JP2002259789A - Image saving device and image saving system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prompt secondary usage of saved images to improve use frequency of a service. SOLUTION: An image saving server provides the predetermined service to a customer (step ST11), determines whether points are used (step ST12), and subtracts used points corresponding to the predetermined service from present cumulative points when points are used (step ST13). It determines whether the cumulative points are smaller than zero (step ST14), sets a usage charge for the service at zero if the cumulative points are not smaller than zero (step ST15), and calculates the usage charge from the present cumulative points and sets the cumulative points to zero if the cumulative points are smaller than zero (step ST16).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image storage device and an image storage system, and more particularly to an image storage device and an image storage system suitable for promoting secondary use of stored images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one form of digital photo service, there is a network photo service in which a user's digital image is stored (registered) in a service provider's server and print orders are received via a network such as the Internet. Are known.

[0003] In such a network photo service, for example, when a user requests a film development dealer (hereinafter referred to as a "minilab shop") to register a digital image during film development, the image recorded on the film is Digitized in a minilab store or dedicated service center, stored on the service provider's server,
It will also be published on the network. In addition, the user can browse the registered images by accessing the service provider's system via the network,
A print order can be made for a registered image.

[0004] Specifically, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed in
In 154218 gazette, a server computer (hereinafter, referred to as “lab server”) connected to a network is installed in a minilab store or the like, and a lab server is installed from a server computer (hereinafter, referred to as “center server”) installed in a service center that accepts orders. In response, we proposed a network photo service system that transfers order information received from users and high-resolution image data used for print output, and prints out at each minilab store.

[0005] The above network photo system aims to increase the number of users by printing out at a minilab store, eliminating the conventional delivery process and shortening the delivery time, and making the network photo service more accessible. is there.

[0006] The network photo system has a function of, for example, printing out the registered image or transmitting the image by e-mail after the image is registered, and providing a service using the registered image to be used by the customer. Is getting paid. Therefore, there is a limit on the total amount of images stored to encourage the proper use of each user,
In addition, the usage fee increases as the total capacity of the image increases in order to obtain a fee corresponding to the service.

[0007]

With the above functions alone, there is a problem that the user does not use the registered image service much, and the network photo system is not used much. To address these issues, some services have been free of charge. However, even if some services became free, the use frequency of the services did not increase so much, so it was necessary to further promote the secondary use of images.

[0008] The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an image storage device and an image storage device capable of promoting secondary use of stored images and improving the frequency of use of services. The purpose is to provide a system.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An image storage unit that stores an image, a control unit that performs at least one of control of writing an image in the image storage unit and control of reading an image from the image storage unit, an image size handled by the control unit, Point calculation means for calculating points according to at least one of the transfer data amount and the image input / output mode, and accumulative points accumulated by adding or subtracting the points calculated by the point calculation means. Point storage means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of terminal devices each including an image transmitting device for transmitting an image, and an instruction device for instructing service provision, and storing an image transmitted from the terminal device. An image storage unit that performs at least one of control of writing an image in the image storage unit and control of reading an image from the image storage unit based on an instruction to provide a service from the terminal device; and the control unit. Point calculation means for calculating points according to at least one of a size of an image to be handled, a transfer data amount of the image, and an input / output mode of the image, and add or subtract the points calculated by the point calculation means. And a point storage unit for storing the accumulated points.

[0011] The image storage means stores an image. The image here is not limited to a still image, but may be a clip image or a moving image. The control unit performs control of writing an image in the image storage unit and control of reading out the image from the image storage unit based on a service provision instruction from the terminal device, and performs a service using the image to the customer.

The point calculation means calculates points according to at least one of the size of the image handled by the control means, the transfer data amount of the image, and the input / output mode of the image. For example, the points increase as the size of the image increases, and the points increase as the amount of transfer data increases. Further, as an image input / output mode, for example, even for the same image, the point is higher when printed out on A4 paper than on B5 paper. Then, the point calculation means can calculate the points based on an arbitrary combination of image handling methods. The point storage means accumulatively adds the points each time the points are calculated by the point calculation means, and stores the accumulated points. Then, by giving a use privilege according to the accumulated points to the customer, use of the service can be promoted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, transmitting means for transmitting data for displaying the points calculated by the point calculating means or the accumulated points stored in the point storing means. Is further provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the image storage device displays the points calculated by the point calculation means or the accumulated points stored in the point storage means. The terminal device further includes transmission means for transmitting data, and the terminal device further comprises point display means for displaying the accumulated points based on the data transmitted from the image storage device.

The data for displaying the points calculated by the point calculating means and the accumulated points stored in the point storing means include, for example, a source code for displaying a website, an image image, and an e-mail. preferable. Thus, the customer can check the points every time the service is provided, or check the accumulated points at the present time.

The third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect.
In the invention described in the above, further comprising history information storage means for storing history information relating to control of the control means, wherein the transmission means transmits data for displaying history information stored in the history information storage means. It is characterized by.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 5 or 6.
In the invention described in the above, the image storage device further includes history information storage means for storing history information relating to control of the control means, and the transmission means displays the history information stored in the history information storage means. Send data for
The terminal device further includes history information display means for displaying the history information based on data transmitted from the image storage device.

The writing or reading of an image by the control means means, for example, writing or reading of an image when a service is provided to a customer using the image. Therefore, every time a service is provided to a customer, new contents are described in the history information. The data for displaying the history information is preferably, for example, a source code for displaying a website, an image image, and an e-mail. This allows the customer to visually check the history information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the accumulated point exceeds a predetermined value, the point storage means further stores the predetermined point in the accumulated point. Is added.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the point storage means of the image storage device stores the accumulated points when the accumulated points exceed a predetermined value. It is characterized in that a predetermined point is further added to the point.

When the accumulated points gradually increase and exceed a predetermined value, a predetermined point is added as a bonus to provide an incentive so that the customer wants to receive the service further and to promote the use of the service. be able to.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A case where an image storage system is applied to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image storage system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 installed in a so-called minilab shop and a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses used by general customers. And an image storage server 40 for storing and managing images transmitted via the Internet 30. The communication terminal device 20 and the image forming apparatus 10 communicate with the image storage server 4 via the Internet 30.
0, and various kinds of information can be transmitted / received to / from the image storage server 40 through mutual communication.

The image forming apparatus 10 is installed in a minilab store, and can not only read an image recorded on a film and print a photograph, but also register a print image in the image storage server 40. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 reads a film image and outputs image data, and performs a predetermined correction process on the image data from the line scanner 11. Processing unit 12, a laser printer unit 13 for recording an image on photographic paper based on the image data from the image processing unit 12, and an output port for transmitting the image data output by the image processing unit 12 to the Internet 30. 14 is provided.

The communication terminal device 20 is constituted by a so-called personal computer which can be connected to the Internet 30, for example. The communication terminal device 20 stores, for example, an image captured by a digital camera in the image storage server 40, registers customer information in the image storage server 40, and browses images stored in the image storage server 40. Used when equalizing. The communication terminal device 20 includes:
A dedicated terminal connected to the image storage server 40 via a dedicated line, a mobile phone, a digital camera, or any other terminal having an Internet connection function may be used. The image may be a clip image or a moving image in addition to a still image.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal device 20 includes an input / output port 21 through which data is input / output via the Internet 30, a mouse 22 as a pointing device, and numerical values and characters. A keyboard 23 for inputting, a display 24 for displaying input results and the like, a control unit 25 for controlling the overall operation, a memory card drive 26 for reading images recorded on a memory card,
A hard disk drive 27 for storing data and a bus 28 for connecting each unit are provided.

The mouse 22 is used to select an image displayed on a website, to designate a position for inputting characters, and the like. The keyboard 23 is used for inputting customer information, image attribute information, an image selection signal, and the like, which will be described in detail later. Note that, instead of the mouse 22 and the keyboard 23, a dedicated input device having a function of a pointing device and a function of inputting numerical values, characters, and the like may be used.

As the display 24, for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, an EL display, a plasma display, and a television receiver can be applied. Mouse 22, keyboard 2
A so-called touch panel having the functions of the display 3 and the display 24 may be used.

The control unit 25 receives, for example, customer information, an image selection signal, image attribute information input from the mouse 22 or the keyboard 23, and image data read by the memory card drive 26 via the input / output port 21. To the image storage server 40. The control unit 25 controls the display 24 based on the data from the image storage server 40.
An image can also be displayed on the.

The image storage server 40 includes the image forming apparatus 10
And temporarily saves all images transmitted from the communication terminal device 20, further associates the images with customer information, image attribute information, and the like, and organizes, classifies, and saves the images. Then, the image storage server 40 places the stored image on a website, transmits predetermined data based on an instruction of the communication terminal device 20, prints the stored image to a predetermined minilab store, You can place an order.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image storage server 40 includes an input / output port 41 through which data is input / output via the Internet 30, an input unit 42 including a mouse, a keyboard, and the like. A display 43 for displaying input results and the like, a control unit 44 for controlling the overall operation and calculating points and usage charges, and a hard disk drive 45 for storing various databases and programs,
A point calculation table storage unit 46 storing a point calculation table and a bus 47 for interconnecting the units are provided.

The control unit 44 issues a customer ID and a password upon receiving new customer information, associates images stored in the hard disk drive 45 with various types of information, classifies images, and the like.

Further, the control unit 44 can calculate points corresponding to the customer's transaction using the point calculation table stored in the memory 46, or calculate the usage fee in consideration of the accumulated points. Here, "transaction" is a general term for processing involving writing and reading of data such as images.

As shown in FIG. 5, the point calculation table includes the number of accesses, each type of transaction such as upload and download, and 5P, 10P, 15P.
・ ・ It consists of points such as Each point is
The degree varies depending on the degree of the transaction, for example, the size of the image to be handled, the transfer data amount of the image, and the input / output mode of the image.

For example, according to FIG. 5, the points increase as the size of the image to be downloaded or uploaded increases. Also, in the print creation order,
Even for the same image, the point increases as the output mode of the image increases, as in the case of printing out in the A4 size rather than the B5 size. Although not shown, points may be increased as the amount of transfer data of the image increases.

Most of the transactions described in the point calculation table are charged, and the usage fee increases as the number of points increases. Also,
For downloading the content data described below,
Points and usage charges may be higher than downloading images registered by the customer. On the other hand, some transactions, such as member registration or first-time upload of images, are given points even if they are free.

The hard disk drive 45 can store a large amount of data so that all images from the image forming apparatus 10 and the communication terminal apparatus 20 can be temporarily stored.

Here, the hard disk drive 45 is
As shown in FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 10 and the communication terminal apparatus 2
0, an image storage database 51 for temporarily storing images simply transmitted, a customer information database 52 composed of a large number of customer information, and image information formed by associating the image storage database 51 with the customer information database 52 and the like. It is composed of a storage database 53.

The image storage database 51 includes a plurality of images transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 and the communication terminal device 20 and image basic information which is basic information such as the size of these images.

As shown in FIG. 7, the image basic information includes a customer ID, an image ID, a size, and an update date and time. The customer ID is an identification code that identifies the customer who transmitted the image. The image ID is uniquely determined for the transmitted image, and is used to specify the image. The size is the data capacity of the image. The update date and time indicates the date and time when the image was last updated.

As shown in FIG. 8, the customer information database 52 includes customer information 1, 2,... Transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 and the communication terminal device 20, and header information for managing each customer information. It is configured. Each customer information is specifically composed of customer ID, name, date of birth, age, address, hobby, and other information.

The image information storage database 53 includes the image storage database 51 and the customer information database 5 described above.
2 as well as image attribute information and an image selection signal.

Here, the image attribute information is an attribute of the image data, that is, detailed information of the image data. As shown in FIG. 9, the customer ID, the image ID, the sharing, the shooting date and time, the title, the shooting location, and the like It consists of information. “Share” is information indicating whether the image is shared with a third party, that is, whether the image can be read by a third party. The image selection signal is a signal when the customer selects an image to be stored, and specifies an image to be stored.

The image information storage database 53 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the information includes customer ID, image ID, size, update date, selection, image attribute information, customer information, and other information. Here, “selection” means that the image storage server 4
0 becomes “present” when the image selection signal is received, and becomes “absent” when the image storage server 40 does not receive the image selection signal. The selection can be made at any time.

The image storage server 40 further includes a shared image management database 61, a customer management database 62, a point management database 63, an information content database 64, and a history information database 65, as shown in FIG.

The shared image management database 61 stores images that can be shared with third parties, such as celestial objects, travel, tennis,
They are classified into predetermined categories such as cooking, school, and construction.

In the customer management database 62, the customer information in the image information storage database 53 is classified and arranged.

The point management database 63 accumulates and stores points generated by using each image for each customer. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the point management database 63 stores a reference number, a customer ID, a point starting date,
Consists of cumulative points. The point start date refers to the start date of the period for accumulating points, and is preferably, for example, a day on which the customer has registered the customer. The cumulative points are points at the present time as a result of adding acquired points and subtracting used points.

The information content database 64 stores data such as symbols, fonts, and layouts used when providing various services such as reprint order, e-mail transmission, three-dimensional image synthesis, and postcard creation. .

The history information database 65 stores, for each customer,
The date, the used image (thumbnail image), the transaction, the usage fee, and the acquired points are stored.

When the customer accesses via the communication terminal device 20, the image storage server 40 reads the image of the customer from the image information storage database 53 and transmits the image to the communication terminal device 20. According to the request of
The user can edit images, create albums, and order prints.

In the image storage system 1 configured as described above, the image storage server 40 registers an image of a registered customer according to the following procedure.

When the customer requests the minilab store to store the print image together with the film development, the communication terminal device 20 of the minilab store stores the customer information such as the customer's address, name, date of birth, address, hobbies, and the like as an image. Send it to server 40. Upon receiving the customer information, the image storage server 40 executes the processing from step ST1 shown in FIG.

In step ST1, the image storage server 40 stores the received customer information in the customer information database 52.
Save and register as a member. Then, the image storage server 4
0 transmits the member number and the password to the communication terminal device 20 that is the transmission source of the customer information,
Move to T2.

After the member registration, the image forming apparatus 1 at the minilab store
0 indicates the image used for development on the Internet 3
0 to the image storage server 40. Note that the communication terminal device 20 may transmit the image to the image storage server 40 instead of the image forming device 10.

In step ST2, the image storage server 40 determines whether an image of a customer registered as a member has been received, waits in step ST2 until an image is received, and proceeds to step ST3 when an image is received.

In step ST3, the image storage server 40 stores the image transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 or the communication terminal apparatus 20 in the image storage database 51,
The process proceeds to step ST4.

In step ST 4, the image storage server 40 stores the image newly stored in the image storage database 5 from the image forming apparatus 10 or the communication terminal 20.
1. The image information storage database 53 is updated by associating the image attribute information, the image selection signal, and the customer information database 52, and the process proceeds to step ST5.

Note that the image storage server 40 may associate the image storage database 51 with the customer information database 52 without receiving the image attribute information and the image selection signal. Then, the image storage server 40 may update the image information storage database 53 every time it receives the image attribute information and the image selection signal.

In step ST5, the image storage server 40 determines whether the storage period of the newly transmitted image has passed a predetermined period, and waits in step ST5 until the storage period of the image has passed the predetermined period. If it is determined that the image storage period has passed the predetermined period, the process proceeds to step ST6.

In step ST 6, the image storage server 40 selects an image selection signal or image attribute information (hereinafter referred to as “image selection signal or the like”) indicating selection of a newly transmitted image.
That. ) Is determined, and if it is determined that an image selection signal or the like has been received, the process ends, and if it is determined that an image selection signal or the like has not been received, the process proceeds to step ST7.

In step ST7, the image storage server 40 notifies the customer to input an image selection signal or the like, and proceeds to step ST8. The notification to the customer may be made by e-mail, or a predetermined document may be mailed to the address described in the customer information.

In step ST8, after a lapse of a predetermined period from the notification to the customer, the image storage server 40 determines whether an image selection signal or the like has been received. If it is determined that an image selection signal or the like has been received, the process ends. If it is determined that no image selection signal or the like has been received, the process proceeds to step ST9.

In step ST9, the image storage server 40 deletes the image and the information related thereto from the image storage database 51, and ends the processing for the image. As a result, the image storage server 40 can store only images that the customer intends to store.

According to the image storage system 1 described above, even if the customer stores an image in the image storage server 40, even if an unexpected situation such as a natural disaster occurs for the customer,
An image can be avoided from such an unexpected situation. Furthermore, while only the selected predetermined image is stored for a long period of time, unnecessary images are deleted, so that the storage capacity of the image storage server 40 can be used efficiently. Further, according to the image storage system 1, since the image attribute information is added to each image in the image information storage database 53, the customer can easily search for a desired image.

If the customer does not pay the usage fee even after a lapse of a predetermined period from the notification of the usage fee, the image storage server 40 saves the image even if the customer logs in normally from the communication terminal device 20. Access to the information database can also be prohibited.

In the image storage system 1, when a customer accesses the image storage server 40 via, for example, the communication terminal device 20, the image storage server 40 sends a reprint order, e-mail transmission, and three-dimensional image synthesis according to the customer's request. Delivery,
Along with providing postcard creation orders and other services,
Calculate points and usage fees. Specifically, when the customer logs in to the image storage server 40 using the member number and the password, the image storage server 40 executes the processing from step ST11 shown in FIG.

In step ST11, the image storage server 40 receives an order for a predetermined service (for example, creation of a post card) according to the request of the customer, and proceeds to step ST11.
It moves to 12.

In step ST12, the image storage server 40 asks the customer whether to use the accumulated points by displaying, for example, a point use confirmation window 70 shown in FIG. 14 on a website in calculating the usage fee. When the customer selects to use the points (when the customer clicks "use"), the process proceeds to step ST13, and when the customer selects not to use the points (the customer "accumulates").
Is selected), the process proceeds to step ST17.

In step ST13, the image storage server 40 refers to the point calculation table shown in FIG. 5 and subtracts the used points corresponding to the post card creation order from the current accumulated points (accumulated P ← accumulated P).
-Use P), and proceed to step ST14.

In step ST14, the image storage server 40 determines whether the accumulated point is smaller than zero,
When it is smaller than zero, the process proceeds to step ST15, and when it is not smaller than zero, the process proceeds to step ST16.

At step ST15, the image storage server 40 determines that the accumulated points are minus,
The usage fee corresponding to the minus accumulated points is calculated, and further, the accumulated points are set to zero.
Proceed to T18.

In step ST16, the image storage server 40 sets the usage fee for the postcard creation order to zero, and proceeds to step ST18.

In step ST17 when it is determined in step ST12 that the point is not used, the image storage server 40 adds the point corresponding to the post card creation order to the current accumulated point, and then proceeds to step ST17.
Move to 18.

In step ST18, the image storage server 40 displays, for example, a usage fee / cumulative point confirmation window 80 shown in FIG. 15 on the website to allow the customer to check the usage fee of the service and the accumulated points changed by the service. I do. When the customer clicks the “OK” button, the image storage server 40 registers the points displayed in “current accumulated points” in the point management database 63. As a result, the accumulated points registered in the point management database 63 always indicate the latest status points. When the customer clicks the "cancel" button, the process returns to step ST.
Return to 12.

Here, the case where the image storage server 40 displays the accumulated points on the website has been described, but in addition, an e-mail indicating the contents of the point use confirmation window 70 and the usage fee / cumulative point confirmation window 80 may be transmitted. It may be transmitted directly to the communication terminal device 20 of the customer.

Further, the accumulated points stored in the point management database 63 can be used as a part of the price when the customer purchases affiliated products at, for example, a mini-lab store or a convenience store. Further, the magnetic card on which the member number is recorded may be read by a magnetic reader, and the accumulated points may be viewed on the website of the image storage server 40 if the customer inputs a password.

Further, the image storage server 40 can make the customer who has normally accessed by inputting the member number and the password confirm the current accumulated points. Specifically, the image storage server 40 reads the point information of the customer who has requested the point confirmation from the point management database 63, and stores the current accumulated points, the last month accumulated points on the website as shown in FIG. 16, for example. A point information window 90 including points acquired this month and points used this month is displayed. The image storage server 40 may send the contents of the point information window 90 to the customer by e-mail.

Further, the image storage server 40 can make the customer who has normally accessed by inputting the member number and the password confirm the history of the transaction up to the present. Specifically, the image storage server 40
Reads the history information of the customer from the history information database 65 for the customer who has requested the history check, and displays the date and time, thumbnail image, transaction, usage fee, A history information window 100 including acquired points, used points, and accumulated points is displayed. The image storage server 40
May send the contents of the history information window 100 to the customer by e-mail.

As described above, according to the image storage system 1, points are given by the customer receiving various services, and the points can be used as all or a part of the usage fee. Can be used more frequently.

When the cumulative points of the customer exceed a predetermined point (for example, 10,000 points), the image storage server 40 may give the customer bonus points and store the bonus points in the point management database 63. . Further, various kinds of service discounts and premium benefits may be given to the customer as a premium member.

Further, during the point service period, the image storage server 40 may multiply the points of the point calculation table shown in FIG. 5 by 5 times or 10 times.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be applied to, for example, the following various embodiments. For example, the image storage server 40 may add the accumulated points of the customer to the accumulated points of other customers only when the customer has given permission.

Further, an image storage database 51, a customer information database 52, and an image information storage database 53
Are stored in the hard disk drive 45 of the image storage server 40 in the present embodiment, but may be distributed to different servers. Further, the image storage database 51 and the image information storage database 53 may be the same.

The image forming apparatus 10 further includes a hard disk drive (not shown) for storing image data.
All the image data obtained by the image processing unit 12 may be stored in the hard disk drive. At this time, the image storage server 40 may control the image forming apparatus 10 as a part of the image storage database 51.

Further, for example, the case where the communication terminal device 20 is a so-called personal computer has been described as an example, but in addition, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
s) or a mobile phone.

The relationship between the transaction and the points shown in FIG. 5 is an example for describing the present embodiment, and it is a matter of course that the present invention is not limited to this.

[0089]

According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, a point corresponding to at least one of an image size handled by the control means, an image transfer data amount, and an image input / output mode is calculated. By storing the accumulated points obtained by cumulatively adding the points every time is calculated, it is possible to provide the customer with a use privilege according to the accumulated points and promote the use of the service.

According to the present invention, the data for displaying the points calculated by the point calculation means or the accumulated points stored in the point storage means is transmitted to the customer. The calculated points and the accumulated points can be confirmed.

According to the third and seventh aspects of the present invention, the history information relating to the control of the control means is stored, and the data for displaying the history information is transmitted so that the customer can confirm the history information. be able to.

According to the invention described in claims 4 and 8, when the accumulated points exceed the predetermined value, the point storage means adds the predetermined points to the accumulated points, so that the customer can receive the service. Incentives can be given to encourage the user to use the service.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication terminal device provided in the image storage system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image storage server provided in the image storage system.

5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a point calculation table stored in an image storage server 40. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining each database stored in the image storage server.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of image basic information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a customer information database.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of image attribute information.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image information storage database.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a point management database.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the image storage server when registering a new image with a customer.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the image storage server when calculating points.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a point use confirmation window.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage fee / accumulated point confirmation window.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a point information window.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a history window.

[Description of Signs] 10 Image forming device 20 Communication terminal device 30 Internet 40 Image storage server 51 Image storage database 52 Customer information database 53 Image information storage database 63 Point management database

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03B 27/46 G03B 27/46 B G06T 1/00 200 G06T 1/00 200E

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image storage unit that stores an image; a control unit that performs at least one of a control of writing an image in the image storage unit and a control of reading an image from the image storage unit; Point calculation means for calculating points according to at least one of a size, a transfer data amount of the image, and an input / output mode of the image; and the points calculated by the point calculation means are added or subtracted and accumulated. An image storage device comprising: point storage means for storing accumulated points. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting means for transmitting data for displaying the points calculated by said point calculating means or the accumulated points stored in said point storing means. Image storage device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a history information storage unit configured to store history information relating to control of the control unit, wherein the transmission unit transmits data for displaying the history information stored in the history information storage unit. 3. The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The point storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the point storage means adds a predetermined point to the accumulated point when the accumulated point exceeds a predetermined value. Image storage device. 5. A plurality of terminal devices each comprising: an image transmission unit that transmits an image; and an instruction unit that instructs provision of a service; an image storage unit that stores an image transmitted from the terminal device; A control unit that performs at least one of a control of writing an image in the image storage unit and a control of reading an image from the image storage unit based on a service provision instruction from the apparatus; a size of an image handled by the control unit; Point calculation means for calculating points according to at least one of the transfer data amount and the image input / output mode, and accumulative points accumulated by adding or subtracting the points calculated by the point calculation means. An image storage device comprising:
An image storage system having: 6. The image storage device further includes a transmission unit that transmits data for displaying the points calculated by the point calculation unit or the accumulated points stored in the point storage unit. 6. The image storage system according to claim 5, further comprising point display means for displaying the accumulated points based on data transmitted from the image storage device. 7. The image storage device further includes history information storage means for storing history information related to the control of the control means, and the transmission means displays the history information stored in the history information storage means. 7. The image according to claim 5, wherein the terminal device further comprises: history information display means for displaying the history information based on the data transmitted from the image storage device. Preservation system. 8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the point storage means of the image storage device further adds a predetermined point to the accumulated point when the accumulated point exceeds a predetermined value. The image storage system according to claim 1.