JP2002215918A - Information service offering system and information publication service assisting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system allowing a content holder to easily deploy a gallery site by subdividably providing a function and a service for publicizing contents such as photographs or the like on a network. SOLUTION: A service operation manager in this system prepares a portal site server 46, a gallery offering server 41, a photograph storing server 42, and a print service provider 44 and invites for the utilization of content providers. The print service provider 44 controls the orders received on planning pages 26A, 26B, 26C, performs printing according to the orders, and delivers the prints to users 33A, 33B, 33C. This system offers a portal site service, a gallery offering service, a photograph storage service, and a GUI(graphical user interface) component offering service for generating pages to assist the opening of gallery pages.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for publishing images and other digital information (contents) via a network such as the Internet, and more particularly, to publishing images and developing image sales services by printing and other output forms. It relates to a suitable system and its configuration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photo "album" on the Internet
There are still a number of service sites that create.
This type of album service site is mainly designed to store electronic images in an electronic album on a server as an alternative to an album booklet for organizing private photographs (prints) in each home.

A conventional album service site is operated by a photo shop, a camera maker, a specialized venture company, and the like, but a content holder actually holding a photograph to be sold is, for example, an entertainment production company.
Professional photographers. For content holders to prepare their own server etc. and operate the image publishing system on the network, it will be enormous cost, so use the album service site operated by other companies It is hoped that the image will be released and the image will be released and sold.

[0004]

However, the conventional album site system is basically designed as a private photo album, and among the images registered in the album, only the images that are particularly desired to be disclosed are networked. It is a specification to be published above. Such a system specification that is not disclosed in principle is inconvenient for commercial content holders whose main purpose is to publish and sell images.

[0005] In addition, if a general user needs an album for storing electronic images, holding an album on a local (hand) computer is preferable for access speed and flexibility in customizing screens. In terms of convenience, it is highly convenient. Therefore, there is little need to keep a private album on the network that can be seen only by oneself.

[0006] In summary, although the purpose of using the Internet is "public", the conventional system is designed as a substitute for a "private" and "private" album. It is thought that the general planning policy is impossible.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by providing functions and services for publishing photographs and the like on a network in a subdivided manner, a content holder can use a gallery (on a network) by himself / herself. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system that can support the construction of a site for photograph exhibitions.

[0008]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for realizing a service of providing information to a third party using a network, the system comprising: The system includes at least one project in which a plurality of content providers who plan information providing services publish information to be provided on a network and individually establish a homepage for receiving orders from users. A page opening server, data storage means for storing digital data of the information to be provided, and access to the homepage via the network for browsing the information, inputting an order, and data relating to the input order. Communication with a communication device capable of transmitting data and home pages established by the plurality of content providers, Service execution means for supervising orders received on the homepage, converting the information to be ordered into a predetermined form that can be received by the user according to each order, and delivering the information to the user; It is characterized by having.

[0009] According to the information service providing system of the present invention, a plurality of content providers who have planned various information providing services each independently provide a homepage (planning page) for service development on a server (network). Planning page establishment server). The data of the information published on the planning page is stored in a data storage unit (for example, a data storage server), and the data is referred to as needed.

A general user browses a content provider's planning page from a communication device via a network and selects desired information and designates an information output form. The order data input by the user is sent to service execution means (for example, a server of a service provider), and the service execution means executes a service of providing information to the user in an output form according to the order.

An administrator who operates this system prepares a plan page establishment server, a data storage means, and a service execution means on a network, and invites many content suppliers to use them. By doing so, the content provider can easily set up an original planning page and develop an information providing service.

[0012] In addition, the business owner having the service execution means also has an advantage that orders can be received from a large number of customers because the orders are coordinated and processed in cooperation with a plurality of homepages.

According to the second aspect, the order information received from the user on each of the home pages is converted into order data in accordance with a common format, and the order data in accordance with the format is used to execute the service. It is characterized by being sent to the means. In order for the service execution means to cooperate with a large number of homepages and collectively process orders, it is preferable to unify order data. As a result, the efficiency of order processing in the service execution unit is improved.

According to the third aspect, the price at which information is provided to the user for a fee is determined by each content supplier according to the information content, and at least the content supply is included in the order data. The information includes information for identifying a person, information indicating the contents of the order, and information indicating the price.

The information fee can be freely determined by the content supplier according to the value of the information itself. On the other hand,
The service performing means performs a task of converting the information relating to the order into a specified output form and outputting the converted information, and calculates a cost (irrespective of the value of the information) according to the output form. Therefore, the information of the fee is notified to the service implementing means for each order.

[0016] In this case, as set forth in claim 4, the service implementing means is configured to determine the name of the content supplier based on the information for specifying the content supplier and the information indicating the price. There is a mode of issuing a bill for asking the user to pay the price. For example, a bill in which the bank account number for depositing the content with the content is described is delivered to the user. This further reduces the work load on the content provider.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for supporting the development of an information publishing service for publishing information to a third party through a network, the method comprising: A planning page providing server that provides a place for establishing a homepage for publishing information to be provided on a network, and a data storage server for storing digital data of the information to be provided. A portal site server for establishing a portal site in which a link to each homepage established by the content supplier is registered, and a service for using the planning page providing server and a data storage server. At least one of a use service and a registration service for the portal site. It is characterized in that it provides the content provider on a contractual basis.

A service for supporting a service operation by a content provider by implementing an information disclosure service support method according to the present invention is to provide a planning page providing server, a data storage server, and a portal site server on a network. Prepare and build a support system. Then, the service provider presents a subdivided service menu, such as a service for using the planning page providing server, a data storage service, and a portal site service, to the content provider, and invites the content provider to use the service.

The content provider may set up the planning page on its own server, but can easily set up the planning page by concluding a usage contract with the planning page providing server. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an advertisement service for providing a place for advertisement to a content supplier who has contracted for a service for using the planning page providing server is implemented. For example, there is a mode in which a general user first visits a portal site, and thereafter provides a paid advertisement space in the portal site in order to move to a desired plan page.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in order to support the operation of an information sales service in which information disclosed on a homepage established by the content supplier is provided for a fee in response to a user's request, In cooperation with each homepage to be established, it supervises the orders received on each homepage, converts the information to be ordered into a predetermined form that can be received by the user according to each order, and delivers it to the user A service implementing means for implementing a service is prepared, and the information selling service of the content supplier is substituted by the service implementing means on the basis of a contract. Thus, the content supplier can easily develop the information sales business.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an information service providing system and an information disclosure service support method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system showing an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of client computers (hereinafter, referred to as planner PCs) 20 and 21 for planning the establishment of a gallery site with respect to a wide area network 10 such as the Internet, and a client computer (hereinafter referred to as a general user) who browses the gallery site. , User PC) 30 is connected. In the figure, the user P
Although only one block is shown as C, there are actually a plurality of users. Also, for the network 10,
A server (hereinafter, referred to as an operation management server) 40 for performing overall management of service operation, a gallery providing server 41,
Photo storage server 42 and print service server 43
Are connected. A service provider 44 that manages the print service server 43 includes a printer 45, performs a photo print according to an order from a user, and performs a task of delivering the print to a user who is the orderer.

An administrator who manages the operation of the service according to the present system (hereinafter referred to as an operation manager) prepares an operation management server 40, a gallery providing server 41, a photograph storage server 42, and a print service provider 44,
Operate the service. Of course, it is not necessary to own everything, and the system may be realized by a business alliance with another company. The network 10 may be connected to a server (hereinafter, referred to as another company's server) 50 outside the management range of the operation manager, and there is a gallery planner who sets up a unique gallery site on the other company's server 50. Is also good.

Next, the service contents implemented by the system configured as described above will be described. The services provided by the system of this example are composed of three main services: (1) Internet print service, (2) Internet gallery service, and (3) advertisement providing service.

<Internet Print Service> The Internet print service is a service that accepts a print order for photographs on the Internet. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the Internet print service system. On homepages established by photo shops and camera manufacturers, services for accepting print orders over the Internet have been developed.

However, a conventional print service site has a fixed GUI (user graphical interface) such as a screen for selecting (designating) an image to be printed and a screen for designating a print size and the number of prints. there were. In addition, a company that has a specific contractual relationship in which the service site provider is the same or substantially identical to the print service provider (a person who performs printing and delivers prints to the orderer). Therefore, the print service provider cannot widely accept print orders from the network, which hinders effective use of print processing facilities including printers and other devices.

In view of such circumstances, the present system and a plan provider of a print service (which plans a print service and opens a plan page, hereinafter referred to as a “content provider”) and a provider of a print service (The person who actually undertakes the printing work is referred to as
Hereinafter, it is referred to as “service provider”. ). In the example of FIG. 2, A production, B production, and C cameraman are shown as content providers. A Production, B Production, and C Photographer set up homepages (hereinafter, referred to as planning pages) 25A, 25B, and 25C for receiving print orders on the Internet, respectively.
Publish your photos or posted images on the planning page and operate the sales service. The plan pages 25A, 25B, 25C of each planner are
Each of them may be constructed on its own server, or a gallery providing server 41 and a photograph storage server 42 prepared by an administrator of the present system may be used as described later.

The service provider 44 having the print service server 43 makes a contract for printing work with a number of content providers who plan print services, and plans pages 25 for each content provider.
The print job is actually performed according to the print order received in A, 25B, and 25C. The printed matter is delivered to each of the ordering users 33A, 33B, 33C,... In accordance with a delivery method (postal mail, store delivery, etc.) determined at the time of contract.

As a result, the service provider 44
Orders can be received from many customers, and the operation rate of the printer 45 can be improved. Further, the service provider 44 does not need to prepare a homepage (GUI) for independently accepting print orders,
Planning pages 25A, 25B of each content provider,
All that is required is to receive the order transmitted from the 25C, execute the order, deliver (send) the printed matter (product), and collect the payment. Therefore, each content provider has a separate GU for receiving orders.
I can be prepared and can respond to various needs of the user.

According to FIG. 2, users 33A, 33B, 3
3C are the desired planning pages 25A, 25B, and 25C using the user PC 30 and other communication terminals described with reference to FIG.
To browse photos and select the image you want to purchase (print). And print size, gloss,
Instructions concerning the print form such as silk, bordered, borderless, calendar, postcard, sticker print, etc., and the number of prints are given. The print order information input by the users 33A, 33B, 33C,.
B, 25C, or planning pages 25A, 25B,
It is sent directly to the print service server 43 without going through the 25C.

The order information transmitted at this time includes planner information for specifying the planning pages 25A, 25B, and 25C for which the order has been received, information for specifying the image to be printed, and designation of the print size and the number of prints. The information includes order information, information on the destination (delivery method) of the printed matter, information on the photo price, and the like. The content price can be freely determined by each content provider according to the image content (value). Photo prices and other information can be found, for example, in XML (Extensible Markup Lang).
uage) The file is transferred to the print service server 43 in a uniform format such as a file. The image data to be printed is also sent from the database (not shown in FIG. 2) to the print service server 43.

The service provider 44 executes a printing process in accordance with the received order, and prints the obtained printed matter and the bill thereof to the user (or a delivery destination store or the like) 33.
A, 33B and 33C. The bill includes an account number (transfer destination account number) for payment to the corresponding content provider, and the user 33A, 33B, 33
When C pays the specified account number, the content provider can receive the sales price.
The bill may be sent first, or a bill may be issued online when a print order is received, and the printed matter may be sent after payment is confirmed.

On the other hand, the print fee of the service provider 44 that has performed the print job is determined according to the print form and the number of prints, regardless of the value of the image. Therefore, the service provider 44 can secure a profit by charging each content provider a predetermined fee determined according to the print form and the number of prints. The content provider can obtain as a profit a difference obtained by subtracting the fee paid to the service provider 44 from the price of selling the photo. It should be noted that instead of the above-described settlement by bill, settlement by credit card is also possible, and a mode in which an input of a credit card number is required when a print order is accepted is also possible. In the case where the printed matter is directly delivered to the user at the store, cash settlement at the time of delivery is also possible.

For each content provider such as A Production, B Production, and C Cameraman, it is not necessary to have separate print processing equipment, and the print business can be easily developed. In addition, the service provider 44 who has print processing equipment can expect an increase in the number of users by contracting with a large number of content providers, and can effectively use the print processing equipment.

<Internet Gallery Service> The Internet gallery service is a service for supporting a content provider to open a gallery on the Internet. <1> Portal Site (Port)
al Sites) service, <2> Gallery service, <3
> Photo storage service, <4> GUI parts providing service 4
It consists of two menus.

The portal site service is a service for providing a home page (portal site) which is a window which is first accessed when a user of the Internet searches for information. By registering a gallery in the portal site and setting a link, the user can easily find a desired gallery site from the portal site.

The gallery providing service is a service for providing a server (gallery providing server 41) for a content provider to open a gallery on the Internet, a GUI, and the like. The photo storage service is a service that provides a disk space for storing photo data for opening a gallery. The GUI parts providing service is a service that provides and sells GUI parts for building a gallery and creating a screen for ordering photos.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the Internet gallery service system. In the example shown in the figure, an administrator who operates this service system (hereinafter, referred to as an operation manager) is a portal site server 46 (corresponding to the operation management server 40 in FIG. 1), a gallery providing server 41, and a photograph storage server 42. Prepare The operation manager may be a single company or individual, or may be a company group including a plurality of companies.

"A Production" and "C Photographer"
Has concluded a contract with the operation manager to use the gallery providing service and the photo storage service. “A Production” and “C Photographer” respectively open planning pages (hereinafter referred to as “gallery pages”) 26A and 26C for displaying images on the gallery providing server 41, and release various photos through the gallery pages 26A and 26C. And accepting the sale of photographs (providing paid services such as printing and downloading) and posting images from users. Gallery page 26A,
26C can be freely created by each service provider. However, as needed, an operation manager provides a creation support tool such as a template for creating a page or a GUI component.

The image data published on the gallery pages 26A and 26C, that is, the image data uploaded by each service provider for publication and the image data posted by general users are stored in the photo storage server 42.

"B Production" is a server 5
And a gallery page 26B on the server 51.
"B Productions" has contracted with the operation manager to use only the portal site service.

Next, the use of the Internet gallery service system shown in FIG. 3 will be described. "A Production", which does not have its own server, is an operation management and gallery providing service, for example, for the purpose of publishing (selling as necessary) bromide photos of managing talents and musicians on the Internet. Sign a contract to use the photo storage service. It is also possible to determine the usage period and use it only for a certain period. For example, this system can be used as a means for a newspaper company or the like to open a gallery of news photos.

The A production has a gallery page 26 for the A production on the gallery providing server 41.
A is opened and an image to be disclosed (at least one image) is registered in the photo storage server 42. When creating the A production page, the system administrator provides creation support means such as GUI parts and templates necessary for creating the page. A Production can easily create an original page by using the creation support means. Of course, the page may be created independently without using the creation support means.

Similarly, "C Photographer" enters into a contract with the administrator for the use of the gallery providing service and the photo storage service for the purpose of publishing and selling his / her own photos. The C cameraman opens a gallery page 26C for the C cameraman on the gallery providing server 41 and registers an image to be disclosed (at least one image) in the photo storage server 42. GUI parts, templates, and the like that support creation of a page for C photographers are provided in the same manner as in the case of “A production” described above.

Those who subscribe to the gallery providing service are provided with a portal site service. The gallery site of the A production and the gallery site of the C photographer established on the gallery providing server 41 are added to the gallery list on the portal site server 46. Registered,
A link from the portal site is set.

“B Production” is a unique server 5
The server 51 operates a gallery page 26B on the server 51 and stores image data to be disclosed in a database 52. B Productions has contracted to use the portal site service,
A link to the gallery page 26B of B production is registered in the gallery list on the portal site server 46.

A general user (a person who browses photos on the Internet or uses a print service or the like) first accesses a portal site and searches for a desired gallery site using a search service of the site. Find out. From the portal site, you can jump to the desired gallery site and browse images on the gallery.

Also, an advertisement providing service can be added to the system shown in FIG. The advertisement providing service is a service for providing a place for various advertisements to a content provider who has established a gallery site. For example, menus such as a portal site advertisement service and an uploader advertisement service are assumed.

The portal site advertisement service is a service for providing an advertisement space in a portal site for a fee. The uploader advertisement service is a service that distributes an advertisement icon in a window of application software for uploading image data from a home personal computer (PC) to a server on a network. This uploading software is a program for realizing an image browsing function using a computer and an upload function of transmitting an image selected from the browsing screen to a predetermined server through the Internet. This is an image viewer capable of giving an instruction to upload a selected image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system using the image viewer. FIG. 5 shows an example of a display screen of the image viewer (image viewing software). As shown in FIG. 4, by inserting the electronic camera 60 into the cradle 62, the personal computer 64 automatically detects (using the Plug & Play function) the connection of the electronic camera 60 via the communication means 66 such as a USB. An image viewer 70, which is application software for displaying a list of images in the electronic camera 60, can be automatically started.

When the image viewer 70 is started, the personal computer 64 connects to the operation management server 4 via the Internet 10.
0, and obtains information such as a service menu of various available services registered in the server 40. Various icons (menu buttons) 71, banner advertisements 72, and the like are displayed on the window screen of the image viewer 70 based on the acquired information such as the service menu. The management server 40 manages the personal information of the users of the electronic camera 60 and the personal computer 64, so that menus and advertisements customized for each user can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the window of the image viewer 70 includes a file list display section 73 for displaying a folder structure, and reduced images (thumbnail images) of the images stored in the folder designated by the user. An image list display section 75 for displaying a list of 74 and a menu display section 76 for displaying a list of menu buttons 71 of various services are provided. A part of the menu display section 76 is also used as an advertisement display section, on which the banner advertisement 72 distributed by the advertisement service is displayed.

Each of the menu buttons 71 is a link button for connecting to a server of a service provider performing the service. For example, a print service button, a photo CD creation service button, a photo release button, a photo contest posting Buttons include service selection buttons such as a button, an auction site transmission button, and a mobile phone display button.

The user can select one or more desired images from the file name displayed on the file list display section 73 or the list of reduced images 74 displayed on the image list display section 75 by using a pointing device such as a mouse or a keyboard. By simply selecting a desired menu button 71 and inputting information such as images necessary for ordering a print service, creating a photo CD, publishing a photo on the Internet, In addition, it becomes possible to upload an image file and a sound file for posting a photo contest.

Next, cooperation between the gallery providing service and the print service will be described. FIG. 6 shows a configuration diagram of the service system. First, the users 33A, 33B, 3
3C access the portal site server 46 via the network 10 and browse the portal site pages. Then, the user jumps to a desired gallery page 26A, 26B or 26C from the screen of the portal site, and browses images published in the gallery.

When the desired image is selected from the gallery and the designation of the print form and the number of copies is input, the order data is sent to the print service server 43. The service provider 44 executes print processing according to the received order, and the user 33 who is the main orderer of the print order.
A, 33B, 33C. The payment method is as described with reference to FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, the print service has been described as an example of the output form of the image. However, the method of selling the image is not limited to the print method.
DR and other recording media may be sold, and there is also a mode of providing paid download of data. The data to be dealt with is not limited to still images, but may be other electronic data such as moving images, audio, music, books (documents), and computer programs.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, the functions and services for publishing and selling images and other contents on a network are provided in a finely divided manner, so that the contents supplier can provide the planning site himself / herself. Can help to build This makes it possible to easily develop a content providing business on the Internet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an Internet print service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an Internet gallery service in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration and a connection form of a system for transmitting an image to a server by a user using an image viewer;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of an image viewer.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an Internet gallery providing service in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Network, 20, 21 ... Gallery planner P
C, 25A, 25B, 25C: planning page (homepage), 30: general user PC (communication device), 40: management server, 41: gallery providing server (planning page establishment server, planning page providing server), 42: Photo storage server (data storage means, data storage server), 43 ...
Print service server (service implementing means), 44 ...
Service provider (service implementation means), 45: printer (service implementation means), 46: portal site server, 60: electronic camera, 62: cradle, 70: image viewer, 72: banner advertisement

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A system for realizing a service of providing information to a third party using a network, comprising a plurality of content providers who have planned information providing services, each of which is provided with At least one planning page establishment server for publishing information to be provided on a network and individually establishing a homepage for receiving an order from a user; and a data storage means for storing digital data of the information to be provided. A communication device capable of accessing the homepage via the network to browse the information, input an order, and transmit data relating to the input order; and a homepage established by the plurality of content suppliers. Cooperate and supervise orders received on each homepage, and respond to each order Information service providing system characterized by comprising user information of the sentence subject is converted to the acceptable predetermined form, and a service implementation unit that implements the service to deliver this to the user, the. 2. An order information received from a user on each of the home pages is converted into order data according to a common format, and the order data according to the format is sent to the service execution unit. The information service providing system according to claim 1. 3. A price for providing information to the user for a fee is determined by each content supplier according to the information content, and the order data includes at least information for specifying the content supplier, an order, 2. The information service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information includes information indicating contents of the information and information indicating the price. 4. The service execution means, based on the information for specifying the content supplier and the information indicating the price, pays a price to the user in the name of the content supplier. 4. The information service providing system according to claim 3, wherein a requested bill is issued. 5. A method for supporting the development of an information disclosure service for releasing information to a third party through a network, wherein the method is provided to a plurality of content suppliers who have planned the information disclosure service. A planning page providing server for providing a place for establishing a homepage for publishing information on a network; a data storage server for storing digital data of the information to be provided; and the content provider establishing A portal site server for setting up a portal site in which links to the respective homepages are registered, and a portal site server are provided on the network, and the use service of the planning page providing server, the use service of the data storage server and the portal site Of at least one of the registered services Information public service support method characterized in that it provides to Ntsu suppliers. 6. An advertisement service for providing an advertisement place to a content supplier who has contracted for a service using the planning page providing server.
Information disclosure service support method described in. 7. Linking with each homepage established by the content supplier to support the operation of an information sales service which provides information to be disclosed on the homepage established by the content supplier for a fee upon request of a user And
A service implementing means for supervising orders received on each homepage, converting the information to be ordered into a predetermined form receivable by the user according to each order, and delivering the information to the user. 6. The information disclosure service support method according to claim 5, wherein the information providing service is prepared by the service execution unit on the basis of a contract.