JP2002169973A - System or method for image distribution, or recording medium thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sequentially distribute only a fresh image which is matched with taste of the user and not distributed in the past according to the agreement contents of a contract for utilizing distribution services when an image for the interior having a high hobby property is distributed by way of a network. SOLUTION: A system server 1 memorizes and manages the contract contents for every user having the contract for utilizing the distribution services. When each image for the interior for each contract user is sequentially selected from background image file groups and distributed to a home server 2 automatically, the image for the interior that is not distributed in the past is distributed preferentially. The home server 2 displays each image for the interior that has been distributed sequentially from the system server 1 to a specified window device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image distribution system, an image distribution method, an image display control terminal, or a program recording medium for providing a distribution service for distributing images via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the advancement of the Internet technology and the lowering of computer terminals and communication fees, anyone can easily use the Internet by calling a server device at a company side from a computer terminal in each home. Various services are now available. In a mobile communication system, a mobile phone terminal can be used not only for voice communication but also for e-mail and the Internet, and the use of the mobile phone terminal as an information communication medium is increasing. By the way, conventionally, by using the Internet, various images such as a photographic image for a wallpaper and a background image (screen saver image) of a computer screen are downloaded to a home computer terminal and used, or a mobile phone terminal is used. Background arts that use a background image that is distributed daily for the standby screen are known.

[0003]

However, when downloading a photographic image or a screen saver image for wallpaper, a desired image is selected in advance from a group of images as selection candidates. Each time it is done, a troublesome selection operation has to be performed, which puts a heavy burden on the user. In addition, when automatically distributing the image for the standby screen to each user's mobile phone terminal, the same image is distributed to each user at the same time, but it does not necessarily match the user's preference. The image is not always an image, and an image distributed in the past may be repeatedly transmitted. By the way, the television receivers of the liquid crystal display type are becoming smaller and thinner, and television receivers called wall-mounted televisions have begun to be widely used. It is expected to be used not only as a viewing tool but also as an interior tool for displaying landscape images and painting images.

[0004] A first object of the present invention is to distribute a high-interest image for interior use via a network, in accordance with the contents of a contract for using a distribution service, to meet the taste of the user and It is an object of the present invention to provide an image distribution system or an image distribution method capable of sequentially distributing only fresh images that have not been distributed. The subject of the second invention is:
When distributing highly-interesting images for interior use via a network, only images belonging to a specified genre that matches the user's preference are regularly scheduled at specified time intervals in accordance with the contract details of the distribution service contract. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image distribution system or an image distribution method which can be distributed uniformly. A third object of the present invention is to simultaneously deliver a plurality of interior images separately displayed corresponding to a plurality of display devices on the user side in accordance with the contract contents for which a distribution service use contract has been made. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image distribution system or an image distribution method capable of periodically distributing only fresh images that have not been distributed in the past at specified time intervals. A fourth object of the present invention is to enable a plurality of interior images distributed according to the contract contents for which a distribution service use contract has been made to be separately displayed corresponding to a plurality of display devices on the user side. To provide an image display control terminal.

[0005] The means of the present invention are as follows. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image distribution system including an image distribution apparatus for performing an image distribution service via a network, wherein the image storage unit stores and manages a plurality of interior images. And a delivery history of the delivered interior image when the interior image to be delivered to each contract user who has made a contract for using the delivery service is selected and delivered to the specified terminal designated by each contract user. Distribution history storage means for storing and managing the interior images for each contract user, and when sequentially distributing the interior image to each of the contract users, refer to the distribution history storage means to contract the interior image which has not been selected in the past. Select by user,
And distribution control means for distributing to a designated terminal designated by each contract user. Therefore, claim 1
In the described invention, when distributing a highly-interesting image for interior use via a network, it matches the user's preference and is Image distribution system capable of sequentially distributing only basic images can be provided. Further, as an application invention to the first invention, while providing an image distribution method thereof,
There is provided a recording medium in which a program code for executing each of the above functions is recorded.

The first invention may be as follows. (1) Each of the interior images is classified and managed in association with an image genre indicating its type, and when selecting and delivering each interior image to be sequentially delivered to each of the contract users, If an image genre is specified in the contract content, an interior image extracted from each interior image group belonging to the specified genre is delivered, and if an image genre is not specified in the contract content, Then, an arbitrary image genre is selected, and the interior image extracted from each interior image group belonging to the genre is distributed. (2) When a registration request for the image is transmitted from the designated terminal that has received the distribution of the interior image via a network, the interior image is transmitted in response to the request. The registered image is stored and held, and when a distribution request of the registered image is received from the designated terminal, the registered image corresponding to the designated terminal is read and distributed to the requesting terminal. (3) When a live video distribution request is transmitted via the network from the designated terminal that has received the distribution of the interior image, the terminal is installed at a location where the distributed interior image is captured. A live broadcast image is acquired from a photographing device, and the live broadcast image acquired from the photographing device is distributed in real time to the requesting designated terminal.

[0007] The invention according to claim 6 (second invention) is as follows.
An image distribution system including an image distribution device that performs an image distribution service via a network, wherein the image storage unit classifies and stores and manages a plurality of interior images in association with an image genre indicating an image type. Distribution contract storage means for storing and managing contract contents for each contract user who has made a distribution service use contract, and selecting each interior image to be sequentially distributed to each contract user according to the contract contents. Then, an interior image corresponding to the genre is selected based on the image genre specified as the contract content, and the selected interior image is distributed to the designated terminal at a distribution time interval specified as the contract content. And a delivery control means. Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 6, when distributing a highly-interesting image for interior use via a network, the designated genre that matches the user's preference according to the contract contents of the distribution service use contract. Can be provided at regular intervals of a specified time.
In addition, as an application of the second aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a method of distributing the image and also provides a recording medium in which a program code for causing a computer to execute each of the above-described functions is recorded.

[0008] The invention described in claim 8 (third invention) is characterized in that:
What is claimed is: 1. An image distribution system comprising an image distribution apparatus for performing an image distribution service via a network, comprising: image storage means for storing and managing a plurality of interior images; And a distribution contract storage unit for storing and managing the images. When selecting interior images to be distributed to the respective contract users, when the simultaneous distribution of a plurality of images is specified as the contract contents, the number of contracts Select the image for the interior of the minute,
After the distribution to the designated terminal designated by the contract user, when the elapse of a predetermined time from the previous distribution is detected, the number of interior images corresponding to the number of contracts not distributed to the contract user is selected, and the designation is performed. Image distributing means for repeating a distributing operation for distributing to a terminal. Therefore, in the invention according to claim 8, a plurality of interior images separately displayed corresponding to a plurality of display devices on the user side are simultaneously distributed in accordance with the contract contents for which the distribution service use contract has been made. It is possible to provide an image distribution system capable of periodically distributing only fresh images that have not been distributed in the past at specified time intervals. Further, as an application invention to the third invention, while providing an image distribution method thereof,
There is provided a recording medium in which a program code for executing each of the above functions is recorded.

The invention according to claim 10 (fourth invention)
Is an image display control terminal on the service user side connected to an image distribution system that provides a service for distributing images via a public network and connected to a plurality of display devices via an indoor network. Receiving means for receiving a plurality of interior images distributed according to a usage contract for an image distribution service, and designating a transfer destination for each interior image received by the receiving means, Image transfer means for transferring a corresponding interior image to the display device. Therefore, in the invention according to claim 4, a plurality of interior images distributed according to the contract content of the distribution service use contract are separately displayed corresponding to the plurality of display devices on the user side. An image display control terminal capable of being provided can be provided. Further, as an application invention to the fourth invention, a recording medium in which a program code for causing a computer to execute each of the above-described functions is provided.

[0010] The fourth invention may be as follows. (1) Each time an interior image corresponding to the plurality of display devices is transferred, identification information storage means for storing and managing the transferred image identification information in association with the transfer destination; When a display request is received from any of the above, by searching the identification information storage means, the interior image currently displayed on the display device of the request source is specified, and the image identification information is obtained. And transmitting the image identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring means to the image distribution system, wherein the interior image or the image-related information that has not been distributed to the requesting display device is transmitted to the display device. When the image is distributed from the image distribution system, the undelivered interior image or image-related information is transferred to the requesting display device. (2) The interior image is a moving image file capable of reproducing a moving image. When the moving image file is distributed, the moving image file is reproduced as a moving image and transferred to the display device. .

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. This embodiment specifically shows the first and second inventions described above. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the image distribution system according to this embodiment. This image distribution system provides an image distribution service that distributes highly-interesting interior images such as photographic images for wallpapers, screen saver images of computer terminals, landscape images and painting images displayed on a wall-mounted television. By developing such a service business on a nationwide scale, a wide-area communication system (image distribution system) that can be used by anyone by using the Internet is constructed.

The image distribution system stores and manages the contract contents for each contract user who has made a contract for using the image distribution service, and selects each interior image according to the contract contents via the Internet. At the same time, each selected interior image is sequentially delivered to the designated terminal designated by each contracted user. In this case, the image distribution is usually paid, but in this embodiment, the sponsor image is added to the interior image and distributed, and when the image with the advertisement is distributed, the image is replaced by the user. The advertiser pays for the usage. In other words, when the contracted user receives the distribution of the interior image with the advertisement, the contracted user does not charge the user for the distribution fee, but provides a service that is provided free of charge.

An image distribution apparatus (image distribution system server) 1 of a service company that provides an image distribution service includes:
A home-use image display control device (home server) 2 of a user using the distribution service is connected via a network (Internet) 3. The home server 2 includes electronic devices 4 having various display functions, such as computer terminals and wall-mounted televisions, which are arranged in the home (hereinafter, referred to as home terminals).
Window devices A, B, and C) are connected via the indoor network 5, and the home server 2 refers to the contents of the window management table 6 for managing the current display contents of the window devices A, B, and C. Then, display control for each of the window devices A, B, and C is performed. In this case, the image distribution system server 1 compresses and transmits the image data, and the home server 2 decompresses the compressed data and transfers it to each window device. In other words, when the interior image is a moving image file capable of reproducing a moving image, the home server 2 reproduces the moving image file as a moving image when the moving image file is distributed, and the window device To be transferred to

When sequentially distributing interior images, the image distribution system server 1 transmits fresh interior images that have not been distributed in the past for each window device for a certain time interval in accordance with the contract content of the distribution service usage contract. One is selected every time (for example, every day), and is regularly distributed to the home server 2. In other words, simultaneously distribute a plurality of interior images that are displayed separately corresponding to a plurality of window devices on the contract user side, and periodically distribute only fresh images that have not been distributed in the past at specified time intervals. I am trying to do it. In this case, in the state of the contract distribution in which the interior image for each window is periodically distributed according to the contract content, the system server 1 receives an interrupt request from any of the window devices on the contract user side. In addition to the periodic contract delivery, an interrupt process according to the request is executed, and data according to the request content is transmitted to the requesting window device. When receiving the interior images for the number of window devices, the home server 2 allocates and displays the interior images to the corresponding window devices.
A live broadcast camera device 7 is connected to the image distribution system server 1 via the network 3.
When the interior image is, for example, a landscape image, the live broadcast camera device 7 captures the scene of the landscape,
This is transmitted to the image distribution system server 1, and when a user requests viewing of the raw video of the scenery, the system server 1 transfers the raw video to the home server 2 of the request source.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show various file groups provided on the system server 1 side. FIG. 2A shows a background image file group 11, FIG. 2B shows an image sample file group 12, and FIG. ) Indicates the advertisement image file group 13, and (D) indicates
The advertisement related information file group 14, (E) shows the contents of the image related information file group 15. The background image file group 11 stores various interior images in one file / one image format corresponding to image numbers. Each interior image is a still image or a moving image, and is suitable as an interior image. It is a high quality image. The contents of the background image file group 11 can be freely added or changed in consideration of fashionability or the like.

The image sample file group 12 is associated with the contents of the background image file group 11, and outlines of each interior image and sample images as a part thereof are stored in association with image numbers. I have. This sample image is information that is read out when guiding the user as an image selection candidate instead of the corresponding interior image. The advertisement image file group 13 stores an advertisement image added to the interior image and distributed, and stores various advertisement images in one-file / one-image format corresponding to the advertisement number. The advertisement image is provided in advance by the advertiser. The advertisement image is received via the Internet and registered in the advertisement image file group 13.

The advertisement-related information file group 14 stores the advertisement-related information corresponding to each advertisement in the advertisement image file group 13, and includes, for example, various types of advertisement products and service contents for explaining in detail. The guidance information is stored corresponding to the advertisement number. The image-related information file group 15 stores the image-related information corresponding to each image in the background image file group 11. For example, when the interior image is a landscape or a painting, the location or the history of the landscape In addition, guidance information for guiding sightseeing information and for guiding a creator and a price is stored in correspondence with the image number.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show various databases and tables provided on the system server 1 side. FIG. 3A shows the contract database 16 and FIG.
Indicates a genre table 17, FIG. 4A shows a distribution history table 18, and FIG. The contract database 16 stores and manages personal information together with the contract contents for each contract user who has made a contract to use the image distribution service. The record has the following items.

That is, the items indicating the contract contents include:
An item of “user ID” which is identification information unique to the contract user, and an item of “distribution course” arbitrarily designated by the user among usage modes of the image distribution service (free course with advertisement and paid course of non-advertisement) And an item of “number of distributions” indicating the number of window devices to which images are to be distributed, and “image genre 1”, “image genre 2”, and “image genre 3” indicating types of images designated as desired for distribution by window device And, when each interior image belonging to the designated image genre is designated one by one for each window device and sequentially distributed, each item of "distribution time interval" indicating the distribution timing is provided. Items indicating personal information include “user name”, “address”, “telephone number”,
It has items such as "bank account".

The genre table 17 is a table for storing and managing a background image group and an advertisement image group by genre according to their types. For each genre, a "background image number" indicating each background image belonging to the genre and each advertisement image are stored. Is stored. The distribution history table 18 stores and manages a distribution history of images distributed up to the present time for each contracted user, and for each “user ID” of the distribution destination of the image, each image number indicating a distributed interior image group. And each advertisement number indicating a distributed advertisement group.
The preference database 19 registers and manages a desired image (favorite image) when a user who is interested in the distributed image desires to redistribute the image.
The configuration is such that a plurality of “image numbers” of favorite images can be stored in correspondence with “D”.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of the window management table 6 provided on the home server 2 side. The window management table 6 manages the current display information displayed on each window device. In this configuration, the “window device name”, “window ID”, “image number”, and “advertisement number” are stored. The "image number" and "advertisement number" are the background image currently displayed,
9 shows an advertisement image. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a display screen on the window device side, and shows a display example when an advertisement is added to a background image. Here, when the "menu" displayed in the left corner of this screen is clicked,
A user request menu as shown in FIG. 6B is displayed. On this request menu screen, eight types of menu items are displayed. When any of the menu items is specified by the user on the window device side, the home server 2 transmits a request for the specified menu item to the system server 1. I do.

The eight types of menu items displayed in the above-mentioned request menu screen are "1: advertisement menu",
“2: Image menu”, “3: Image switching”, “4: Image selection”, “5: Advertisement selection”, “6: Favorite registration”, “7:
The details of “favorite distribution” and “8: live video” will be described later, and the processing contents of each menu item will be briefly described here. The item of “advertisement menu” is a processing menu item for requesting transmission of an advertisement menu, and the system server 1 creates and transmits, as an advertisement menu, a list of advertisements of the same genre as the advertisement distributed to the request source. Like that. The item of “image menu” is a processing menu item for requesting distribution of an image belonging to an arbitrary genre. After transmitting a list of genres, when the user selects a desired genre, the system server 1 selects the selected genre. Are transmitted as a selection candidate of a plurality of sample images belonging to.

The item "image switching" is a processing menu item for requesting distribution of another image belonging to the same genre as the distributed image. In other words, this is a menu item of the switching display process for jumping to another image and requesting switching display when the currently displayed image becomes tired. The item of “image selection” is a processing menu item for requesting related information of the distributed image when the user is interested in the distributed image. The item of “advertisement selection” is a processing menu item for requesting related information of the delivered advertisement when the user is interested in the delivered advertisement. The item of “favorite registration” is a menu item of a registration process for requesting registration of an image when the user is interested in the distributed image in order to request subsequent redistribution. The item of “favorite distribution” is a menu item of a re-distribution process for requesting re-distribution of the registered image. The item of "live video"
This is a processing menu item for requesting delivery of a live video image of the site of the image when the user is interested in the delivered image.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the system server 1. Since the components of the home server 2 are basically the same as those of the system server 1, the description thereof will be omitted. The CPU 101 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the system server 1 according to an operating system and various application software in the storage device 102. The storage device 102 includes, in addition to the operating system and various application software, the above-described background image file group 11, image sample file group 12, advertisement image file group 13, advertisement-related information file group 14, image-related information file group 15, contract database. 16, a genre-specific table 17, a distribution history table 18, and a preference database 19, and have a recording medium 103 composed of a magnetic, optical, semiconductor memory or the like, and a drive system therefor. The recording medium 103 is a fixed medium such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM, a floppy disk,
It is a portable medium such as an AM card and a magnetic card. The programs and data in the recording medium 103 are loaded into a RAM (for example, a static RAM) 104 under the control of the CPU 1 as necessary,
Is saved in the recording medium 103. Further, the recording medium may be provided on an external device side such as a server, and the CPU 101 can directly access and use the program / data in the recording medium via a transmission medium.

The CPU 101 can also take in some or all of the data stored in the recording medium 103 from another device via a transmission medium, and newly or additionally register the data in the recording medium 103. Further, the program / data may be stored and managed on the external device side such as a server, and the CPU 101 can directly access and use the program / data on the external device side via a transmission medium. On the other hand, a transmission control unit 105, an input unit 106, and a display unit 107, which are input / output peripheral devices, are connected to the CPU 101 via a bus line, and the CPU 101 controls the operations according to an input / output program.

Next, the operation of the image distribution system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, in the system server 1, a program for realizing each function described in these flowcharts is stored in a recording medium 103 in the form of a readable program code.
01 sequentially executes the operation according to the program code. Further, the CPU 101 can also sequentially execute the operation according to the above-described program code transmitted via the transmission medium. That is, an operation specific to this embodiment can be executed using a program / data externally supplied via a transmission medium in addition to a recording medium. Note that the same applies to the home server 2.

FIGS. 8 to 14 are flowcharts showing operations on the home server 2 side, and FIGS. 15 to 21 are flowcharts showing operations on the system server 1 side. FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing an initial setting process executed at the time of contract for using the image distribution service on the home server 2 side. First, the user who uses the image distribution service inputs and sets the identification information (window ID) corresponding to each of the window devices A, B, and C, which are the electronic devices with display functions 4 installed at home. (Step A1). After requesting a contract access to the system server 1 via the network 3 in order to instruct a contract to use the image distribution service (step A).
2) In response to this, when a contract page for contract application is transmitted from the system server 1, it is received and displayed (step A3). The necessary items (contract contents and user information) are input and returned in the contract page screen (steps A4 and A5).

FIG. 22 shows this contract page screen, in which "A: contract course", "B: image genre", "C: distribution time interval", and "D: user information" are displayed. It has each input area. In “A: contract course”, menu items of “1: paid course (without advertisement)” and “2: free course (with advertisement)” are displayed as guidance, and the user selects and specifies a desired contract course. In “B: image genre”, an input area of “number of distributions” indicating the number of window devices to be distributed, and “first genre” and “2” displayed according to the number of distributions set in the input area. The user has input areas of “genre of third machine” and “third genre of car” ‥‥, and if there is a type of image desired to be delivered for each window device to be delivered, the corresponding input area Enter the genre name in. "C: Delivery time interval"
For example, a desired image distribution interval such as one day or one week is input. In “D: User information”, user information of “name”, “address”, “telephone number”, and “bank account” is input.

At the time of this use contract, the system server 1 responds to the contract access from the home server 2 and
The execution of the flowchart of FIG. 15 is started. First, after transmitting the above-mentioned contract page to the home server 2 which has made the request (step B1), the system server 1 receives the contract contents returned in response thereto (step B2).
In order to register the user who has applied for use as a new member, a user ID is generated (step B3). And
A contract record of the new user is generated based on the generated user ID and the received contract content, and registered in the contract database 16 (step B4).

When the user who has become a new member powers on the window device at home after the contract, the home server 2 starts executing the operation according to the flowchart of FIG. First, the home server 2
An image distribution request is made to the system server 1 (step A11). Then, the system server 1 starts execution of the flowchart of FIG. 15 in response to the distribution access, acquires the “phone number” of the request source from the distribution request (step B5), and also acquires the “telephone number”. The contract database 16 is searched based on the above, and the contract record of the corresponding user is read (step B6).

Then, an item of "first genre" is designated from this record, the item data is read out (step B7 in FIG. 16), and it is checked whether a genre name is set in the designated item (step B7). If no genre name has been set (step B8), a genre is selected at random (step B9), and the process proceeds to a process of searching the genre-specific table 17 based on the selected genre (step B10). If it has been set, the process proceeds to a process of searching the genre-specific table 17 based on the set genre (step B10). In this case, each image number in the genre-specific table 17 corresponding to the genre is designated, and an image number which has not been distributed to the user in the past is selected from the image numbers. That is, the image numbers in the genre-specific table 17 corresponding to this genre are read out one by one, and the image numbers read from the genre-specific table 17 are referred to in the distribution history table 18 by referring to the user-specific image numbers in the distribution history table 18. It is determined whether or not it is recorded in the table.
, And then repeats the above operation until an image number not recorded in the distribution history table 18 is searched. As a result, it is possible to select an image number that has not been distributed in the past to the user.

Next, the system server 1 acquires the contents of the item “distribution course” from the contract record and determines whether a free course with an advertisement is set (step B1).
1) If a course with an advertisement has been set, an advertisement number that has not been delivered to the user in the past is selected from the advertisement numbers corresponding to the genre (step B12). In this case as well, the advertisement numbers in the genre-specific table 17 corresponding to this genre are read out one by one, and the user-specific advertisement numbers in the distribution history table 18 are read out from the genre-specific table 17 in the same manner as described above. It is determined whether or not the advertisement number that has been recorded is recorded in the distribution history table 18.
, And the above operation is repeated until an advertisement number not recorded in the distribution history table 18 is searched. As a result, it is possible to select an advertisement number that has not been delivered in the past to the user.

Then, the item data of "number of distributions" is obtained from the contract record, and it is determined whether or not designation is made for a plurality of units (step B13). (Step B14). Now that the selection process for the first window device has been completed, the second set genre is read from the contract record (step B15), and thereafter, the above-described background image number and advertisement number selection processes are repeated. (Steps B8 to B1
5). When the background image number / advertisement number selection processing for all the vehicles is completed, the process proceeds to step B16, where the background image file group 11 is searched based on the selected image numbers, and the corresponding background image data is read out and selected. The advertisement image file group 13 is searched based on the respective advertisement numbers, and the corresponding advertisement image data is read out. The advertisement image data is transmitted to the requesting home server 2 together with the background image data, including the background image number and the advertisement number. Send. That is, the system server 1 transmits the background image data and the image number thereof together with the window ID for each window device. In this case, if the course with the advertisement is specified, the advertisement image data, the advertisement The information is transmitted by window device including the number.

Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the line has been disconnected from the request source (step B17). In this case, when the user disconnects the line, the processing according to the access from the user ends at this point. However, while the line is connected, a processing request from the home server 2 is accepted ( (Step B18), the “delivery time interval” is read from the contract record, and it is checked whether the set interval has elapsed (Step B19). In this case, when a processing request from the user is detected, the processing shifts to a processing corresponding to the request (FIG. 1).
7 to 12). Note that the elapse of the “delivery time interval” is detected by comparing the measurement time of the timer for each user (not shown), which was cleared when the image was distributed last time, with the “delivery time interval” in the contract record. Done. If it is detected that the set time has elapsed since the last image distribution, the process returns to step B7, and the above operation is repeated to perform the image distribution process (steps B7 to B16). In this case, if the “delivery time interval” is, for example, one week, the image distribution processing for the user is performed periodically every week, and the distribution image of this week includes the background image distributed last week, An image and an advertisement different from the advertisement are delivered. That is, images and advertisements that belong to the same genre but have not been distributed in the past are selected and distributed.

On the other hand, when the home server 2 receives background image data, advertisement image data, and the like transmitted from the system server 1 (step A12 in FIG. 9),
From among the received distribution data for each window device, one of the window devices is designated, and its background image number,
After extracting the advertisement number, the window management table 6 is accessed and its background image number and advertisement number are set in the window management table 6 (step A13).
Then, the received background image data is transferred to the corresponding designated window device for display and output (step A).
14) It is determined whether or not an advertisement image is added to the background image (step A15). If there is an advertisement, the advertisement image data is transferred to the designated window device and combined and displayed in the background image (step A16). ). Such a window display process is repeated for all the windows while sequentially specifying each window device (steps A12 to A17).

When such a window display process is completed, the home server 2 monitors whether a menu instruction has been issued from any of the window devices (step A18). When the menu instruction is detected, the home server 2 performs a process corresponding to the request. (Steps in FIGS. 10 to 14). Also, it is monitored whether there is an image distribution from the system server 1 (step A1).
9) If an image has been delivered, the above-described window display processing (steps A12 to A17) is repeated. Also, it monitors whether or not the active window device is powered off (step A20). If the power is turned off, the line connection with the system server 1 is cut off (step A21). Is completed at this point.

Here, when there is a menu instruction from any of the window devices (step A18),
When the “menu” button on the window screen is operated, when the home server 2 receives the menu instruction from the window device, the home server 2 proceeds to the flow of FIG. 10 and acquires the window ID corresponding to the requesting window device and (Step A31), a user request menu screen as shown in FIG. 6B is transmitted to the request source window device and displayed (Step A3).
2). Here, when any menu item is selected and designated from this menu screen on the requesting window device side, the home server 2 determines the selected processing content (step A33). When the item of "1: advertisement menu" is designated, the window management table 6 is accessed to acquire the advertisement number corresponding to the requesting window device (step A34). The number is transmitted to the system server 1 (step A35).

When the system server 1 receives the request from the home server 2 (step B in FIG. 16)
18) The process proceeds to the flow of FIG. 17 to determine the content of the request (step B21). Since the advertisement menu request has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step B22, where the request is transmitted together with the advertisement menu request. The advertisement number received is received, the genre table 17 is accessed based on the advertisement number, and the genre corresponding to the advertisement number is specified (step B23). Then, all the advertisement numbers corresponding to the genre are read, the advertisement image file group 13 is accessed, and all the corresponding advertisement images are obtained (step B24). A list of the obtained advertisement images is created as an advertisement menu page and transmitted to the requesting home server 2 (step B25).

Upon receiving the advertisement menu page (step A36 in FIG. 10), the home server 2 transfers the advertisement menu page to the requesting window device to display and output (step A37), and waits for menu selection. (Step A38). Here, when one of the advertisements is selected and designated on the window device side, the selected advertisement number is received and transmitted to the system server 1 (step A39). Then, the system server 1 receives the advertisement number from the home server 2 (step B2 in FIG. 17).
6) Based on the advertisement number, the corresponding advertisement related information file group 14 is searched, the related information corresponding to the advertisement number is read out (step B27), an advertisement information page is created, and transmitted to the home server 2 that has made the request. (Step B28).
Thereafter, the process returns to step B18 in FIG. When the home server 2 receives the related information page corresponding to the advertisement number (step A40), the home server 2 transfers the related information page to the requesting window device for display and output (step A41). Thereafter, the process returns to step A18 in FIG.

When the item "2: image menu" in the request menu screen is designated on the window device side, the home server 2 transmits an image menu request to the system server 1 (see FIG. 11). Step A4
2). Upon receiving the image menu request, the system server 1 transmits a genre menu page showing a list of image genres to the requesting home server 2 (step B29 in FIG. 18). Then, the home server 2 receives the genre menu page (step A43), transmits the genre menu page to the requesting window device to display and output (step A44), and waits for genre selection (step A).
45). In this state, if any genre is selected and designated on the window device side, the selected genre is received and transferred to the system server 1 (step A4).
6).

Upon receiving the selected genre (step B30), the system server 1 searches the genre-specific table 17 based on the genre to obtain a corresponding image number group, and obtains an image sample based on the image number group. Each sample image is obtained by searching the file group 12 (step B31). Then, a list of these sample images is created as an image menu page, and transmitted to the home server 2 that has made the request (step B32). Home server 2 receives the image menu page (step A4).
7) After transferring the image menu page to the requesting window device for display and output (step A48), the process waits for image selection (step A49).

In this state, when any image is selected and designated on the window device side, the selected image number is received and transmitted to the system server 1 (step A5).
0). Then, the system server 1 receives the selected image number (step B33), searches the background image file group 11 based on the selected image number, and reads out the corresponding background image data (step B34). Then, it is determined whether the course with the advertisement is selected (step B3).
5) If the course with the advertisement is specified, the genre-specific table 17 is searched based on the selected genre, an advertisement number that has not been selected in the past is selected, and the advertisement image data corresponding to the advertisement number is advertised. Reading is performed from the image file group 13 (step B36). Then, the read background image data and its image number, and the advertisement image data and its advertisement number are transmitted to the requesting home server 2 (step B37). Thereafter, the process returns to step B18 in FIG.

The home server 2 receives the data distributed from the system server 1 (step A5).
1), extract the image number and advertisement number from the distribution content,
Corresponding to the requesting window device, this image number,
The advertisement number is set in the window management table 6 (step A52). Then, after the received background image data is transferred to the requesting window device for display and output (step A53), if the advertisement image data is also received (step A54), the advertisement image data is transmitted to the requesting window device. The image is transferred to the device and is additionally displayed on the background image (step A55). Thereafter, step A18 in FIG.
Return to

In the user request menu screen, "3:
When the item “image switching” is designated, the home server 2
Searches the window management table 6 based on the requesting window device, acquires the image number corresponding to the window (step A56 in FIG. 12), and transmits the acquired image number together with the image switching request to the system server 1. (Step A57). When receiving the image switching request, the system server 1 receives the image number from the image switching request (step B38 in FIG. 19), searches the genre-specific table 17 based on the image number, and specifies the corresponding genre. (Step B39), the next image number is designated from the image number group within the specific genre (Step B4).
0). Then, the process proceeds to the image reading and distribution processing similar to the above (steps B34 to B37), and the background image corresponding to the image number is read, and if the course is with advertisement, the advertisement image data is read and distributed. In this case, the home server 2 also shifts to the same image display processing as described above (steps A51 to A55), performs the setting processing on the window management table 6, and then executes the background image display processing and the advertisement image display processing. I do.

In the user request menu screen, "4:
When the item of “image selection” is specified, the home server 2
Searches the window management table 6 based on the requesting window device, acquires an image number corresponding to the window (step A58 in FIG. 12), and transmits the acquired image number to the system server 1 together with an image selection request. (Step A59). When receiving the image selection request, the system server 1 receives the image number from the request (step B41), searches the image related information file group 15 based on the image number, and reads out the relevant information (step B41). B42), an image information page is created and transmitted to the requesting home server 2 (step B43). In this case, the home server 2 shifts to the same processing as when the above-mentioned advertisement information page is received, and upon receiving the image information page (step A40 in FIG. 10), transfers it to the requesting window device. Display and output (step A4
1).

In the user request menu screen, “5:
If the "Advertisement selection" item is specified, the home server 2
Searches the window management table 6 based on the requesting window device, acquires the advertisement number corresponding to the window (step A61 in FIG. 13), and transmits the acquired advertisement number to the system server 1 together with the advertisement selection request. (Step A62). Upon receiving the advertisement number (Step B51 in FIG. 20), the home server 2 proceeds to the same processing as described above (Steps B27 and B28 in FIG. 17), reads out the relevant information corresponding to the advertisement number, and creates an information page. To send. In this case, upon receiving the advertisement information page (Step A40 in FIG. 10), the home server 2 transfers the advertisement information page to the requesting window device to display and output (Step A41).

In the user request menu screen, “6:
When the item of “preference registration” is specified, the home server 2
Searches the window management table 6 based on the requesting window device, acquires an image number corresponding to the window (step A63 in FIG. 13), and transmits the acquired image number to the system server 1 together with a preference registration request. (Step A64). Upon receiving the image number (step B52 in FIG. 20), the home server 2 searches the contract database 16 based on the telephone number of the requesting user to obtain a corresponding user ID, and obtains the user ID.
The received image number is registered in the preference database 19 in association with D (step B53).

After the preference registration, if the item “7: Preference distribution” in the user request menu screen is designated, the home server 2 transmits a preference distribution request to the system server 1 (FIG. 13). Step A65). Then, the system server 1 searches the contract database 16 based on the telephone number of the requesting user to obtain a corresponding user ID, and searches the preference database 19 based on the user ID to search for the corresponding image. The number is read (step B54). Then, the image sample file group 12 is accessed based on the image numbers to obtain a sample image group (step B55). And
The process proceeds to a process similar to the above (step B32 in FIG. 18),
An image menu page showing a list of sample image groups is created and transmitted. Upon receiving the image menu page (step A66 in FIG. 13), the home server 2 proceeds to the same processing as described above (step A48 in FIG. 11), performs image menu page display processing, and then performs image selection processing and selection image display. Processing is performed (steps A49 to A55).
In this case, the system server 1 executes an image readout process, a transmission process, and the like in response thereto (steps B33 to B37 in FIG. 18).

In the user request menu screen, "8:
When the item “live video” is specified, the home server 2
The window management table 6 is searched based on the requesting window device, and an image number corresponding to the window is obtained (step A67 in FIG. 14), and the obtained image number is transmitted to the system server 1 together with the raw video request (step A67). A68). Upon receiving the image number (step B56 in FIG. 21), the system server 1 accesses the live broadcast camera device 7 associated with the image number via the network 3 and instructs to start shooting. The camera image is acquired (step B57), and the acquired camera image is transmitted in real time to the requesting home server 2 as a live broadcast image (step B58). Thereafter, the presence or absence of a line disconnection from the requesting home server 2 is monitored (step B59), the termination request is monitored (step B60), and the process returns to step B57 until a line disconnection or termination request is detected, and live relay is performed. Continue transmitting video. Here, when the line disconnection is detected, the processing is terminated at this point, and when the termination request is received, the process returns to step B18 in FIG.

Upon receiving the live broadcast image (step A69 in FIG. 14), the home server 2 transfers the live broadcast image to the requesting window device for display and output (step A70). Thereafter, the home server 2 monitors the power off from the window device (step A7).
1) The presence or absence of operation of a return button (not shown) is monitored (step A73), and when power-off is detected, the connection with the system server 1 is disconnected and the process ends (step A72). If the return button has been operated, an end request is transmitted to the system server 1 (step A77).

As described above, in this embodiment, the system server 1 stores and manages the contents of the contract for each contract user who has made the use contract of the distribution service, and selects from the background image file group 11 for each contract user. When each interior image is sequentially selected and automatically distributed to the home server 2, interior images that have not been distributed in the past are preferentially distributed. When delivering over a network,
Only the images that have not been distributed in the past are sequentially distributed according to the contract user's preference according to the contents of the contract for using the distribution service, so the distributed images are distributed in tabs Can be prevented, and the contracted user can always enjoy a fresh interior image without getting tired.

As a contract content for each contract user who has made a contract to use the distribution service, it is possible to make a contract as to whether or not an image genre is specified as desired. It is possible to enjoy interior images in the designated genre that suits the user's taste. If the image genre is not specified, the user can enjoy a wide variety of interior images regardless of the genre. If you are interested in the delivered interior image, you only need to request registration of the image, and the image for the interior is registered and saved.After that, you can always request re-delivery of this registered image. You can enjoy your favorite images many times. In addition, if you are interested in a delivered interior image, request a live video of the location where the image was taken, and the live video will be delivered immediately, so you can enjoy another way of enjoying beyond the interior Can be obtained.

Further, only the interior images belonging to the designated genre are regularly distributed at designated time intervals in accordance with the contract contents for which the distribution service use contract has been made. , The image for the interior that matches the preference of the contract user is periodically changed and displayed, so that the user can receive a desired delivery service without getting tired.

In addition, according to the contents of the contract for using the distribution service, a plurality of interior images separately displayed corresponding to the plurality of window devices of the contract user are simultaneously distributed and distributed in the past. Since only fresh images that have not been used are regularly distributed at specified time intervals, a plurality of interior images can be enjoyed simultaneously without getting tired.

On the other hand, the home server 2 receives a plurality of interior images distributed from the system server 1 in accordance with the contract contents for which the distribution service was used, and a plurality of window devices on the contract user side. Are displayed separately in accordance with the image, so that a plurality of interior images can be enjoyed simultaneously without getting tired. in this case,
The home server 2 detects the request from the window device, specifies the currently displayed image to the request source, transmits the content of the request to the system server 1, and transmits the undelivered request transmitted from the system server 1. Since the interior image or the image-related information is transferred from the request source, display control according to the request from the window device can be performed. In addition, when an interior image, which is a moving image file capable of reproducing a moving image, is delivered, the home server 2 reproduces the moving image file as a moving image and transfers the moving image file to the window device. Even a window device without a moving image reproduction function can enjoy moving images.

In addition, since a sponsor advertisement is added to each delivered interior image and transmitted, the contracted user is provided with a high quality interior image that should be paid content for free. You can enjoy. In the case of an advertiser, since the advertisement is for a background image, the advertisement effect is extremely high, and an increase in advertisement requests can be expected. Further, when adding a sponsor advertisement to each interior image selected by image genre corresponding to the contract user, an advertisement belonging to the same advertisement genre as the image genre is extracted and added. Effective advertisements can be made to users who are interested in images. Further, when an image change request is received from the window device, another interior image corresponding to the request content is acquired and distributed, so that other images other than the distributed image are immediately obtained. The related information corresponding to the interior image is acquired and transmitted to the requester, so when the user is interested in the distribution image, the detailed information can be immediately obtained. .

In the above-described embodiment, at the time of using the distribution service, the contract contents are transmitted from the home server 2 to the system server 1 via the Internet. May be sent by mail or facsimile. In the above-described embodiment, when the system server 1 distributes the interior image to the home server 2, the home server 2 transmits the received interior image to each of the window devices A, B, and C via the indoor network 5. Although the transfer is performed, the system server 1 may directly distribute the interior image to the mobile phone terminal via the mobile communication system network. That is, the image for interior may be an image for a standby screen of a mobile phone terminal.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of interior images which are separately displayed corresponding to a plurality of window devices on the contract user side are periodically distributed at a time interval designated by the user. The time interval may be specified for each window device. That is, the distribution time interval may be specified differently for each window device.

The interior image is not limited to a landscape image or a painting image, but may be a person image. For example, a contract user may register a family photograph in the system server 1 in advance and set the contract user When periodically distributing various interior images for a family, the family photo may be distributed as a part of the interior image. That is, the image for the interior to be distributed is not limited to the one prepared by the service provider, and the image provided by the user may be occasionally distributed. Further, a composite image obtained by combining the image provided by the user with the interior image prepared by the service provider may be sequentially delivered as the interior image for the contract user.

[0060]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when distributing a highly hobby interior image via a network, the user agrees with the contents of the distribution service contract and agrees with the user's preference. Only fresh images that have not been distributed in the past can be sequentially distributed, and distributed images can be prevented from being distributed in tabs. Images can be enjoyed. According to the second invention, when distributing a highly interesting interior image via a network, an image belonging to a specified genre that matches the user's preference according to the contract contents for which the distribution service use contract has been made. Can be periodically delivered at specified time intervals, and interior images that match the contract user's preference are periodically changed and displayed on each display device of the contract user, and they get tired. , And can receive a distribution service as desired. According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously distribute a plurality of interior images displayed separately corresponding to a plurality of display devices on the user side, in accordance with the contract contents for which a distribution service use contract has been made. In addition, only fresh images that have not been distributed in the past can be periodically distributed at specified time intervals, and a plurality of interior images can be enjoyed simultaneously without getting tired. According to the fourth invention, a plurality of interior images distributed according to the contents of the contract for using the distribution service can be separately displayed corresponding to the plurality of display devices on the user side. An image display control terminal can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image distribution system.

FIG. 2 (A) is a background image file group 11, (B)
Is an image sample file group 12, (C) is an advertisement image file group 13, and (D) is an advertisement related information file group 1.
4, (E) is a diagram showing the contents of the image-related information file group 15.

FIG. 3A is a contract database 16, and FIG.
The figure which showed the content of the table 17 according to genre.

FIG. 4A is a distribution history table 18, and FIG.
The figure which showed the content of the preference database 19.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of a window management table 6 provided on the home server 2 side.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a display screen on the window device side, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a user request menu screen.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the system server 1.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an initial setting process executed at the time of contract for using the image distribution service on the home server 2 side.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the home server 2 which is started when the window device at home is powered on.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the home server 2 subsequent to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the home server 2 subsequent to FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the home server 2 subsequent to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the home server 2 subsequent to FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the home server 2 subsequent to FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation started by the system server 1 when a contract access or distribution access from the home server 2 is performed.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system server 1 subsequent to FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system server 1 subsequent to FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system server 1 subsequent to FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system server 1 subsequent to FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system server 1 subsequent to FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system server 1 following FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a contract page screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 system server 2 home server 3 network 4 electronic device with display function (window device) 5 indoor network 6 window management table 7 camera device for live broadcast 11 background image file group 12 image sample file group 13 advertisement image file group 14 advertisement Related information file group 15 Image related information file group 16 Contract database 17 Genre-specific table 18 Distribution history table 19 Favorite database 101 CPU 102 Storage device 103 Recording medium 105 Transmission control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/30 340 G06F 17/30 340B

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An image distribution system comprising an image distribution device for performing an image distribution service via a network, wherein the image distribution means stores and manages a plurality of interior images, and a use contract for the distribution service is made. Distribution history storage for storing and managing the distribution history of the distributed interior image for each contract user when selecting the interior image to be distributed to each contract user and distributing it to the designated terminal designated by each contract user. Means for sequentially distributing the interior images to the respective contract users, referring to the distribution history storage means, selecting interior images not selected in the past for each contract user, and And a distribution control means for distributing to a designated terminal designated by the user. 2. An image distribution method for distributing an image via a network, comprising selecting an interior image to be distributed to each contract user who has made a distribution service use contract, and allowing each contract user to select the interior image. When distributing to the designated terminal, the distribution history of the distributed interior image is stored and managed for each contract user, and when sequentially distributing the interior image to each contract user, the distribution history is referred to,
An image distribution method, wherein an interior image that has not been selected in the past is selected for each contract user and distributed to a designated terminal specified by each contract user. 3. Each of the interior images is classified and managed in association with an image genre indicating its type, and each interior image to be sequentially distributed to each of the contract users is selected and distributed. If the image genre is specified in the contract content, the interior image extracted from each interior image group belonging to the specified genre is delivered, and if the image genre is not specified in the contract content The image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein an arbitrary image genre is selected, and an interior image extracted from each interior image group belonging to the genre is distributed. Item 2. The image distribution method according to Item 2. 4. When a request for registration of an image is transmitted from the designated terminal which has received the distribution of the interior image via a network, the interior image is transmitted to the designated terminal in response to the request. The registered image corresponding to the designated terminal is stored and held as a corresponding registered image, and when a request for distribution of the registered image is received from the designated terminal, the registered image corresponding to the designated terminal is read and distributed to the requesting terminal. The image distribution system according to claim 1 or the image distribution method according to claim 2. 5. When a live video distribution request is transmitted via a network from the designated terminal to which the interior image has been distributed, the designated terminal is installed at a location where the distributed interior image is captured. 2. The image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the live broadcast video is acquired from the photographing device, and the live broadcast video acquired from the photographing device is distributed in real time to the requesting designated terminal. Alternatively, the image distribution method according to claim 2. 6. An image distribution system comprising an image distribution device for performing an image distribution service via a network, wherein a plurality of interior images are classified and stored and managed in association with an image genre indicating an image type. Image storage means, distribution contract storage means for storing and managing the contract contents for each contract user who has made a contract for using the distribution service, and for each interior to be sequentially distributed to each contract user in accordance with the contract contents. When selecting an image, an interior image corresponding to the genre is selected based on the image genre specified as the contract content, and the selected interior image is selected at the distribution time interval specified as the contract content. An image delivery system, comprising: delivery control means for delivering to the designated terminal. 7. An image distribution method for distributing an image via a network, the method comprising: when selecting interior images to be sequentially distributed to each contract user in accordance with the contract contents, the contract contents And selecting the interior image corresponding to the genre based on the image genre designated as, and distributing the selected interior image to the designated terminal at a distribution time interval designated as the contract content. An image distribution method characterized in that: 8. An image distribution system comprising an image distribution apparatus for performing an image distribution service via a network, wherein an image storage means for storing and managing a plurality of interior images and a distribution service use contract are made. A distribution contract storage unit for storing and managing contract contents for each contract user, and when selecting simultaneous distribution of a plurality of images as the contract contents when selecting an interior image to be distributed to each contract user, Selects the interior images for the number of contracts and distributes them to the designated terminal specified by the contract user. Image distribution means for repeating the distribution operation of selecting interior images for the number of contracts and distributing the selected images to the designated terminal. . 9. An image distribution method for distributing an image via a network, the method comprising: selecting an interior image to be distributed to each contract user who has made a distribution service use contract; If simultaneous delivery of multiple images is specified, the interior images for the number of contracts are selected, distributed to the specified terminal specified by the contract user, and the elapse of a predetermined time from the previous distribution is detected. In this case, a distribution operation of selecting interior images for the number of contracts not distributed to the contract user and distributing the selected images to the designated terminal is repeated. 10. An image display control terminal of a service user connected to an image distribution system for providing an image distribution service via a public network and connected to a plurality of display devices via an indoor network. And receiving means for receiving a plurality of interior images that have been distributed according to a usage contract for the image distribution service, and designating a transfer destination for each interior image received by the receiving means, An image display control terminal, comprising: image transfer means for transferring an interior image corresponding to the plurality of display devices. 11. Each time an interior image corresponding to a plurality of display devices is transferred, identification information storage means for storing and managing the transferred image identification information in association with the transfer destination, and the plurality of display devices. When a display request is received from any of them, by searching the identification information storage means, the interior image currently displayed on the display device of the request source is specified, and the image identification information is specified. And transmitting the image identification information acquired by the identification information acquiring means to the image distribution system, and not transmitting the interior image or the image-related image to the request source display device. When information is delivered from the image delivery system, transfer the undelivered interior image or image related information to the display device of the request source, Claim, characterized in that there was Unishi 1
0. An image display control terminal according to item 0. 12. The interior image is a moving image file from which a moving image can be reproduced. When the moving image file is distributed, the moving image file is reproduced as a moving image and transmitted to the display device. 11. The image display control terminal according to claim 10, wherein the transfer is performed. 13. A recording medium having a computer-readable program code, wherein an interior image to be distributed to each contract user who has made a distribution service use contract is selected, and each of said contract users is selected. A computer-readable program code for managing the distribution history of the distributed interior image for each contract user when the interior image is distributed to the designated designated terminal, and for sequentially distributing the interior image to each contract user. A computer-readable program code for referencing the distribution history, selecting an interior image that has not been selected in the past for each contract user, and distributing the interior image to a designated terminal designated by each contract user. Having a recording medium. 14. A recording medium having a computer readable program code, wherein the computer readable program code for managing contract contents for each contract user who has made a contract for using a distribution service, When selecting each interior image to be sequentially delivered to the contract user in accordance with the contract content, the interior image corresponding to the genre is selected based on the image genre designated as the contract content. A computer-readable program code for distributing the selected interior image to the specified terminal at a distribution time interval specified as the contract content. 15. A recording medium having a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code for managing contract contents for each contract user who has made a contract for using a distribution service, and each of the contracts When selecting an interior image to be delivered to the user, if simultaneous delivery of a plurality of images is specified as the contract content, select the interior images for the number of contracts and select the contracted user. After the distribution to the designated terminal specified, when the elapse of a predetermined time from the previous distribution is detected, the number of interior images corresponding to the number of undelivered contracts to the contract user is selected and distributed to the designated terminal. And a computer-readable program code for causing the distribution operation to be repeated. 16. A recording medium having a computer readable program code for receiving a plurality of interior images distributed via a public network according to a contract for using an image distribution service. A computer readable program code and a destination for each interior image received via the public network, and a destination for the interior image corresponding to a plurality of display devices via the indoor network. A recording medium comprising: a computer-readable program code;