JP2002342740A - Picture editing system and picture server and method for controlling its operation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily find out desired one edited picture when a plurality of edited pictures are generated from one original picture. SOLUTION: An original picture is stored in a picture editing server, and a plurality of client computers are connected to the picture editing server, and the original picture is edited by a plurality of users so that a plurality of edited picture can be generated. Then, the edition history is displayed at a client computer which performs access to the picture editing server. When the thread of each line constituting the edition history is designated, an edited picture specified by the thread is displayed. The displayed edited picture can be further edited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image server, a plurality of client computers capable of communicating with the image server,
The present invention relates to an image editing system, an image server, and an operation control method thereof.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the spread of the Internet, it has become possible to upload image data representing an image captured by a user to an image server. By accessing the image server using the client computer, the user can view the image represented by the uploaded image data.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION When image data is uploaded to an image server, the image may be edited in cooperation with a user other than the user who uploaded the image represented by the image data. By editing an image by a plurality of users, an image full of individuality that cannot be considered alone is obtained.

When an image is edited by a plurality of users, it is conceivable to save each edited image when the image is edited a plurality of times. At that time, it is difficult to find a desired edited image from a plurality of edited images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to relatively easily find a desired edited image from edited images for each editing.

The present invention relates to an image server, a plurality of client computers communicable with the image server,
For an image editing system composed of

[0007] The image server stores original image data storing means for storing original image data representing the original image, and edit data for generating each edited image obtained by editing the original image from the original image. The edit data storage means for storing each edit image, the history data storage means for storing data representing the history of editing the original image, and the history data stored in the history data storage means are accessed by accessing the image server. History data transmitting means for transmitting the data to the client computer.

The client computer includes a display device for displaying an editing history represented by history data transmitted from the history data transmitting means of the image server, and an editing item of the editing history displayed on the display device. There is provided a designating means for designating, and an edit item data transmitting means for transmitting data representing the edit item designated by the designating means to the image server.

[0009] The image server may include, among the edit data stored in the edit data storage means, an edit image specified by the edit item data transmitted from the edit item data transmission means of the client computer. There is further provided transmission means for transmitting the edit data to be generated and the original image data stored in the original image data storage means to the client computer which has specified the edit item by the specification means.

The image server and the client
Each computer may be configured independently.

The present invention also provides an operation control method for the image server. In other words, this method uses the original image data representing the original image, the respective edited images obtained each time the original image is edited on the client computer, and edits the edited data generated from the original image and the editing history of the original image. And transmitting the stored history data to the client computer accessing the image server. Of the stored image data, the editing history of the editing history transmitted from the client computer is transmitted. The edit data for generating an edit image specified by the edit item data representing the edit item and the original image data are transmitted to the client computer that has designated the edit item.

According to the present invention, the image server stores the original image data, each edited image generated for each editing in the client computer, the edited data generated from the original image, and the data representing the editing history. Is stored. The editing history data is transmitted to the client computer accessing the image server.

[0013] When the client computer receives the history data transmitted from the image server, the editing history represented by the history data is transmitted to the client computer.
It is displayed on the display screen of the display device of the client computer. When the user of the client computer sees the editing history displayed on the display screen and finds an edited image that is of interest,
The corresponding edit item in the edit history is specified. Data representing the designated edit item is transmitted from the client computer to the image server.

In the image server, when the edit item data transmitted from the client computer is received, the edit data and the original image data for generating the edit image specified by the edit item data are converted to the edit item data. Is sent to the client computer that has specified.

In the client computer, when the editing data and the original image data transmitted from the image server are received, an editing image is generated, and the generated editing image is displayed on a display screen of a display device. It will be. In this way, the edited image specified by the editing item specified by the client computer is displayed.

The image is edited by many users,
Even when a large number of edited images exist, a desired edited image can be found.

The client computer sends the edited image generated by the edited image generating means to the edited image generated by the edited image transmitted from the transmitting data and the original image data of the image server. The image server may further include a re-editing unit for editing, and a re-editing data transmitting unit for transmitting editing data for generating an image re-edited by the re-editing unit to the image server.

In this case, the image server transmits the reedited data transmitted from the reedited data transmitting means of the client computer to the edited data storage means by the storage control means and the storage control means. A history data updating means for updating the history data stored in the history data storage means in response to storing the reedited data in the edited data storage means will be further provided.

When a user of the client computer edits an edited image (the original image will be the original image when edited first), edit data for generating the edited image is stored in the image server, The editing history is updated.

The editing item is represented by at least one of a date or date and time when the edited image is generated, an editor name, and a comment of the edited image. If the edit item is date or date and time, the image server will be provided with a timer. If the edit item is an editor name or a comment, data representing the editor name and data representing the comment are transmitted from the client computer to the image server and stored in association with the history data (or as history data). Will be done.

It is preferable that the editing history is displayed on the display device of the client computer in a time series order of the editing images. Since the editing history is displayed in chronological order,
The transition of the edited image becomes easy to understand. If there is an edited image derived from one edited image, the derived edited images will be displayed in chronological order.

When the re-editing data transmitting means of the client computer transmits the re-editing data to the image server at regular intervals, the storage control means of the image server transmits the re-editing data of the client computer. The re-edited image data transmitted from the edited data transmitting means at regular intervals is stored in the edited data storing means. The history data updating means stores the re-edited data in the edited data storing means at regular intervals. The history data will be updated in accordance with the storage of.

When the client computer accessing the image server runs out, the reediting data transmitting means of the client computer runs out of the client computer accessing the image server last.
Edit data for generating an edit image when the computer is disconnected may be transmitted to the image server.

[0024] Even if the user of the client computer forgets the instruction to send the edited image, the edited data for generating the last edited image is transmitted to the image server and stored.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and shows an outline of an image editing system.

A large number of client computers 1 are used in the image editing system. These many client computers 1, web server 2, and image editing server 3 can communicate with each other via the Internet.

Client Computer 1, Web
It goes without saying that the server 2 and the image editing server 3 include a CPU, a modem, a hard disk drive, a memory, a display device, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like.

As will be described later, the image editing system includes a database 4 in which original image data representing an original image, editing data, and history data representing an editing history are stored. The database 4 can be written and read by the web server 2 and the image editing server 3.

In the image editing system according to this embodiment, the user of one client computer 1 uploads the original image data to the web server 2 and stores it in the database 4. This original image is sequentially edited by many users of the client computer 1. Data indicating the history of editing is stored in the database 4 as described above, and a user of the client computer 1 can obtain a desired image at the time of editing when editing is performed a plurality of times. It is possible to take out the image at the time of the desired editing and continue editing processing different from the subsequent editing. More details will become clear from the following description.

FIGS. 2 (A) to 2 (D) show a database database.
It is an example of a schema.

(A) shows a schema of a User Master that stores data on a user (referred to as a parent user) who has uploaded original image data representing an original image.
The UserMaster stores a Master User ID (indicating the ID of the parent user who registered the original image (the ID is given in advance)) and a Master User Name (indicating the name of the parent user).

(B) shows the schema of the Image Master that stores data on the original image. Image Mast
er is Master Image ID (original image ID), Master
User ID, Master Image Data (indicating original image data), Master Reg Time (date and time of registration of the original image, that is, date and time when the original image data was uploaded to the web server 2), Master Image Title (parent user attached to the original image) Title) and MasterComment (comment given by the parent user on the original image) are stored.

(C) shows an Edit Master schema for storing information on the edited image. Edit M
The aster has an Edit ID (an ID for identifying an item of an editing history (called a thread)), an Edit Image ID (an ID of an edited image), an Edit User ID (an ID of an editing user who saved the edited image), and an Edit Image Title ( Edit Data (title given by the editing user when saving the edited image), Edit Data (edited data indicating changes in the image before and after editing) and Parent ID
(Edit ID of the parent thread) is stored. An Edit Master is generated for each edit.

(D) shows a Count Master schema for storing information on the number of times of editing. Count
Master has Edit User ID, Image ID and Edit C
ountID is stored.

FIG. 3 shows client computers 1 and 2
9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the web server 2 and the image editing server 3, and showing the processing procedure when the user of the client computer 1 accesses the image editing page. 4 to 7 show examples of windows displayed on the display screen of the display device of the client computer 1. FIG.

It is assumed that image data representing many images has already been uploaded to the database 4.
It is also assumed that a connection has been established between the client computer 1 and the web server 2.

[0038] Thumbnail image data corresponding to a large number of original image data stored in the database 4 is transmitted from the web server 2 to the client computer 1.

Then, a registered image list page window W1 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display screen of the display device of the client computer 1 (step 1).
1).

This registered image list page window W1
Includes a number of thumbnail image display areas 51. Each thumbnail image display area 51 has a web page
A thumbnail image represented by the thumbnail image data transmitted from the server 2 is displayed. A frame 52 is displayed in one display area 51 among the many thumbnail image display areas 51. In response to a command from the editing user of the client computer 1 (for example, a command may be given from the keyboard of the client computer 1),
52 moves between a large number of thumbnail image display areas 51.

When clicked with the mouse of the client computer 1 (step 12), it is determined that the image represented by the thumbnail image surrounded by the frame 52 is to be edited. The MasterImage ID corresponding to the thumbnail image surrounded by the frame 52 is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the web server 2 (step 13).

When the Web server 2 receives the Master Image ID transmitted from the client computer 1, all the editing history data (Edit Master) of the original image specified by the Master Image ID is read from the database 4. (Step 31). An edit history list display page representing the edit history of the specified original image is generated using all the read edit history data (step 32). The data representing the generated editing history list display page is transmitted from the web server 2 to the client computer 1 of the editing user who clicked the thumbnail image (step 33).

In the client computer 1,
When the edit history list display page data transmitted from the web server 2 is received, an edit history list display page window W2 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display screen of the display device of the client computer 1 (step). 1
Four).

Referring to FIG. 5, the editing history list display page window W2 includes the following areas.

Thumbnail image display area 55: An area for displaying a thumbnail image of the original image selected by the user.

Original image information display area 56: An area for displaying information about the original image selected by the user.
Specifically, the title of the original image, the registrant of the original image (name of the parent user), the registration date and time of the original image, and a comment on the original image are displayed.

Editing history display area 57: This area displays the editing history of the original image selected by the user in chronological order. The item of each line that constitutes the editing history is the above-described thread. This thread shows the date and time of editing, the name of the edited user, and the reason for saving.
[Registration] shown in the thread of the first line L1 indicates registration of the original image performed by the parent user.
[Save] shown in the thread such as L2 on the second line is
This indicates that the data was saved based on a command from the user. [Automatic save] shown in the thread of the fourth line L4 and the like indicates that the web server 2 automatically saved the content without an instruction from the user.

As described above, in the image editing, a large number of edited images are generated by repeating the editing of the original image, but it is also possible to extract and edit the edited image obtained at the time of desired editing. . As a result, the edited image is derived. For example, the edited image specified by the thread on the second line L2 is a further edited version of the edited image specified by the thread on the first line L1, and the edited image specified by the thread on the third line L3. The image is obtained by further editing the edited image specified by the thread on the second line L2. On the other hand, the edited image specified by the thread of the fifth line L5 is the same as the edited image specified by the thread of the second line L2. Is further edited. Similarly, the edited image specified by the thread on the tenth line L10 is further edited from the edited image specified by the thread on the fifth line L5 in the same manner as the edited image specified by the thread on the sixth line L6. It was done. In this way, by using the editing image in the middle represented by the editing history, editing different from the editing performed on the editing image in the middle can be performed, and a derived editing image is generated.

The thread of each line displayed in the edit history display area 57 is configured to be clickable by the user of the client computer 1.

A thread for specifying a desired edited image is clicked by the user of the client computer 1 (step 15). Here, it is assumed that the thread on the tenth line L10 has been clicked by the user.
Then, the Edit ID corresponding to the clicked thread
From client computer 1 to web server 2
(Step 16).

When the Edit ID transmitted from the client computer 1 is received by the web server 2, an image editing page is generated in the web server 2 (step 35). The data representing the generated image edit page and the image edit page display program are transmitted from the web server 2 to the client computer 1 (step 36).

In the client computer 1,
When the data representing the image editing page and the image editing page display program transmitted from the web server 2 are received, the image editing page window W3 shown in FIG.
Is displayed (step 17).

Referring to FIG. 6, image editing page window W3 includes the following areas.

Edited image display area 61: An area in which an edited image specified by a designated thread is displayed. FIG.
In the state of FIG. 6 corresponding to step 17, the edited image is not yet displayed in the edited image display area 61. As described later, the edited image is displayed in the edited image display area 61 by transmitting the original image data from the image server 3 to the client computer 1.

Banner advertisement area 62: An area where a banner advertisement is displayed. The banner advertisement fee can be changed according to the number of times the original image is edited.

Mode selection area 63: An area for selecting an editing mode. Specifically, it includes a selection button 64, a line drawing write button 65, a character paste button 66, and an icon paste button 67 which are clicked when selecting an element constituting the edited image. Further details will be described later.

Save button 68: Clicked by the user when saving the edited image (uploading the edited data for generating the edited image) after the image editing is completed.

Last edit information display area 69: An area in which information on the selected thread is displayed.

Original image information display area 70: An area for displaying information about the selected original image.

Return button 71: An area clicked by the user when returning from the image editing page window W3 to the previous window W2.

As will be described later, when each button in the mode selection area 63 is clicked, a new area is displayed in the area 72 at the lower right of the image editing page window W3.

When the image editing page window W3 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display screen of the display device of the client computer 1, the client computer 1 and the image editing server 3 are connected (step 18).

Then, in the image editing server 3, the original image data representing the original image specified by the user of the client computer 1 and the editing data according to the editing history (if the editing is performed a plurality of times, the editing is performed). The number of times of each edit data) is read from the database 4 (step 41). Original image data and edited data read from the database 4 are transmitted from the image editing server 3 to the client computer 1 (step 42).

The original image data and the edited data transmitted from the image editing server 3 are transmitted to the client computer 1.
Received by the client computer 1
In, an edited image specified by the specified thread is generated. The generated edited image is displayed in the edited image display area 61 of the image editing page window W3 as shown in FIG. 7 (step 19).

Thereafter, the user of the client computer 1 further edits the edit image displayed in the edit image display area 61 while operating each button in the edit mode area 63 (step 20).

FIGS. 8A to 8D show edit mode areas.
An area newly displayed in the lower right area 72 of the image editing page window W3 when each button in 63 is clicked is shown.

Referring to (A), when selection button 64 is clicked, area 72 of image editing page window W3 is displayed.
Displays an area 81 for selecting an element constituting the edited image. The area 81 includes a delete button 82. After the selection button 64 is clicked and the area 81 is displayed in the image editing page window W3, after selecting an element (icon, text, etc.) in the edited image displayed in the edited image display area 61 with the mouse When the delete button 82 is clicked, the selected element is deleted from the edited image. If you move an element, you will need to delete the element and add it to a new location.

Referring to (B), the line drawing write button 65
Is clicked, the image editing page window W3
In the area 72, a line drawing writing area 83 is displayed. The line drawing writing area 83 includes a selection box 84 for selecting the thickness of the line drawing to be written and a selection box 85 for selecting the color of the line drawing to be written. Various thicknesses or colors can be selected by pulling down the selection box 84 or the selection box 85.

Referring to (C), a character string paste button
When 66 is clicked, the image edit page window W
In a third area 72, a character string entry area 86 is displayed. In the character string entry area 86, a selection box 87 for selecting a font of a character string to be added to the edited image, a selection box 88 for selecting a font size of each character constituting the character string,
A selection box 89 for selecting a character string color, a text box 90 for inputting a character string to be added, and a paste button 91 are included. Select box 87, 88 or
The font, font size or color of the character string can be selected by pulling down and selecting 89. A character string can be input by selecting a text box 90. When the paste button 91 is clicked after the character string is input in the text box 90, the input character string is pasted on the edited image. It goes without saying that the position where the character string is pasted is specified in advance using the mouse.

Referring to (D), when the icon paste button 67 is clicked, an icon list area 92 is displayed in the area 72 of the image editing page window W3.
In the icon list area 92, a number of icons to be pasted on the edited image in the icon display area 93 are displayed. Drag the scroll bar 95 to display area 93
Are displayed in the display area 93. When the paste button 94 is clicked after the icon displayed in the display area 93 is selected, the selected icon is pasted on the edited image. Also in this case, it is needless to say that the pasting position of the icon is predetermined.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the image editing processing procedure.

The images displayed in the edited image display area 61 are edited using the above-mentioned buttons (step 101). Every time an image is edited, the editing data (including elements such as icons, character strings, and line drawings pasted on the image, positions and colors of the elements, etc.) is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image editing server 3 together with the Edit Image ID. (Step 102). Further, the edited image is displayed on the display screen of the display device of the edited client computer 1 (step 103).

When the image editing server 3 receives the edited image data transmitted from the client computer 3, it is considered that the image has been edited. Count Mast specified by the corresponding Edit Image ID
The Edit Count stored in er is incremented (step 111). However, the Edit Count may not be incremented for each edit, but may be incremented for each edited user. The received editing data is transmitted to all client computers 1 accessing the image editing server 3 (step 112). All client computers 1 outside the client computer 1 that edited the image
The image displayed on the display screen of the display device is changed to the edited image.

The approximate number of persons who have accessed the original image can be confirmed by the Edit Count. The more EditCount, the more
As you can see that the number of people accessing the original image is large,
It is also possible to develop such that the advertisement fee of the banner advertisement 62 is changed according to the EditCount.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when saving an edited image.

The image editing page window W3 is input by the user of the client computer 1 who has performed the editing process.
Is clicked (Y in step 121).
ES), an edit title input window W4 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display screen of the display device of the client computer 1.
Is displayed (step 122).

Referring to FIG. 11, the edit title input window W4 includes a title box 141 and an OK button 142. When the title box 141 is selected, it becomes possible to enter text in the title box 141. As the text is input, the input text is displayed in the title box 141 (step 123). The user of the client computer 1 can input a desired title (comment) suitable for the edited image. The text input in this way constitutes each thread displayed on the edit history list display page as shown in FIG.

If OK button 142 is clicked (YES in step 124), an instruction to save the data representing the input text and the edited image is transmitted from client computer 1 to image editing server 3 (step 125).
).

When the image editing server 3 receives the save command transmitted from the client computer 1, the state of the edited image in the client computer 1 is recorded in the corresponding Edit Master of the database 4 (ie, Edit ID, Edit Image ID, Edit
User ID Edit Image Title, Edit Data and Paren
The t ID is recorded in the corresponding Edit Master of the database 4). (In this case, since a new edit has been performed, a new Edit Master will be generated in accordance with the edit.) (Step 131). When this recording is completed, the edited image has been saved, so that data indicating the end of saving is transmitted from the image editing server 3 to the client computer 1 (step 132).
).

The storage end data transmitted from the image editing server 3 is received by the client computer 1 (step 126). Thereafter, the client computer 1 is disconnected from the image editing server.

In the above-described example, the save command is transmitted to the image editing server 3 by the user of the client computer 1 clicking the save button 68, but the fixed time elapses regardless of the command from the user. As a result, a save command may be automatically transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image editing server 3. In this case, for example, the timing will be started when the edited image page is displayed.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the connection between the client computer 1 and the image editing server 3 is terminated.

When the connection of the client computer 1 connected to the image editing server 30 is disconnected (step 151), it is confirmed whether there is another connected client computer 1 (step 152). .

If there is another connected client computer 1 (YES in step 152), the processing with the connected client computer 1 is continued. If there is no other connected client computer 1 (NO in step 152), the state of the edited image transmitted from the last disconnected client computer 1 is displayed in the Edit Mas of the database 4.
This is recorded in ter (step 153). Even if there is no save command from the user, if the cut is made, the last state of the edited image can be saved.

Even when there is another connected client computer 1, the state of the edited image may be saved each time the client computer 1 is disconnected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image editing system.

FIGS. 2A to 2D are examples of a database schema.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an access process to an image editing page.

FIG. 4 is an example of a registered image list display page window.

FIG. 5 is an example of an edit history list display page window.

FIG. 6 is an example of an image editing page window.

FIG. 7 is an example of an image editing page window.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are examples of areas displayed on an image editing page window according to a selected mode.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an image editing processing procedure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for storing an edited image.

FIG. 11 is an example of a title input window.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a connection termination processing procedure;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 client computer 2 web server 3 image editing server 4 database W1 registered image list display page window W2 edit history list display page window W3 image editing page window W4 title input window

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image editing system comprising an image server and a plurality of client computers communicable with the image server, wherein the image server stores original image data representing an original image. Storage means, edit data storage means for storing, for each edit image, edit data for generating, from the original image, each edit image obtained for each edit of the original image, data representing the edit history of the original image And history data transmitting means for transmitting the history data stored in the history data storing means to the client computer accessing the image server, wherein the client computer The history data transmitted from the history data transmitting means of the image server. Display device for displaying the editing history to be edited, designating means for designating the editing item of the editing history displayed on the display device, and editing for transmitting data representing the editing item designated by the designating means to the image server. Item data transmission means, wherein the image server comprises:
Edit data for generating an edit image specified by edit item data transmitted from the edit item data transmitting means of the client computer among the edit data stored in the edit data storage means, and the original image data storage The original image data stored in the means is
An image editing system, further comprising a transmitting unit that transmits an editing item to the client computer specified by the specifying unit. 2. An edited image generating means for generating an edited image from edited data and original image data transmitted from the transmitting means of the image server by the client computer, and an edited image generated by the edited image generating means. Re-editing means for re-editing the image data; and re-editing data transmitting means for transmitting edit data for generating an image re-edited by the re-editing means to the image server. The re-edit data transmitted from the re-edit data transmission means is stored in the edit data storage means, and the re-edit data is stored in the edit data storage means by the storage control means. History data updating means for updating the history data stored in the history data storage means in response The image editing system according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The image editing system according to claim 1, wherein the editing item is represented by at least one of a date or date and time when the edited image was generated, an editor name, and a comment of the edited image. 4. The image editing system according to claim 1, wherein the editing history is displayed on the display device of the client computer in a chronological order of the edited images. 5. The re-editing data transmitting means of the client computer transmits re-editing data to the image server at fixed time intervals, and the storage control means of the image server is adapted to store the re-editing data of the client computer. The re-edit data transmitted from the re-edit data transmission means at regular intervals is stored in the edit data storage means, and the history data updating means stores the re-edit data in the edit data storage means. 2. The image editing system according to claim 1, wherein the history data is updated in accordance with storage for each time. 6. The re-editing data transmitting means of the client computer, when the client computer accessing the image server runs out, the client computer accessing last is disconnected. 2. The editing server according to claim 1, wherein the editing data for generating the edited image is transmitted to the image server.
The image editing system according to 1. 7. The image editing system according to claim 1, wherein said image server further comprises a counting means for counting at least one of the number of times the original image has been edited and the number of editors who have edited the original image. 8. An original image data storage means for storing original image data representing an original image, and edit data for generating each edited image obtained from each edit of the original image in the client computer from the original image, respectively. A data storage unit for storing each edited image, a history data storage unit for storing data representing a history of editing of the original image, and a history data stored in the history data storage unit for accessing an image server. The history data transmitting means for transmitting to the client computer and the edit data stored in the edit data storage means are specified by the edit item data indicating the edit items of the edit history transmitted from the client computer. Edit data for generating an edited image to be edited and the original image data The stored original image data is
An image server having transmission means for transmitting the edited item to the designated client computer. 9. An original image data representing an original image, an edited image obtained for each editing of the original image in a client computer, and editing data generated from the original image and an editing history of the original image. Storing the data, transmitting the stored history data to the client computer accessing the image server, and editing the editing history of the stored image data transmitted from the client computer; An image server operation control method for transmitting edit data for generating an edit image specified by edit item data representing an item and the original image data to the client computer specifying the edit item.