JP2002185893A - Image information providing system and program recording medium for controlling the image information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image information providing system that stores image data photographed by digital cameras provided at scenic spots, outputs the data on request and collects touristry histories of a tourist and number of photographing times or the like. SOLUTION: An ID issue device 1 issues a recording medium storing and printing a use ID, an image capture device 3 acquires image data photographed by a digital camera 2, generates photographing information such as a photographing date and time, place or a camera identification number, and transmits image data, the use ID and photographing information to a data center 5. The data center 5 stores the received information. A printout device 4 photographically prints out image data extracted from the data center 5 by using the use ID. Furthermore, an output/delivery center 6 prints out image data whose output is requested, delivers a photograph 10 or transmits the image file to a user terminal 7. Furthermore, the data center 5 the touristry histories of a tourist center and number of photographing times or the like on the basis of the stored photographing information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data center for storing image data photographed by a digital image pickup device such as a digital camera installed at a predetermined place.
The present invention relates to a system that outputs image data in a photograph or file format in response to a request, and a recording medium that records a control program for realizing the system by a computer. Specifically, image data such as still images (photos) and moving images taken by a digital camera installed at a shooting spot such as a tourist spot or an amusement park are stored in a data center, and the image data is output upon request. The present invention relates to a system provided to a user and a recording medium storing a program for causing the computer to realize the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When taking a digital photograph at a tourist spot, an amusement park, or the like, a digital camera must be brought. Thereafter, the image data of the photographer himself can be printed on a paper medium by a computer, or sent to a photo lab. I brought my photo print.

[0003]

[0005] Visitors to sightseeing spots, amusement parks, and the like usually want to enjoy sightseeing and the like with as little luggage as possible. Therefore, it is convenient if a photograph can be taken at a sightseeing spot or the like without bringing a digital camera, and the necessary image data can be taken as a photo and taken home or delivered to a home or the like. However, conventionally, there has not been a system in which a digital camera is installed in advance at a photographing spot such as a sightseeing spot, and the photographed image data is developed and provided to tourists and the like.

[0004] In addition, persons involved in sightseeing spots find out which spots are popular among tourists and the like in sightseeing spots and amusement parks, or what routes tourists and the like travel through. I want to know if I am in the park. In the past, the number of visitors was counted using a hand or a number counter, and the degree of popularity of the place was determined based on the number of visitors. In general, it is considered that many people take pictures at particularly popular spots. Therefore, by knowing the number of times of shooting and the number of photographers for each shooting spot, it can be considered that it is possible to know how popular the spot is actually. However, there is no system that automatically totals the number of times a photograph is actually taken and the number of photographers.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a digital camera is provided in advance at a sightseeing spot or the like, and image data captured by a visitor user using the digital camera is provided. Is stored in the data center together with the identification information of the visitor and the photographing information such as the photographing place and time so that the image data requested by the user can be printed out or outputted at any time via a communication line or a dedicated line. In order to realize a system that provides users with photographs and obtains the total results of the tour history of the user's sightseeing spots and the number of times of photography from the identification information and photography information stored in the data center. Aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a system according to the present invention generates information for identifying use and issues usage information for issuing a recording medium on which the use identification information is recorded. Means for acquiring usage identification information from the recording medium, acquiring image information photographed by a digital image pickup device installed at a photographing place, and generating information relating to the place or date and time of the photographing; A data storage device management unit that writes the use identification information, the image information, and the shooting information obtained from the image capturing unit to the data storage device or reads the data from the data storage device; Output means for outputting the image information obtained from the means in a print or file format.

Specifically, the present system assigns information (use ID) for identifying use to a user,
Use ID issuing means for issuing a recording medium storing and printing the use ID, authenticating the use ID, acquiring image data photographed by a digital camera installed for each photographing spot at a sightseeing spot, Image capturing means for generating photographing information such as location or camera identification number and transmitting the use ID and photographing information to the data center together with the image data; and image data, use ID, photographing received via a communication line or a dedicated line. An image retrieval means for retrieving an image stored in the data storage unit upon request, an aggregation means for totalizing photographing information stored in the data storage unit, and an image extracted from the data storage unit Output means for outputting data in a file format or printing on photographic paper, etc., and the number of output times when outputting image information upon request Others were charged according to the amount of information output comprises settlement processing means for performing settlement with respect to the account specified from use identification information.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram in an application example of the system according to the present invention.

The system according to the present invention comprises an ID issuing device 1, a digital camera 2, an image capturing device 3, a print output device 4, a data center 5, and an output / delivery center 6.

Here, the tourist spot to which the present system is applied has three photographing spots a to c, and the digital camera 2
The image capturing device 3 is set for each photographing spot. The ID issuing device 1 and the print output device 4 are installed in one place in a tourist spot, for example, a central place such as a tourist information center in the tourist spot. The data center 5 is connected to the image capturing devices 3a to 3c, the print output device 4, and the output / delivery center 6 via a dedicated line or a communication line. output/
The delivery center 6 is connected to a user terminal 7 installed in a user's personal home, office, or the like via a communication line such as the Internet. The user terminal 7 can access the output / delivery center 6 via a communication interface such as an http protocol.

The outline of the processing of the present invention is as follows. 1) First, the magnetic card 8 is issued to the user by the ID issuing device 1 and the user carries the magnetic card 8. 2) At the photographing spots a to c, when the magnetic card 8 is authenticated by the image capturing device 3 and the usage ID is read, the digital camera 2 can be used. The user photographs the scenery or the like using the digital cameras 2a to 2c. The image capturing devices 3a to 3c transmit the image data of the photographed or moving image to the data center 5 via a dedicated line. 3) If the user wants to print out the photographed image data after photographing at the photographing spots a to c, the printout device 4 uses the print data stored in the magnetic card 8.
D is authenticated, the corresponding image data is fetched from the data center 5, and the image data is printed in an output format desired by the user. Thus, the user can bring back the photographed picture 10 without bringing the digital camera.

The user brings the magnetic card 8 home and accesses the output / delivery center 6 via the Internet by the user terminal 7 at home or the like to request output of image data. The output / delivery center 6 sends the file of the selected image data to the user terminal 7 or delivers the printed photo 10 to the user's home using a courier service or mail. At this time, the charging process and the payment process may be performed according to the number of output image data and the output format. As a result, the user can obtain a photograph or an image file taken at a desired time even after returning to home. [First Embodiment] FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a system for realizing the present invention in the first embodiment. Usage ID
The issuing device 1 includes a use ID assigning unit 11 and a use ID printing unit 1
2 is provided.

The use ID assigning section 11 issues a magnetic card 8 on which information for identifying use (use ID) is recorded, or reads or writes information recorded on the magnetic card 8. For example, a number or an alphabet is used as the usage ID. In the case of a number string, a random number is generated and a random number string is given so as not to be a continuous number. In addition, the use ID assigning unit 11 includes, in the use ID,
The validity period of the use ID that enables the use of the digital camera 2 may be set. For example, if the issue date is only one day,
The information on the period such as the validity period of several days is also recorded.

The use ID printing unit 12 displays the user ID
The use ID is printed on the surface of the magnetic card 8 so that the use ID given by the giving unit 11 can be visually recognized. Here, a magnetic card 8 that can be printed on the card surface is used, but the medium is not limited to a magnetic card as long as it can store information that can identify a user. In addition, even if the medium is not printable on the front side, the user recognizes the use ID assigned to the user by, for example, displaying the use ID read by inserting the medium in the ID issuing device 1 or the user terminal 7. Anything that can be done is acceptable.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the use ID assigning process. The usage ID issuing device 1 generates a random number using a known random number generation method (step S1), determines a time sequence generated using the random number as a usage ID (step S2), The use ID is recorded (step S3), the use ID is printed on the surface of the magnetic card 8 (step S4), and the use ID is transmitted to the data center 5 (step S5). In the data center 5, the usage ID is stored in the data storage unit. When the validity period of the use ID that enables the use of the digital camera 2 is set, the validity period is also recorded on the magnetic card 8 when the use ID is recorded.

The digital camera 2 and the image capturing device 3 are usually fixedly installed for each photographing spot.
One image capturing device 3 may be set to include a plurality of digital cameras 2.

The image capturing device 3 includes a use ID authentication unit 3
1, image acquisition unit 32, shooting information generation unit 33, transmission unit 34
Is provided.

When the use ID of the inserted magnetic card 8 is read by the use ID authentication section 31, the use ID is authenticated if the validity period is set. When the use ID has been successfully authenticated, the digital camera 2 is notified of a photographable state.

The image acquisition unit 32 reads, from the digital camera 2, an image of data of a still image or a moving image such as a scene of a photographed spot or audio data (hereinafter referred to as "image data"). The image data is read by directly connecting the digital camera 2 to the image capturing device 3 or via a portable memory medium 9 that can be used commonly by the digital camera 2 and the image capturing device 3.

The photographing information generating section 33 generates information relating to photographing, such as the photographing date and time when the image data was photographed, the photographing place, and the image data number. If the magnetic card 8 has room to be stored, the image data number (image file name) of the photographing information may be written on the magnetic card 8. Further, instead of the digital camera 2 being fixedly installed at a specific photographing spot, a handy-sized camera is configured to be portable within a certain range, or the digital camera 2 is shared. In this case, a camera unique number for identifying the digital camera is included in the shooting information instead of the shooting location.

The transmitting unit 34 transmits the read usage ID, image data, and generated shooting information to the data center 5 via a dedicated line.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the image data transmission processing.

The image reading device 3 reads the usage ID from the magnetic card 8 (step S11), authenticates the validity period of the usage ID (step S12), and if the authentication is OK (step S13), the digital camera 2 And make it usable (step S14). Image data is read from the digital camera 2 (step S15), shooting information (shooting date / time, location, image number, etc.) is generated (step S16), and the usage ID, image data, and shooting information are transmitted to the data center 5 (step S15). S17).

The data center 5 includes a data storage unit 51, an image search unit 52, and a photographing information totalizing unit 53.

The data storage unit 51 is an area for storing the usage ID, image data, and shooting information received from the transmitting unit 34 of the image capturing device 3 provided for each shooting spot.

FIG. 5 shows an image storage unit 5 of the data center 5.
1 shows an example of the structure of the data stored in No. 1. Data storage unit 5
1, a record is stored for each use ID, the shooting location of each image data, the shooting date and time, the high-resolution data and its data name (high-resolution photo data name) of the image data, and the low-resolution data and its data. The data name (low-resolution photo data name) is recorded. If the digital camera 2 is not fixedly installed, a camera unique number is recorded instead of the shooting location.

When an image data output request is made, settlement information such as the order date, user name, address (delivery address), account name, amount of money, etc. is recorded.

The image retrieving unit 52 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 42 of the print output device 4 or a transmitting / receiving unit 61 of the output / delivery center 6.
The image data stored in the data storage unit 51 is searched according to the output request and the usage ID received from the printer, and the searched image data is stored in the print output device 4 or the output / delivery center 6.
Send to

The information summation processing unit 53 includes a data storage unit 51
Based on the shooting information stored in the camera, the patrol history of the user's shooting spots, the number of shots for each shooting spot or the number of shooters,
The number of times of photographing or the number of photographers for each predetermined month, day, or day of the week is totaled. Usually, tourists are supposed to take more pictures at popular places, so that the degree of popularity of the shooting spot can be known from the number of times of shooting for each shooting spot. In addition, it is possible to know whether or not the setting of the excursion route at the sightseeing spot is appropriate by counting the history of the tour of the photographing spot.

The print output device 4 includes a use ID authentication unit 4
1, a transmitting / receiving unit 42, an output processing unit 43, and a settlement processing unit 44.

When the use ID of the inserted magnetic card 8 is read, the use ID authentication section 41 authenticates the use ID if the validity period has been set, and further, if the image data number is stored. Also reads the image data number.

The transmission / reception unit 42 transmits the use ID or the image data number to the data center 5 and receives the corresponding image data searched by the image search unit 53.

The output processing unit 43 displays the received image data on a display device (not shown), and prints the image data selected by a user's instruction input. As a printing machine, for example, a sublimation printer capable of outputting high-precision photographs,
A printer or the like that outputs image data in a sticker format is used. If a plurality of output formats can be selected, the output processing unit 43 displays an output format selection screen and outputs in the format selected by the user.

The payment processing section 44 performs a charging process and a payment process according to the amount of image data output by the user, based on a charge table or the like provided in advance. The accounting and settlement processing can be realized by appropriately applying a known processing method.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of output processing in the print output device.

The print output device 4 reads the usage ID from the magnetic card 8 (step S20), authenticates the validity period of the usage ID (step S21). If the authentication is OK (step S22), the usage ID is read. Data center 5
To request a search for the corresponding image data (step S23). Here, the read use ID may be immediately transmitted to the data center 5 without determining the validity period of the use ID, and the processes in steps S21 and S22 are not performed. Further, when the image data number stored in the magnetic card 8 has been read, the image data number may be transmitted to the data center 5 together with the use ID or in the process of step S23.

When the low-resolution photograph data of the corresponding image data is received from the data center 5 (step S24).
The received low-resolution photo data is displayed, and image data to be printed is selected by a user's selection input (step S2).
5) Waiting for the input of the instruction of the type of the output format of the image data (step S26). If the output format is a photograph, high-resolution photo data is received from the data center 5 (step S27), and the received high-resolution photo is received. The data is printed by a sublimation printer (step S28). On the other hand, if the output format is a sticker, the low-resolution photo data is printed by the sticker printer (step S29).

The output / delivery center 6 includes a transmission / reception unit 61, an output processing unit 62, and a payment processing unit 63.
It is an http server accessible from the user terminal 7 via a communication protocol such as a protocol and a communication line such as the Internet.

The transmission / reception unit 61 receives a user's image data output request via a Web page browsing application software (referred to as a browser 71) of a user terminal 7 such as a user's home or office, and receives the request. Output request to data center 5
Or receives corresponding image data from the data center 5 and transmits the image data to the user terminal 7.
It is displayed on the browser 71.

The output processing section 62 prints the high-resolution photographic data of the corresponding image obtained from the data center 5 in an output format selected by the user. The printed photo is delivered by delivery or mail to the address specified by the requesting user.

The settlement processing unit 63 performs a charging process and a settlement process according to the type, quantity, or output format of the image data selected by the user based on a charge table or the like provided in advance. The accounting and settlement processing can be realized by appropriately applying a known processing method.

Thus, after returning home from sightseeing, the user can use the terminal at home to obtain a data file of the photographed image, a developed photograph, and the like.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the output processing at the output / delivery center.

At the output / delivery center 6, the user looks at the use ID printed on the magnetic card 8 and inputs it to the user terminal 7. When the use ID is transmitted, the user receives the use ID (step S30). , The usage ID is transmitted to the data center 5 and a search for the corresponding image data is requested (step S
31). The low-resolution photograph data of the corresponding image is read from the data center 5 (step S32), and the user terminal 7 is read.
Create a thumbnail image that can be browsed by the browser 71 of
It is displayed on the page (step S33). An image to be output is selected in accordance with an instruction from the user (step S34).
The process waits for a selection input as to whether the order is a photo output order (step S35). If it is a download, the process from step S36 is performed, and if it is an order, the process from step S41 is performed.

When the user has requested the download of the image file, the user waits for the selection of the resolution of the image of the file to be downloaded (step S36). If the request is low resolution, the low resolution received in the processing of step S32 is received. The resolution photograph data is transmitted to the requesting user terminal 7 (step S37). If the request is high resolution, the settlement processing is performed (step S38). If the payment processing is OK (step S39), the high resolution photograph data received by requesting extraction to the data center 5 is transmitted to the user terminal of the request source. 7 (step S40).

When a user requests a photo order,
Predetermined information (delivery address, name, delivery date, etc.) for delivering a photo is acquired (step S41), and a payment process is performed (step S42). If the payment process is OK (step S43), the data center 5, and prints the high-resolution photograph data received and requested by the output processing unit 62 (step S44). The photograph is delivered to the requesting user by courier or mail.

Here, the low-resolution data is downloaded free of charge, but when the low-resolution data is downloaded for a fee, the same processing as the settlement processing in step S38 is performed before the processing in step S37. To do. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of a system for realizing the present invention in a second embodiment. The configuration example of the system according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is substantially the same as the configuration example of the system in the mobile phone according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and includes a card reader 110, an image capture device 130, and a print output. Device 140, data center 15
0, an output / delivery center 160 is provided. The card reading device 110 is output to the ID issuing device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the image capturing device 130 is also output to the image capturing device 3, the print output device 140 is also output to the print output device 4, and the data center 150 is output to the data center 5 also. / Delivery center 160 also corresponds to output / delivery center 6, respectively. In the example of the configuration of the system shown in FIG. 8, the respective processing units having the same numbers constituting the respective devices realize the same functions as the processing units shown in FIG.
The different processing units will be mainly described.

In the second embodiment, instead of the magnetic card 8 recording the use ID, a card such as a credit card or a debit card recording information that can identify an already issued individual is used. As the user identification information (use ID), a card number such as a credit card and a password are used. This makes it possible to simplify the processing in the payment processing when providing a service for printing image data as a photograph for a fee by using a credit card that has already been authenticated.

The card reader 110 includes a password input unit 111 and a card authentication unit 112. The personal identification number input unit 111 stores the credit card 1 of the inserted user.
This is a means for reading the card number 80 and inputting the user's personal identification number. The card authentication unit 112 converts the acquired card number and password into the credit card company 2
00 to be authenticated and credit card company 20
This is a means for transmitting the card number and the password to the data center 150 when the authentication is received from 0. The data center 150 stores the received card number and personal identification number in the data storage unit 151. Note that the example of the structure of the data stored in the data storage unit 151 is the same as that of FIG. 5 except that a card number and a password are stored instead of the use ID.
Is the same as the data structure example shown in FIG.

The image capturing device 130 includes a personal identification number authentication unit 131 instead of the use ID authentication unit 31.
The password authentication unit 131 is means for inquiring the data center 150 of the card number read from the credit card inserted by the user and the password input by the user, and authenticating the card number. The process after the authentication is the same as the process of the image capturing device 3 in the first embodiment.

The print output device 140 includes a personal identification number authentication unit 141 instead of the use ID authentication unit 41, and a payment processing unit 144 instead of the payment processing unit 44.

The encryption number authentication unit 141 performs the same processing as the password authentication unit 131 of the image capturing device 130.

The settlement processing unit 144 performs a known accounting process according to the number of images printed by the user, and accesses the credit card company 200 to perform a credit settlement process. In this case, since the card number and the personal identification number of the credit card have already been obtained, the settlement process can be performed without the user newly inputting such information. Note that the payment processing unit 144 may perform a payment process other than the credit payment process.

The output / delivery center 160 is the settlement processing unit 6
A payment processing unit 163 is provided instead of the payment processing unit 3. Payment processing unit 1
63 performs a known accounting process according to the number of image data downloaded by the user or the number of photos requested for printing, and accesses the credit card company 200 to perform a credit settlement process. In this case, the credit card number and PIN have already been obtained.
The user can perform the payment processing without newly inputting such information, and the payment processing other than the credit payment processing may be performed.

Although the case where a credit card is used has been described here, when a debit card is used, an access is made to a calculation center of a contract bank instead of the credit card company 200. [Third Embodiment] In the third embodiment, the first
And a digital camera 2 used in the second embodiment,
Image data such as characters and objects related to the shooting spot where the digital camera 2 is installed in advance,
Data such as a place name, characters such as "Memorial Photo" and "capturing with OO", and a caption for advertisement (hereinafter, referred to as "character image data") are stored.

When the image capturing device 3a captures the image data captured from the digital camera 2, the image capturing device 3a also captures the character image data used for the capturing, and transmits the image data and the character image data to the data center 5. The data center 5 stores character image data in association with the use ID.

When a user prints a request at the print output device 4 or the output / delivery center 6, a composite photograph is printed when character image data is associated with the use ID. A selection instruction screen is displayed. If the user's request is a composite photograph, image data obtained by combining the image data to be printed with the designated character image data is displayed on a print image confirmation screen (not shown) and printed.

The character image data is stored in any one of the image capturing device 3, data center 5, print output device 4, and output / delivery center 6 in addition to the case where the character image data is stored in the digital camera 2. You may leave.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the process of printing a composite photograph. If there is a request for printing a composite photograph when there is actual image data photographed by the user with the digital camera 2 shown in FIG. 9A, the character image data prepared in advance shown in FIG. Is extracted, the real image data and the character image data are combined to create combined image data shown in FIG. 9C, and the output processing unit 43 of the print output device 4 or the output processing unit of the output / delivery center 6 62 is
A photograph as shown in FIG. 9D is output.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, the print output device 4, the data center 5, the output / delivery center 6
Has been described as being implemented as an independent and separate device, but it is also possible to implement each of these means as one device. A dedicated line connecting the ID issuing device 1, the image capturing device 3, the print output device 4, the data center 5, the output / delivery center 6, or a communication line connecting the output / delivery center 6 and the user terminal 7, LAN
(Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network)
), The Internet, an analog telephone network, a digital telephone network, etc., as long as they can transmit and receive data to and from each other.

Further, the ID issuing device 1 for realizing the present invention,
The data center 5 and the output / delivery center 6 can be implemented as a computer-executable program including a card reading device 110, an image capturing device 3, a print output device 4, and a device for reading or writing a recording medium. It can be implemented as a computer-executable program. These programs can be provided by being stored in a suitable storage medium such as a computer-readable portable medium memory, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, or the like, or can be transmitted and received via a communication interface. As a communication network connected as a communication interface, for example, LA
N, WAN, Internet, analog telephone network, digital telephone network, wireless communication network, and the like can be used.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An image photographed by a digital camera provided at a photographing spot in advance, information for identifying the photographer (user) who photographed, and information relating to photographing (information such as photographing date and time, location, etc.) are stored in a data center. Image data requested by the user can be printed or output as a file at any time. As a result, the user can take a commemorative photo at a photographing spot such as a sightseeing spot or an amusement park without bringing a digital camera to obtain a photograph.

Further, from the use identification information and the photographing information such as the photographing date and time and the place recorded in the data center, information relating to photographing for each sightseeing tour route or photographing spot or every month, every day, every day of the week, etc. is obtained. be able to. This makes it possible to judge the tendency of sightseeing tours and the degree of popularity of each sightseeing spot, and use this as a reference for effective use of sightseeing resources.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram in an application example of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system for realizing the present invention in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a use ID assignment process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an image data transmission process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an output process in the print output device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an output process in an output / delivery center.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system for realizing the present invention in a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ID issuing device 11 use ID assigning unit 12 use ID printing unit 2 digital camera 3 image capturing device 31 use ID authentication unit 32 image acquisition unit 33 shooting information generation unit 34 transmission unit 4 print output device 41 use ID authentication unit 42 transmission / reception unit 43 output processing unit 44 payment processing unit 5 data center 51 data storage unit 52 image search unit 53 information totalization processing unit 6 output / delivery center 61 transmission / reception unit 62 output processing unit 63 payment processing unit 7 user terminal 71 browser 8 magnetic card 9 Memory media 10 Photos

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/91 H04N 7/173 640Z 7/173 640 5/91 HJ (72) Inventor ▲ Taka ▼ Muraharu Kanagawa Prefecture 1-17-7 Shichirigahama, Kamakura-shi (72) Inventor Fumiya Gomi 1-2-26 Higashi-Oizumi, Nerima-ku, Tokyo (72) Hiroyuki Takahashi 2-17-2 Noge, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo Parkside Noge No. 102 F term (reference) 5B075 KK07 ND06 PQ03 5C052 AA12 DD04 EE03 EE08 FA01 FA03 FA04 FA07 FB01 FB06 FC06 FD09 5C053 FA04 FA08 HA29 JA16 JA30 LA01 LA03 LA14 5C064 BA07 BB01 BC18 BC25 BC27 BD02 BD07

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image information providing system comprising a data storage device for storing image information captured by a digital image capturing device, and outputting the image information stored in the storage device upon request. A use information issuing unit for generating information and issuing a recording medium on which the use identification information is recorded, and acquiring the use identification information from the recording medium;
An image capturing unit that acquires image information captured by a digital image capturing device installed at a capturing location, and generates information relating to the location or date and time at which the capturing was performed; and the use identification information acquired from the image capturing unit. A data storage device management unit that writes image information and the photographing information to the data storage device or reads the image information from the data storage device; and upon request, prints or outputs the image information obtained from the data storage management unit in a file format. An image information providing system comprising an output unit. 2. The image information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a photographing information totalizing unit that totalizes photographing information stored in the data storage device or generates a photographing history from the photographing information. Characteristic image information providing system. 3. The image information providing system according to claim 1, wherein when outputting the image information upon request, an account specified by the usage identification information is charged according to the number of times of output or the amount of output information. An image information providing system, comprising: a settlement processing unit that performs settlement for a user. 4. The image information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium issued by the utilization information issuing means has a part or all of the stored utilization identification information printed on the surface of the medium. An image information providing system, comprising: 5. The image information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said use information issuing means includes:
An image information providing system using a portable medium in which readable information for identifying the user is already recorded. 6. The image information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the data storage management unit generates two or more types of data having different resolutions when writing the image information into a data storage device. An image information providing system characterized by writing. 7. A control program for realizing, by a computer, an image information providing system that includes a data storage device that stores image information captured by a digital image capturing device and that outputs image information stored in the storage device upon request. Processing for generating information for identifying use, issuing usage information for issuing a recording medium on which the usage identification information is recorded, and obtaining usage identification information from the recording medium; An image capturing process for acquiring image information captured by a digital image capturing apparatus installed at a capturing location, generating information relating to the location or date and time at which the capturing was performed, and the use identification information acquired from the image capturing unit; Data for writing image information and the shooting information to the data storage device or reading from the data storage device Depending on the storage device management process and the request,
A program recording medium for controlling an image information providing system, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute an output process of printing or outputting the image information obtained from the data storage management means in a file format is recorded.