JP2002259332A - Electronic device, server, picture providing system and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device capable of automatically preparing the site address of a picture sharing server sharing a picture and to provide a server, a picture providing system and its method allowing a plurality of users to share the picture through the Internet, etc. SOLUTION: It is possible to easily and automatically prepare the site address characteristic to the picture sharing server sharing the picture by providing a recording means (a nonvolatile memory 182, etc.), for recording identification information characteristic to its own electronic device, an obtaining means (a transmission and reception means 157, etc.), for obtaining the identification information characteristic to another electronic device, a site address preparing means (an information processing means 180, etc.), for preparing the site address for designating a prescribed site on a network by using the recorded identification information characteristic to its own electronic device and the obtained identification information characteristic to another electronic device, and an output means (the transmission and reception means 157, etc.), for outputting the site address to another electronic device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device, a server, an image providing system, and a method therefor. In particular, a site address and a site for sharing an image are created, and when the created site address is designated, the site address is shared. The present invention relates to an electronic device, a server, an image providing system, and a method capable of acquiring an existing image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A personal information memory is provided, a plurality of items of personal information stored in the personal information memory are set in association with each other, and data communication is performed with an electronic device of the same specification upon contact with another person. When exchanging superficial personal information corresponding to level 1 first, if the contact with another person is continued for a certain period of time or more, formal personal information corresponding to level 2 is exchanged. If the personal information from the other party includes information that matches the condition arbitrarily set in advance, the exchange of the pointed-out personal information corresponding to level 3 is performed, and on the other hand, each received personal information is received. An electronic device with a communication function in which personal information of another person is stored in a receiving personal information memory is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-194666.

[0003] Further, a portable telephone device comprising voice input means, transmission means for transmitting voice information converted by the input means to a communication partner, character information input means, and a character memory,
A digital camera that captures an image and outputs image information, an image memory that stores the image information, and a system control unit that associates the image information of the digital camera or the image information of the image memory with the character information of the character memory. ,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11 (1999) discloses a portable telephone with a camera function, comprising: display means for displaying associated information; and switching means for switching image information from the image memory to audio information so as to be transmitted by the audio information transmission means. -205761
No. in the official gazette.

[0004]

However, in the electronic equipment with a communication function described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-194666, only the corresponding information is exchanged in accordance with each information disclosure level. There was a problem in that a shared image storage site was created and could not be viewed or downloaded by other users.

A mobile phone with a camera function described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-205761 is also an invention in which the face of the other party is photographed with an attached camera and stored in association with an address or a telephone number. It has no information exchange function such as transmission of information such as images and the like, and is a self-contained device.

Also, when a plurality of people take a commemorative photo with a plurality of electronic cameras and distribute the photographs taken after the inscriptions return home via the Internet or the like, the images are attached to the e-mail and the e-mails are attached to each other. Methods of emailing addresses are known. There is also known a method of uploading an image obtained by capturing an image on a homepage of a website and notifying upload information by e-mail. But,
If the number of other users who distribute images is large, there is a problem in that sending an e-mail alone takes a lot of trouble.

Therefore, for example, at the travel destination, each electronic camera exchanges and records the unique address of the user,
When accessing the address recorded on the electronic camera after returning home, if the address is an e-mail address, it is necessary to attach an image to be shared to the e-mail and send it. This operation requires a great deal of trouble for the user.

[0008] Further, it is troublesome that a desired image cannot be known unless all images transmitted from other users are received, and it is not possible to select and acquire only necessary images. Was occurring.

When a shared folder is created on the Internet to store a shared image and the image is provided to another user, a shared folder for storing the image shared by the user is specified in advance. The shared image cannot be viewed unless the user secures the address of the created shared folder and notifies other users of the address of the created shared folder. For this purpose, it is necessary to have another user record the address of the shared folder for images in the electronic camera and notify the other users of the address.

Further, when a plurality of unrelated users use a shared folder of the same image, images unrelated to a specific user are also registered in the shared folder. It is troublesome, and there is a concern that an image of another person is downloaded in a random manner and the image is misused. Therefore, it is desirable that the shared folder of the images on the network exists independently for each group of users who are related to each other, and furthermore, it is desirable that an environment in which other persons are prohibited from freely browsing. .

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an electronic device capable of easily and automatically creating a unique site address of an image sharing server for sharing images. The purpose is.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a server, an image providing system, and an image providing method that enable a plurality of users located at remote places to easily share an image via a communication network such as the Internet. It is an object.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to the present invention obtains recording means for recording identification information unique to its own electronic device, and identification information unique to another electronic device. Obtaining a site address for specifying a predetermined site on a network by using an acquiring unit and the recorded identification information unique to the electronic device and the acquired identification information unique to another electronic device. Means, and output means for outputting the site address to another electronic device.

According to the present invention, the electronic device has a recording unit for recording identification information unique to the electronic device itself, an acquisition unit for acquiring identification information unique to another electronic device, and an electronic device having the recorded electronic device. A site address creating means for creating a site address for designating a predetermined site on the network using the device-specific identification information and the acquired other electronic device-specific identification information; and With the output means for outputting, it is possible to easily and automatically create a unique site address of the image sharing server that shares the image.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising:
The present invention according to the server relates to a receiving unit for receiving an image file via a communication network, a recording unit for recording an image described in the received image file, and a site address in the received image file. When information is included, display file creation means is provided for creating a display file for displaying the information of the site in association with the image when the site address is specified.

According to the present invention, the server includes: a receiving unit that receives an image file via a communication network; a recording unit that records an image described in the received image file; A display file creating means for creating a display file for displaying the information of the site in association with the image when the address of the site is specified when the information on the address is included; Images can be easily shared via the communication network.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an electronic apparatus, a server, an image providing system and an image providing method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image providing system according to the present invention.

According to FIG. 1, the image providing system is owned by users 8, 8A,.
, Etc., which are electronic devices capable of photographing a subject such as.
, And personal computers 80 and 80A capable of exchanging information with each other, and a server 90 for sharing images.

The electronic cameras 10 and 10A store identification information unique to each electronic camera (ID information such as a serial number unique to each electronic camera 10 and 10A).

The electronic cameras 10 and 10A mutually exchange information such as unique identification information of the electronic cameras 10 and 10A and captured image data via antennas 156 and 156A as wireless communication means or wired communication means. They can be exchanged and recorded on recording media 177, 177A and the like. Also, based on the identification information unique to the electronic camera of the other party and information such as identification information unique to the own electronic camera received at this time, the site address of an image sharing site that allows users 8, 8A to browse images is determined. The information may be created and recorded together with the captured image data on a recording medium such as a recording medium 177 or 177A that can be inserted or removed, or the created site address information is provided inside the electronic camera 10 or 10A. You may make it record on recording means.

Further, information such as unique identification information of the electronic cameras 10 and 10A is once recorded on the recording media 177 and 177A, and other information is transmitted via the recording medium 177 instead of using the above-described wireless communication means. You may comprise so that it may transmit to the electronic camera 10 or 10A.

After the users 8, 8A... Return home, the electronic cameras 10, 10A and the personal computers 80, 80A are connected for communication. This communication connection may be communication using wireless communication means or communication using wired communication means. When using wireless communication means, the personal computer 8
Antennas 856, 856A provided at 0, 80A
Information such as the created site address and image data is transmitted from the electronic cameras 10 and 10A to the personal computers 80 and 80 via the PC.
Send to A. Information such as a site address and image data is stored in the personal computer 8 via the recording media 177 and 177A.
0, 80A.

The personal computers 80 and 80A are site addresses,
When information such as image data is acquired, the personal computers 80, 80
A automatically designates the site address or the address of its own server 90 contracted in advance, and designates an image sharing server;
Alternatively, the communication with the own server or the like is started via a communication network such as a public line or the Internet. Then, a process of uploading the image recorded in association with it is performed. In addition, by specifying the created site address, it becomes possible to easily browse the shared image captured and uploaded by another user such as the user 8A.

In this manner, processing from uploading of an image captured by the user 8 or 8A to browsing of an image uploaded by another user can be performed extremely smoothly.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a signal processing system of the electronic camera 10.

The image processing unit of the electronic camera 10 includes an image pickup unit 150 (including a function of an image acquisition unit) that forms an image of a subject on a light receiving surface, performs photoelectric conversion, and outputs an image signal.
And an image processing unit 153 that performs processing such as image size change, sharpness correction, gamma correction, contrast correction, and white balance correction, and an A / D converter 154 that converts an analog image signal into digital image data. Is provided.

The communication means of the electronic camera 10 for transmitting and receiving information such as image data to and from other electronic devices by communication uses image data, identification information unique to other electronic devices, and information such as a site address to transfer information such as radio waves to carrier waves. A short-range transmitting / receiving means 157 (including the functions of an image acquiring means, an acquiring means and an output means) for transmitting or receiving the data on an antenna, an antenna 156 for transmitting / receiving a carrier wave and data, and a communication cable for transmitting information such as image data. A communication connector 162 transmits the information to another electronic device via the cradle, and a cradle connector 163 transmits and receives information to and from the other communication device via a cradle on which the electronic camera 10 is mounted.

The electronic camera 10 also includes a compression / expansion means 167 for performing a compression control of information such as image data by a method represented by JPEG or motion JPEG and a processing for performing expansion / decompression control of compressed data, and a display means. OSD 169 for on-screen display of various characters and message data and the like displayed on the screen 168 together with the image, white balance processing for image data obtained by imaging, gamma conversion, YC conversion processing, conversion of the number of pixels Signal processing means 170 for performing processing, electronic zoom processing, trimming processing, etc., a frame memory 171 for temporarily storing image data, and converting digital image data into YC signals or RGB signals for display, etc. A D / A converter 172 is provided.

The electronic camera 10 has a release button, a communication button, a transmission button, a function switch, a cross key, a decision switch, a mode switching switch, and operation buttons for instructing the user to input a password and not use a site address. And the like, an I / O 175 that is an interface for inputting and outputting setting information and the like of the input unit 174, and a recording medium 177.
And a recording medium interface 179 (for recording and reading information such as an address, image data, identification information unique to another electronic device, and a site address) on the recording medium 177. Image acquisition means, including the functions of the acquisition means and the output means). Note that the recording medium 177 is a semiconductor such as a memory card, or a removable recording medium such as a magnetic recording type represented by an MO or an optical recording type.

The transmission / reception means 157 can receive unique identification information from another electronic device such as an electronic camera. Another electronic device records identification information unique to the electronic device on a recording medium 177, and stores the identification information on the recording medium 177.
The electronic camera 10 may acquire identification information unique to another electronic device via the electronic camera 10. When the electronic camera 10 transmits the identification information unique to the electronic camera 10 to another electronic device, the electronic camera 10 records the identification information unique to the electronic camera 10 on a recording medium 177 and transmits the identification information to the other electronic device. Or the transmitting / receiving means 157 may transmit identification information unique to the electronic camera 10 to another electronic device.

The electronic camera 10 includes an electronic camera 10.
An information processing unit that controls the entire system and controls sampling timing control of image data, recording control of image data, graphic recognition of image data, reading processing of information such as a user's mail address, communication control, display control, and the like. 1
80, a non-volatile memory 182 (recording means) capable of rewriting information and capable of continuing to store information such as identification information unique to its own electronic device even after the power is turned off, A ROM 183 (recording means) in which identification information unique to the electronic device such as a model name and a serial number, an operation program, and constants are recorded, and a RAM 184 serving as a work area when executing the program are provided. .

The image acquired by the image acquiring means such as the imaging means 150, the transmitting / receiving means 157 and the recording medium interface 179, and the information such as the site address information created by the information processing means 180 are stored in the recording medium 177 or the nonvolatile memory 182 or the like. Is recorded in the recording means.

The electronic camera 10 has a calendar clock 190 for ticking time, and a power supply 19 for supplying various powers for driving the electronic camera 10 to peripheral circuits and control circuits.
1, a power connector 192 that receives power supply from an external power source, a light emitting unit 193 that emits light to a subject during shooting to compensate for a shortage of light amount, and adjusts light emission timing of the light emitting unit 193 and light amount to be emitted. Light emission control means 194 is provided.

The information processing means 180 of the electronic camera 10 and its peripheral circuits are connected by a bus 199 so that information can be transmitted to each other at high speed.

The information processing means 180 of the electronic camera 10
Using identification information unique to the own electronic device recorded in a recording device such as the nonvolatile memory 182 and the ROM 183 and identification information unique to another electronic device obtained from another electronic device via the obtaining device, It has a function of site address creation means for creating a site address designating a predetermined site on the network.

When the information processing means 180 creates a site address, the site address may be created by taking into account the current date and time and date information counted by the calendar clock. By adding information such as a date to the site address, it becomes possible to make a plurality of site address information created by the same electronic camera 10 and another electronic device at different dates and times different from each other. Therefore, by adding the date information to the site address information in this way, it is possible to separately set a shared site (or a shared folder for images) of images captured at different dates and times, thereby simplifying the organization of shared images. Becomes

When the site address information is created, the password input request information is displayed on the display means 168 or the like to request the user to input the password, and the user inputs the password via the input means 174. The site address information may be created in consideration of password information. The user can easily create a dedicated unique site address by inputting a password that is unique identification information, or can create site address information independent of an electronic device.

The site address information created by the information processing means 180 is transmitted to and received from a transmission / reception means 157 capable of wireless or wired communication, or a personal computer 80 functioning as a network communication terminal via output means such as a recording medium interface 179. Output to a communication device such as 80A.
Alternatively, the data may be directly output to the server 90.

When an image is taken by the electronic camera 10 or when the transmission / reception means 157 or the recording medium interface 17
When an image is acquired through an image acquiring means such as 9 and the like, the information of the calculated site address is recorded in association with the acquired image data. If the site address to be recorded is recorded in the same image file together with the image data in the header portion of the image file, the subsequent processing is facilitated. Further, while the set site address is valid, all the images taken by the electronic camera 10 are recorded with the site address thereafter.

The user can operate the input means 174 provided on the electronic camera 10 to release or delete the set site address. The release mode may release the process of recording the site address in the image file, or may be performed by a recording unit such as the nonvolatile memory 182 or the recording medium 177 based on a user's instruction to disable the site address. May be provided with means for deleting, erasing, or not using the site address recorded in (1) (the information processing means 180 instructs erasure, deletion, or non-use of the site address).

Processing from creation of a site address to shooting and recording by the electronic camera 10 configured as described above will be described below.

FIG. 3 shows a method in which the electronic cameras 10 and 10A generate site address information by notifying each other of device-specific identification information.

As shown in FIG.
A starts short-range wireless communication, recognizes each other's devices, and establishes wireless communication. Then, for example, the electronic camera 10 performs a process of transmitting identification information unique to its own electronic device, which is recorded in a recording unit such as the ROM 183, to the electronic camera 10A (another electronic device). The electronic camera 10A may also transmit its own unique identification information to the electronic camera 10. The electronic camera 10 or 10A that has received the identification information unique to the other electronic device calculates the received identification information unique to the other electronic device and the identification information unique to its own electronic device by a predetermined algorithm, and calculates a site address. Create

As shown in FIG. 4, the site address information includes identification information 12 unique to the electronic camera 10 and the electronic camera 1.
The identification information 12A unique to 0A may be moved to the upper and lower digits, respectively, or may be combined information, or may be information obtained by encrypting the identification information 12 and the identification information 12A.

The site address 14 may be created from information such as the password 16 input by the user operating the input means 174, or may be created from information on the date 18. Further, as shown in FIG.
The site address 14 may be created by incorporating all the various information such as 2A, the password 16, and the date 18.

The site address 14 corresponds to the electronic camera 1
Any of the electronic devices 0 and 10A may create and transmit the created site address 14 to the electronic camera 10A (another electronic device) with which communication has been established to notify it. Further, the created site address 14 may be recorded in the non-volatile memory 182 or the recording medium 177 of the electronic cameras 10 and 10A, read out after the imaging is completed, and recorded in the image file together with the image data.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which a subject is imaged using the electronic cameras 10 and 10A.

As shown in the figure, for example, the user 8 operates the electronic camera 10 and the subject 20 including another user 8A is operated.
Is imaged. In another scene, for example, the user 8A operates the electronic camera 10A to image the subject 20A including the other user 8.

Hereinafter, processing of an image captured by the electronic camera 10 or 10A will be described.

In the state before the image pickup, the object image is formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup means 150 by the lens of the electronic camera 10, and the formed object image is photoelectrically converted and output to the image processing means 153. The image processing means 153 performs amplification and noise reduction processing on this image signal,
After being converted into digital data by the D converter 154, the data is temporarily stored in the frame memory 171.

The information processing means 180 includes a frame memory 1
Image data stored in the D / A converter 1
The instruction is transmitted to the display 72 and displayed on the display unit 168 together with the information generated from the OSD 169.

When the user 8 or 8A presses a release button provided on the input means 174 for the purpose of imaging, the information processing means 180 enters a mode for photographing a subject. Then, the information processing unit 180 transfers the image data stored in the frame memory 171 to the compression / expansion unit 167, and outputs a command to execute the image data compression process under predetermined conditions.

Next, the information processing means 180 reads out the site address 14 recorded in the nonvolatile memory 182 or the recording medium 177 and records it in, for example, an attached information recording portion provided in a header portion of the image file. Perform processing. The image data is recorded in a predetermined image recording area of the image file. In the subsequent shooting or acquisition of an image, the acquired image data and site address are described in the created image file unless an instruction is given by the user.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the image file in which the site address 14 and the obtained image are recorded.

As shown in the figure, the image file 22 includes a header section in which the site address 14 is recorded,
An area where the image data 24 is recorded is provided. As described above, by recording the site address 14 for sharing and storing the image together with the image data 24 in the image file 22, the site address 14 and the image data 24 are associated with each other and recorded on the recording medium 177 or the like. , The site address 14 and the image data 24 can be easily obtained simply by transmitting the image file 22 to the server 90.
Can be transmitted in a state where.

The information processing means 180 transmits the created image file 22 to the recording medium interface 179.
, And sequentially output the image files to the recording medium 177,
177A or the like is recorded.

It should be noted that the image to be recorded may be an image obtained by imaging by the imaging means as described above, or may be an image obtained from another electronic device via the recording medium 177 or the like. Alternatively, the image may be an image acquired by the transmission / reception unit 157 via a wireless or wired communication unit.

In the above description, the embodiment in which the electronic apparatus is an electronic camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to an electronic camera, and information can be transferred via a recording medium 177 or the like. The object of the present invention can be achieved even with an electronic device or an electronic device provided with wired or wireless communication means.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the signal processing system of the personal computer.

As shown in the figure, the information transmitting / receiving section of the personal computer 80 has an antenna 856 used as a short-distance wireless communication means or a long-distance wireless network communication means, and a predetermined signal for wirelessly or wiredly transmitting / receiving information. A transmission / reception unit 857 (including the functions of the transmission unit and the reception unit) that converts data into a format and transmits / receives information to / from another communication device (the server 90 or the like) via a communication network such as a public line 860 or a communication network. Transmission / reception means 86 for public line
5 (including the functions of the transmitting means and the receiving means).

The personal computer 80 has a display unit 868 for displaying information such as images and characters, and a display control unit 869 for outputting a display image signal to the display unit 868 based on a command from the information processing unit. And the user enters the input means 87
I / O 8 for reading various information input through the interface 4 and transmitting it to information processing means described later, or outputting a display command to notification means such as an LED based on an instruction from the information processing means.
75 are provided.

The personal computer 80 has a recording medium 877.
And a recording medium interface 879 for recording and reading information such as image data on and from the recording medium 877. Note that the recording medium 877 is a recording medium 1
This is a removable recording medium similar to 77 and 177A.

The personal computer 80 includes an information processing means (CPU) 880 for controlling the whole of the personal computer 80, and a ROM and information processing means 880 in which programs for operating the information processing means 880 and various constants are recorded. A memory 881 composed of a RAM serving as a recording means serving as a work area when executing the processing, various constants relating to the processing of the personal computer 80, a dial-up telephone number for connecting to communication equipment on a network, and attribute information , URL (Unif
A recording unit 886 such as a hard disk for recording information such as connection information such as an orm resource locator), an address, a site address, and gateway information DNS (Domain Name System), and a calendar clock 890 for keeping time.

Information processing means 880 in personal computer 80,
Peripheral circuits including a display control unit 869, an I / O 875, a memory 881, a recording unit 886, a calendar clock 890, and the like are connected by a bus 899, and the information processing unit 880 can control each peripheral circuit. Has become.

The short-range wireless communication means is a communication means using light such as radio waves, ultrasonic waves, and infrared rays as carrier waves. When using radio waves, it may be based on wireless communication specifications such as a wireless LAN (local area network).

In the above description, the communication device has been described as an example in which the personal computer 80 is used. However, as long as the communication device includes a recording unit, a communication unit, and the like, a communication terminal such as a mobile phone or an electronic organizer may be used. Good. The electronic camera 10 is connected to the personal computer 8.
0 function may be provided.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a case where the acquired image is uploaded to a communication network such as the Internet.

As shown in the figure, the electronic camera 10 and the personal computer 80, and the electronic camera 10A and the personal computer 80A are connected to each other by communication means such as wired or wireless communication. Can be transmitted and received. In addition, personal computer 80, 80A
Is the Internet 2 using wired or wireless communication means.
6, information can be transmitted / received to / from a communication device such as the server 90 described above via a communication network.

When the user operates the mode switching dial provided on the electronic camera 10 and selects, for example, a storage class (a mode such as a still image mode), the electronic cameras 10 and 10A are connected for communication. The mode is regarded as a recording medium such as the personal computer 80 or 80A. Then, the personal computers 80 and 80A are the electronic cameras 1
0 and 10A to access the recording media 177 and 17
Information about directories and files recorded in 7A is acquired.

The personal computers 80 and 80A automatically start communication software such as an image viewer, and start communication with the server 90 or the like having a predetermined address via the public line 860 or the like. The users 8, 8A...
When an image file recorded in a recording unit such as 77A is selected from a group of images displayed as a list of reduced images and the like and transmitted to a predetermined site and instructed, the selected image file is deleted. Along with the site address, it is automatically transmitted to the site of a predetermined server to which the user has contracted.

Note that the personal computers 80 and 80A that have acquired the address information of the site may provide a site address designation button for designating the address of the site on the image viewer and display it. When the user specifies the site address displayed on the image viewer, the site address is linked, and the site address is accessed to display the home page of the site and a reduced image of the associated image. It is possible to do.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the signal processing system of the server.

As shown in the figure, the information transmission / reception unit of the server 90 has an antenna 956 used as a long-distance wireless network communication means, and converts data into a predetermined format for transmitting / receiving information wirelessly or by wire. Transmission / reception means 957
(Including the functions of the transmitting means and the receiving means) and the public line 9
60 or a public line transmission / reception unit 965 (including the functions of the transmission unit and the reception unit) for transmitting / receiving information to / from another communication device (the personal computer 80, the electronic camera 10 or the like) via a communication network such as a communication network. Are provided.

The server 90 also has display means 968 for displaying information such as images and characters for confirmation as necessary.
Display control means 969 for outputting an image signal for display to display means 968 based on a command from information processing means
An I / O that reads various information input by the administrator via the input unit 974 and transmits the information to an information processing unit described later, or outputs a display command to a notifying unit such as an LED based on an instruction from the information processing unit. O975 is provided.

The server 90 includes an information processing means (CPU) 980 for controlling the entirety of the server 90, and a ROM and information processing means 980 in which programs for operating the information processing means 980 and various constants are recorded. A memory 981 composed of a RAM, which is a recording means serving as a work area when executing the processing, various constants relating to the processing of the server 90, its own attribute information on the network, and a URL (Unif
A recording unit 986 such as a hard disk for recording information such as connection information such as orm resource locators), an address, a site address, and gateway information DNS (Domain Name System), and a calendar clock 990 for keeping time.

The information processing means 980 in the server 90 and the peripheral circuits including the display control means 969, the I / O 975, the memory 981, the recording means 986, the calendar clock 990, etc. are connected by a bus 999. 980 can control each peripheral circuit.

The server 90 receives an image file from a communication device such as a user's personal computer 80 connected to the communication network, and stores the received image in a recording unit 98.
6 and the image can be provided to a specific user via a communication network.

Transmission / reception means 95 serving as the wireless communication means
7 or transmission / reception means 9 which is a wired communication means such as a public line
Reference numeral 65 indicates that an image file can be received or transmitted from the user's personal computer 80 via a communication network such as the Internet. The image recorded in the received image file is stored in the information processing unit 98.
0 is recorded in the recording means 986 based on the instruction of 0.

The information processing means 980 of the server 90
If it is determined that the received image file contains information about the site address, and if the acquired site address is specified from a communication terminal such as a personal computer 80 connected to the network, A display file in which information and the image are displayed in association with each other and a homepage shared by users such as users 8 and 8A is described (a file in an HTML format in which information for displaying the homepage is described). Create Then, the created display file is stored in the recording unit 986.
Will be recorded. This display file is site address 1
One display file is created for each.

Therefore, when the predetermined site address is designated for browsing the home page from the user's personal computer 80 or the like connected to the network, the information processing means 980 of the server 90 is recorded on the recording means 986. PC 80 of the user who has received a specified display file and a reduced image of the image described in association with the display file (such as a thumbnail image in which the information amount of the image to be transmitted is reduced). Perform processing to transmit to.

The personal computer 80 that has received the display file and the image displays the display information described in the display file and the reduced image in association with each other based on a predetermined browsing program. The user who browses the display can specify download of a desired image and the like. When the user specifies the download of the image to the personal computer 80 or 80A or the download to the area of the server to which the user has contracted, the transmission / reception means 957 or 965 of the server 90 moves to the location specified by the user. Perform image transmission. In this manner, the server 90 can provide the user with an image shared at a predetermined site address.

Note that browsing of the site is not permitted only to the user 8 or 8A, but the third party can notify the third party user of the site address of the site so that the third party can also view the site. Can be browsed.

If the server 90 receives an image file from another user and determines that the received image file contains information on the same site address as the above-mentioned site address, the server 90 receives the image file this time. The display file is changed so that the displayed image is also displayed in association with the information of the site, and is recorded in the recording unit 986. Therefore, all image files in which the same site address is described and transmitted to the server 90 or the like are recorded in association with the display file of the same site address.

Next time, when the user designates the site address, the display file and the reduced image of the previously received image and the currently received image are transmitted to the user, and the display means 868 of the personal computer 80 on the user side. , The image received last time and the image received this time are displayed together in association with the information of the site.

The following is a description of the requirement for disappearance of the created image sharing site.

A button for instructing download of an image displayed on the homepage of the image sharing site is displayed on the image viewer running on the user's personal computer 80, 80A or the like. When the user selects a desired image and instructs to download the selected image,
The image selected by the user is stored on the server or the personal computer 80, 80A on the user's side from the image sharing site.
Downloaded to When the image is downloaded, downloaded information indicating that the image has been downloaded (corresponding to site abolition information or site continuation information) is transmitted to a predetermined site address. The server 90 that manages the image sharing site that has received the downloaded information records the transmitted image name in association with the ID, which is identification information unique to the user.

The server 90 or the like managing the site address periodically checks the recorded downloaded information. And, for example, when all users have finished downloading all images, and it becomes unnecessary to have a site sharing the images,
The created display file may be deleted from the recording unit 986.

Also, on the image viewer running on the personal computer 80, 80A, a button is provided for instructing the elimination or continuation of a site where the user can share and provide images, and the user can abolish the site. Alternatively, when a button for instructing continuation is selected (corresponding to instructing non-use of a site address), abolition information of the selected site or continuation information of the site may be transmitted to a predetermined site address. . The transmission / reception unit 957 or 965 of the server 90 that manages the site address that has received the site revocation information or the site persistence information receives the information received together with the ID that is the user-specific identification information. ).

The information processing means 980 (including the function of the display file deleting means) such as the server 90 which manages the site address, for example, periodically checks the recorded abolition information of the site or the continuation information of the site. Then, for example, when all the users have transmitted the obsolete information of the site (for example, when all of the surviving information is in the obsolete state), or when all the users have stopped transmitting the surviving information of the site (the surviving information). Is not in the existing state), it is determined that the existence of the site sharing the image is considered unnecessary, and the created display file is processed by the information processing unit 980 (function of the display file deleting unit). May be deleted, deleted or deleted from the recording unit 986 and set to an unused state.

In this way, for example, the users 8, 8A... Of all the electronic cameras 10, 10A. It is possible to freely designate the continuation or abolition (closure) of the shared site. Also, if the users 8, 8A... Of all the electronic cameras 10, 10A... That participated in the generation of all the site addresses specify that the image sharing site should not be continued or abolished, the image sharing site is abolished (erasing the display file). Or delete).

Further, the information processing means 980 of the server 90 periodically monitors the calendar clock 990, and a predetermined number of days, hours, etc., such as three months, have elapsed since the display file was created or updated. In this case, the display file may be automatically and uniformly deleted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the image sharing site.

As shown in the figure, the personal computer 80 owned by the user 8 can transmit and receive information to and from the server 90 to which the user 8 subscribes via a communication network such as the Internet. Similarly, the personal computer 80A owned by the user 8A can transmit and receive information to and from the server 90A to which the user 8A has a contract via a communication network such as the Internet.

When the user 8 designates the site address of the server 90 to which the user has subscribed, the browsing software such as the homepage running on the personal computer 80 displays the image display 2.
8 is displayed on the display means 868. The image display 28 displays the image 30 transmitted by the user 8 to the server 90 or a reduced image thereof. It is assumed that the image file used when transmitting the image 30 also describes the site address of the virtual server created based on the unique identification information of the electronic cameras 10 and 10A.

Similarly, when the user 8A designates the site address of the server 90A under contract, the image display 28A is displayed on the display means 868 of the personal computer 80A. It is assumed that the image file used when transmitting the image 30A also describes the site address of the virtual server created based on the unique identification information of the electronic cameras 10 and 10A.

The information processing means 980 of the server 90 or the server 90A creates a display file of the site address described together with the images 30 and 30A. When the site address is designated by the users 8, 8A,... Connected by the network, the server 90 or 90A transmits the created display file. Thereby, the home page of the site of the virtual server 90B (actually, the server existing in the server 90 or 90A) is displayed.

At this time, the image 30 is recorded by the server 90, and the location such as the file name of the image (a predetermined folder or directory of the recording means 986 of the server 90, the file name, etc.) is linked in the display file. It may be described so that it can be displayed. Similarly, the image 30A
May be displayed by linking the images recorded by the recording means of the server 90A. Note that the description shown in the figure illustrates a case where there are two users, but the same processing is performed even if there are three or more users, or if there are three or more images. It is possible.

[0099] In this way, the users 8, 8A,...
0B, own server 90 or 90A, personal computer 8
It is possible to download and record images required for 0, 80A and the like. Further, the user can freely browse and copy the downloaded image.

When the virtual server 90B becomes unnecessary for the users 8, 8A, etc., a predetermined check box (instruction to abolish the image sharing site) displayed on the homepage provided by the virtual server is provided. The user operates the input unit 874 to check a check box or the like. When all the users who can browse the virtual server 90B check the check box, the display file displaying the site of the virtual server 90B is deleted,
Image sharing sites will no longer be displayed.

FIG. 11 shows an algorithm for creating a display file created by the server.

Servers 90, 90 are personal computers 80, 80
A, when an image file is received from a communication device such as the electronic camera 10, 10A, the processing program executed by the information processing means 980 of the server 90, 90A is executed in step S100 “Start” (hereinafter referred to as “step S100”) of the display file creation algorithm shown in FIG. (Abbreviated and described as in S100). Then, the process proceeds to next S102 “site address detected?”

In S102, it is determined whether or not site address information is described in the received image file. If the site address information is described in the header or the like of the received image file, the processing program proceeds to the determination of S104 “new site address?”. If the site address information is not described in the header portion or the like of the received image file, the processing program proceeds to “end” in S110, and returns to the original processing routine.

At S104, it is determined whether the information of the site address described in the received image file is new site address information or a site address that has been registered and used. . If the site address information described in the received image file is new site address information,
The processing program branches to the processing of S106 “Create new display file”. If the information of the site address described in the received image file is the information of the already used site address, the processing program proceeds to the processing of S108 “link display image file”.

In S106, a process for automatically creating a display file in which programming for displaying a homepage or the like relating to the designated site address is performed and recording the file in the recording means 986 is performed, and the flow advances to the next S108.

In S108, the size (or capacity) of the image recorded in the received image file is read, and
If it is determined that transmission of an image requires several seconds or more in a normal communication state, a resizing process is performed to reduce the image size to an image size normally used for a thumbnail image. Then, a unique file name is created and recorded in the recording means 986 and the like, and the created unique file name is additionally described in a predetermined display file to set a link display state. The updated display file is recorded over the recording means 986 or the like.

Since the file name of the received image is linked in the display file in this way, when the user operates the personal computer 80, 80A or the like to specify the site address, the newly created display file is displayed. The image linked to the file or a reduced image of the image is recorded by the recording means 986
, And transmitted to the user's personal computer 80, 80A, etc., so that the user can view it.

When the display file update processing is completed in S108, the processing program proceeds to S108, ends the display file creation processing routine, and returns to the original processing routine.

[0109]

As described above, according to the electronic apparatus of the present invention, the recording means for recording the identification information unique to the own electronic apparatus, the acquisition means for acquiring the identification information unique to the other electronic apparatus, A site address creation unit that creates a site address that specifies a predetermined site on a network using the recorded identification information unique to the electronic device and the acquired identification information unique to the other electronic device; Since an output unit for outputting the site address to another electronic device is provided, it is possible to easily and automatically create a unique site address of the image sharing server that shares the image.

According to the server of the present invention, receiving means for receiving an image file via a communication network, recording means for recording an image described in the received image file, In the case where information about a site address is included, when the site address is specified, the display device includes display file creation means for creating a display file for displaying the information of the site and the image in association with each other. Images can be easily shared via a communication network such as the Internet.

Therefore, according to the image providing system and the method thereof according to the present invention, when the acquired image is shared, the more the number of users becomes, the more complicated the work becomes. Etc.), it is possible to eliminate the need for complicated and cumbersome work related to image sharing. Further, according to the present invention, the user can copy all of the acquired images and use them effectively.

Further, the image service provider that manages the server increases the number of registered images for each user,
Service business can be expanded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of the electronic camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method in which electronic cameras notify each other of device-specific identification information and generate site address information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of creating site address information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a subject is imaged using an electronic camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a structure of an image file in which a site address and an image are recorded.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of a personal computer.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram when uploading an acquired image onto a communication network.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of a server.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of an image sharing site.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a display file creation algorithm.

[Explanation of symbols]

8, 8A: User, 10, 10A: Electronic camera, 12,
12A: identification information, 14: site address, 16: password, 18: date, 20, 20A: subject, 22: image file, 24: image data, 26: Internet, 28, 28A, 28B: image display, 30: image , 8
0, 80A ... personal computer, 90, 90A, 90B ... server, 150 ... imaging means, 153 ... image processing means, 154
... A / D converters, 156, 156A ... antennas, 157
.., Transmitting / receiving means, 162, communication connector, 163, cradle connector, 167, compression / expansion means, 168, display means, 169, OSD, 170, signal processing means, 171
Frame memory, 172 D / A converter, 174 input means, 175 I / O, 177 recording medium, 178 recording medium mounting section, 179 recording medium interface, 1
80 information processing means, 182 nonvolatile memory, 183
... ROM, 184 ... RAM, 190 ... Calendar clock, 1
91 power supply, 192 power connector, 193 light emitting means, 194 light emission control means, 199 bus, 856, 8
56A: antenna, 857: transmitting / receiving means, 859: communication connector, 860: public line, 865: transmitting / receiving means, 8
68 display means, 869 display control means, 874 input means, 875 I / O, 877 recording medium, 878 recording medium mounting section, 879 recording medium interface, 8
80 information processing means, 881 memory, 886 recording means, 890 calendar clock, 899 bus, 956 antenna, 957 transmission / reception means, 960 public line, 96
5 transmission / reception means, 968 display means, 969 display control means, 974 input means, 975 I / O, 980 information processing means, 981 memory, 986 recording means, 99
0: Calendar clock, 999: Bus

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. Acquiring identification information unique to another electronic device,
An electronic device that creates and outputs a site address specified on a communication network using the acquired unique identification information and the unique identification information of the electronic device. Recording means for recording; acquiring means for acquiring identification information unique to another electronic device; and using the recorded identification information unique to the electronic device and the acquired identification information unique to the electronic device. An electronic device comprising: a site address creating unit that creates a site address designating a predetermined site on a network; and an output unit that outputs the site address to another electronic device. 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said site address creating means creates a site address in consideration of date information. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: input means for inputting a password by a user, wherein said site address generating means generates a site address in consideration of the password input by said user. Electronic equipment. 4. An image acquiring means for acquiring an image, and an image file creating means for creating an image file in which the acquired image and the created site address are described in the same file, wherein the output means comprises: 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the image file in which the site address is described is output to another electronic device. 5. The image acquiring unit acquires an image by capturing a subject image, a unit that reads and acquires an image recorded on a recording medium, or acquires an image from another electronic device via communication. 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the electronic apparatus is an acquisition unit. 6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit receives identification information unique to another electronic device by wireless or wired communication. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit reads out and acquires identification information unique to another electronic device recorded on a recording medium that can be inserted and removed. Electronics. 8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the site address or the image file to another electronic device by wireless or wired communication. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit records the site address or the image file on a recording medium that can be inserted and removed, and outputs the site address or the image file to another electronic device. Electronic device as described. 10. A non-use input means for instructing a user not to use the created site address, and when the non-use of the site address is instructed through the non-use input means, the created site is used. And means for deleting, erasing, or not using the address.
An electronic device according to claim 1. 11. A server that receives an image file from a communication device connected to a communication network, records the received image, and provides the image to a specific user via the communication network. A receiving unit that receives an image file via a communication network; a recording unit that records an image described in the received image file; if the received image file includes information about a site address, A display file creating means for creating a display file for displaying information of the site in association with the image when the site address is designated. 12. The server according to claim 11, further comprising transmission means for transmitting the image to another communication device via a network. 13. The method according to claim 13, wherein the receiving unit receives the abolition information of the site corresponding to the site address, and includes a display file deleting unit that deletes the display file when the receiving unit receives the abolition information. 13. The server according to claim 11, wherein: 14. The receiving means receives surviving information or abolished information of the site corresponding to the site address, and records the surviving information or abolished information of the site corresponding to the site address received by the receiving means for each user. A display that deletes the display file when all of the surviving information of the site recorded for each user is not in the surviving state, or when all of the surviving information is in the abolishing state. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a file deleting unit.
Or 12 servers. 15. A site address designated on a communication network is created using identification information unique to another electronic device and identification information unique to the own electronic device, and the created site address and image are described. An electronic device that outputs an image file to another electronic device, and a display file that receives an image file from the electronic device, records the received image, and displays the image as a shared image on a site corresponding to the site address. An image providing system comprising: a server that creates and provides an image to a specific user via a communication network; and a recording unit that records identification information unique to its own electronic device; Acquiring means for acquiring identification information unique to the electronic device; identification information unique to the own electronic device recorded and identification information unique to the acquired other electronic device; A site address creating means for creating a site address designating a predetermined site on the network using the different information; an image acquiring means for acquiring an image; and the same file containing the acquired image and the created site address. An image file creating means for creating the image file described in the above, an output device for outputting the image file in which the site address is described to another electronic device, and an image file from the other electronic device. An image acquisition unit to acquire; a recording unit to record an image described in the acquired image file; and if the acquired image file includes information on a site address, the site address is designated. A display file for creating a display file for displaying the information of the site and the image in association with each other Image providing system comprising a server, characterized in that it comprises a forming means, and in that they are composed of. 16. A site address designated on a communication network is created using identification information unique to another electronic device and identification information unique to the own electronic device, and the created site address is stored in an image file together with an image. Described and output to the server, the server that has received the image file from the electronic device creates a display file that records the received image and displays it as a shared image at the site corresponding to the site address, via a communication network An image providing method for providing an image to a specific user, wherein the electronic device acquires identification information unique to another electronic device, and the acquired identification information unique to the other electronic device and its own electronic device. Creates a site address that designates a predetermined site on the network using the identification information unique to its own electronic device recorded in advance The electronic device acquires an image; the image device acquires the image acquired by the electronic device; and the step of creating an image file in which the created site address is described in the same file. A step of outputting the image file in which the address is described to another electronic device, a step in which the server acquires an image file from the other electronic device, and a step in which the server copies the image described in the acquired image file. A step of recording in a recording unit, and a display file for displaying site information corresponding to the site address and displaying the image in association with the image when the image file obtained by the server includes information on the site address. Generating an image, and an image providing method.