (3) Machi 2-chome (72) Inventor Tsutomu Fujino 2-3-3 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Daisetsu Toyama Osaka 2-13-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi F-term in Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5B085 AE06 BG07 5C053 FA30 JA21 LA11 LA14 5C062 AA14 AA25 AA29 AB23 AB42 AE01 AF08 AF12 AF14 BA00 5C064 BA04 BA07 BB02 BC18 BC20 BD01 BD02 BD08 BD16

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A digital image communication system in which a server for storing digital images and a plurality of terminal devices are connected via a network, and a digital image is transmitted and received between the plurality of terminal devices and the server. The terminal device is: a setting information receiving unit that receives, from a user, public setting information instructing setting of disclosure and non-disclosure on a network for each digital image; and the disclosure setting information received by the setting information receiving unit. A first image transmitting unit that transmits the digital image in association with the digital image to the server, wherein the server stores the digital image transmitted from the terminal device in association with the disclosure setting information; Before accessing the digital image stored in the image storage means from a terminal device by another user. A digital image communication system comprising: access restriction means for restricting based on the disclosure setting information. 2. The server further comprises an identifier accepting unit for accepting a first identifier transmitted from a terminal device, wherein the access control unit transmits the first identifier received by the identifier accepting unit to the server. 2. The digital image communication according to claim 1, wherein when the registered second identifier matches the registered second identifier, access to the digital image designated to be undisclosed and associated with the second identifier is permitted. system. 3. The server further comprises: a period setting unit that sets a period for storing the digital image in the image storage unit according to whether the digital image is disclosed or not disclosed; 3. A charging unit for charging an image according to whether the digital image is disclosed or not disclosed.
A digital image communication system as described. 4. The server further comprises: a restricted image storage unit for storing a restricted digital image serving as a reference to which a restriction is imposed when at least a digital image transmitted from a terminal device of another user is stored by the image storage unit. A storage restriction unit that restricts storage of the digital image instructed to be disclosed from among the digital images transmitted from the terminal device by the other user by the image storage unit based on the restricted digital image. The digital image communication system according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The storage restricting unit restricts the storage of the digital image transmitted from the terminal device by the other user from the terminal device to the image storing unit even for the digital image instructed to be kept secret. The digital image communication system according to claim 4, wherein the restriction is performed based on a digital image. 6. The server according to claim 1, further comprising: an image search unit that searches a digital image stored in the image storage unit for a digital image based on a predetermined search digital image. The digital image communication system according to any one of the above. 7. The image search means includes: a first search for only digital images designated to be public among digital images stored in the image storage means; and all image data stored in the image storage means. 7. The digital image transmission system according to claim 6, wherein the second search for the digital image is selectively executed according to an instruction from a user transmitted from the terminal device. 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the second search is performed only based on the search digital image including a face image of a user who has made a contract with the digital image communication system. Digital image communication system.