JP2003022435A - Device, method, and program for image management, - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image managing device which is convenient to a user. SOLUTION: A digital camera once photographing a new image sends it to a server (S62). The server when receiving the image data (S72) automatically judges whether the data are stored in a storage device on the server from the contents of the image. The judgment is made while whether the face of a specific person is photographed, whether the face has a specific expression, e.g. is a smiling face, etc., are taken into consideration. When it is judged that the image is stored (YES at S65, 75), the image data are automatically stored in the storage device on the server (S76). When it is judged that the image is not stored (NO at S65, 75), on the other hand, the image data are automatically stored in a local storage device of the digital camera (S66).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image management device, an image management method and an image management program, and more particularly to W.
The present invention relates to an image management device that manages images on an EB, an image management method, and an image management program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of networks, it has become important to share various kinds of data.

As a data sharing service, a database of image data as one form of data is created and
There are services provided to users on B. The user can upload the image data he / she wants to share to the database on the WEB by uploading it to the home page provided by the service. You can also download from the website provided by the service,
It can be read from above.

In order to provide such a service, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-232599 discloses an invention of a digital camera which automatically transfers image data from the digital camera to a personal computer or a WEB.

[0005]

However, in the invention disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-232599, all or a predetermined number of image data are transferred, and the image data to be transferred cannot be selected. There was a problem. For this reason, the user has to make a judgment as to whether or not to transfer each image one by one, which requires complicated work.

In view of these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image management apparatus, an image management method, and an image management program which are highly convenient for users.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image management apparatus manages the image data by storing the image data in a storage means of a server. A device for selecting image data to be stored in the server from the input image data based on at least one of the content and the attribute of the image data, and the image selected by the selecting device and stored in the server Storage means for storing the data in the storage means of the server.

The storage means stores the image data in the storage means of the server and also stores the image data in the storage means of the computer or digital camera, and the image data is also stored in the storage device of the computer or digital camera. It is desirable to manage

Further, it is desirable to further include a deleting unit for deleting the image data stored in the server selected by the selecting unit from the storage unit of the computer.

The contents or attributes of the above-mentioned image data are image data showing a face, image data showing a specific face, image data showing a face having a specific facial expression. It is preferable that the image data has at least one of the following: image data having a specific color and a specific distribution, and image data in which specific shooting date / time information is associated and stored.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an image management method is a method of managing the image data by storing the image data in a storage means of a server, wherein the image data is converted from the input image data. A selection step of selecting image data to be stored in the server based on at least one of content or attribute; and a storage step of storing the image data to be stored in the server, selected by the selection step, in the storage means of the server .

According to another aspect of the present invention, the image management program is a program for causing a computer to realize a method of managing the image data by storing the image data in a storage means of a server, and is inputted. From the image data, based on at least one of the content or attribute of the image data, a sorting step of sorting the image data to be stored in the server, and the image data to be stored in the server, which is sorted by the sorting step, is stored in the storage means of the server. And a storing step of storing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is a computer-readable recording medium for recording the above-mentioned image management program.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are designated by the same reference numerals.
Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of an image management system according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image management system in the present embodiment includes a personal computer 1, a digital camera 2 and a server 3.

The personal computer 1 and the server 3 included in the image management system according to the present embodiment are connected via the Internet and exchange image data with each other.

The personal computer 1 has a local storage device and can store image data in the personal computer 1. Further, the personal computer 1 is provided with an interface section and can receive image data from another device such as the digital camera 2. The means used by the above-mentioned interface unit is P
Although there is a method of using a C card slot, a USB, a serial port, and the like, the above-mentioned means are already widely known and therefore will not be described in detail here.

The digital camera 2 can exchange image data with the personal computer 1 via a dedicated line or the like. Many techniques have already been known as means for the digital camera 2 to exchange image data with the personal computer 1, and therefore a detailed description thereof will not be given here. The digital camera 2 also has a local storage device, and image data can be stored in the digital camera 2.

The server 3 has a storage device and can store image data in the server 3.

As a first embodiment, a case where image management is performed using the personal computer 1 of the image management system will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 in the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, a personal computer 1 includes a processing unit (CPU; Central Processing Unit) 1
1, a work storage area 12, a storage device 13, a user interface unit 14, and an interface unit 15.

The processing device 11 controls the operation of the entire personal computer 1 and executes the image selection program stored in the storage device 13.

The work storage area 12 is an area for storing information that is temporarily necessary when the processing device 11 executes control or executes a program.

The storage device 13 is composed of a hard disk or the like, and includes an image selection program storage area 131 and an image data storage area 132.

The image selection program stored in the image selection program storage area 131 is activated by the user's operation when the personal computer 1 is activated or when image data is input to the personal computer 1 from the interface section 15. To be done.

The image data input from the interface section 15 is stored in the image data storage area 132.

The user interface section 14 is composed of a screen, a mouse, etc., and comprises a personal computer 1.
The input / output means for the user to operate is realized.

The interface section 15 is composed of a PC card slot, USB, serial and the like, and transmits and receives image data.

The configuration of the personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 2 is a general configuration of a personal computer, and may include components other than those described above.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a first image management method performed by the image management system in the present embodiment.

In the personal computer 1, the image selection program shown in FIG. 3, which is stored in the image selection program storage area 131, is activated. According to the image selection program, the processing device 11 monitors the presence or absence of unprocessed image data (S11). The image data to be processed may be the image data itself or a set of image data. The image data will be described later with an example.

If no unprocessed image data is found (NO in S11), the image selection program is terminated.

When unprocessed image data is found by the processing device 11 (S11), the processing device 11
Depending on the content of the unprocessed image data found, WEB
A selection process of whether or not to transmit to the upper server 3 is automatically performed (S12). The process performed in step S12 will be described later. In step S12, when the target image data is a set of image data, a selection process of whether or not to transmit each image data included in the set is performed.

When the processing device 11 determines that the image data is to be transmitted to the server 3 (YES in S13), the image data is transmitted from the interface section 15 to the server 3 via the Internet. At this time, when the image data is a set, when the image data is transmitted to the server 3 in step S12, only part of the image data of the set, which is the image data subjected to the selection process, is transmitted to the server 3.

In the server 3 that has received the unprocessed image data is stored in the storage device provided in the server 3 (S
14).

When the processing device 11 determines not to send the image data to the server 3 (NO in S13), the processing device 11 stores the unprocessed image data in the image data storage area 132 of the personal computer 1. (S15).

By performing the image management method shown in FIG. 3 described above, whether to store the image data in the server 3 on the WEB is automatically determined according to a preset condition or the like, and the server 3 is determined. Remembered.

The processing device 11 of the personal computer 1 may notify the user of the determination result in step S12 as to whether or not the image data is transmitted to the server 3.

Further, in step S12, the processing device 11 may show the determination result to the user and accept a final instruction from the user as to whether or not to transmit the image data to the server 3.

The following three types of image data can be considered as the image data processed by the image selection program executed in the personal computer 1 of the above-mentioned image management system.

The first image data is image data input via the interface section 15 of the personal computer 1.

The second image data is the interface 1
It is all the image data that is connected to the personal computer 1 via 5 and is included in a readable / writable storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

The third image data is designated by a directory or the like among the image data already in the image data storage area 132 of the personal computer 1 or the image data in the storage medium connected via the interface section 15. Is a set of image data.

The image data processed by the image selection program is not limited to the above-mentioned first to third image data, and may be image data other than the above.

The following five selection methods are available as the selection processing method automatically performed in step S12 of FIG.

As a first processing method, the processing device 11 of the personal computer 1 judges whether or not a human face is shown in the unprocessed image data. It is determined that the data will be transmitted to the server 3.

As a method of determining whether or not a human face is included in image data, a template matching method or the like has been proposed in the past and is already widely known. Therefore, detailed description will not be given here. .

As a second processing method, the processing device 11 of the personal computer 1 judges whether or not the face of a specific person is reflected in the unprocessed image data, and the face of the specific person is reflected. In this case, it is determined that the image data will be transmitted to the server 3.

A method of determining whether or not a specific person is included in the image data is not specified here.

As a third processing method, the processing device 11 of the personal computer 1 determines whether or not the face of a specific person appears in the unprocessed image data. Further, the facial expression is analyzed, and if it is a specific facial expression, it is determined that the image data is transmitted to the server 3. For example, when the facial expression of a specific person is analyzed as a smiling face, it is determined that the image data is transmitted to the server 3.

As a method of analyzing the facial expression, there is a conventionally known technique, and the method is not specified here. (For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-249447 discloses an invention of an apparatus for detecting facial expressions.) As a fourth processing method, the processing apparatus 11 of the personal computer 1 uses the color of unprocessed image data. Is analyzed, and it is determined that the image data is transmitted to the server 3 according to the ratio of the area of the region to which the specific color belongs to the entire image. For example, it is determined that the image data is transmitted to the server 3 when the area of the region belonging to white included in the image occupies 50% or less of the entire image.

As a fifth processing method, the processing device 11 of the personal computer 1 determines to transmit the image data to the server 3 based on the attribute information recorded in association with the unprocessed image data. For example, as the attribute information of the image data, check the information of the shooting date and time,
It is determined that the image data including the shooting date and time included in a predetermined period is transmitted to the server 3.

The selection processing method performed in step S12 of FIG. 3 is not limited to the above-described first to fifth processing methods, and other processing methods may be used. Also, some of the above-described first to fifth processing methods may be combined.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a second image management method performed by the image management system in the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, steps S21 to S23
Since the process in 1 is the same as the process in steps S11 to S13 in FIG. 3, description thereof will not be repeated here.

When the processing device 11 determines that the image data is to be transmitted to the server 3 (YES in S23), the unprocessed image data is transmitted from the interface unit 15 to the server 3 via the Internet and is stored in the server 3. It is stored in the device (S24).

Further, the unprocessed image data stored in the server 3 is also stored in the image data storage area 132 which is a local storage device of the personal computer 1 (S25).

By performing the image management method shown in FIG. 4 described above, it is automatically determined whether or not to store the image data in the server 3 on the WEB. Further, regardless of this determination, the image data is It is also stored in the local storage device 13 of the personal computer 1.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the third image management method performed by the image management system in this embodiment.

In the image management method shown in FIG. 5, the selection process is not performed by the image selection program (for example, by the user's instruction), and the local storage device 13 of the personal computer 1 or the interface unit 15 is used. This is a method of performing image management on image data stored in a connected storage medium or the like.

Referring to FIG. 5, in accordance with the image selection program, processing device 11 confirms whether or not unprocessed image data is stored in storage device 13 or the like (S31).

When unprocessed image data is found in the storage device 13 or the like by the processing device 11 (S31), the processing device 11 determines the contents of the found unprocessed image data by the server 3 on the WEB. Is automatically selected (S32). Step S32
The selection process in is the same as the selection process shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and therefore the description thereof will not be repeated here.

When the processing device 11 determines that the image data is to be transmitted to the server 3 (YES in S33), the image data is transmitted from the interface unit 15 to the server 3 via the Internet and stored in the storage device of the server 3. It is stored (S34).

Further, the processing device 11 automatically deletes the image data stored in the server 3 from the storage device 13 of the personal computer 1 (S35). The deletion process in step S35 may be performed according to a final instruction input by the user, instead of being automatically performed.

By performing the image management method shown in FIG. 5 described above, the image data that has been temporarily stored without determining the storage location is stored in the local storage device 13 of the personal computer 1 or the like. Whether or not the image data is stored in the server 3 on the WEB is automatically determined and stored in the server 3. Further, since the image data stored in the server 3 is automatically deleted from the storage device 13 of the personal computer 1 that was previously stored, the same image data can be efficiently stored without duplication. can do.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of an image management system according to the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the image management system in the present embodiment includes a digital camera 2 and a server 3.

The digital camera 2 and the server 3 included in the image management system in the present embodiment are connected via the Internet and exchange image data with each other.

As means for connecting the digital camera 2 to the Internet, means for connecting via a mobile telephone network or a fixed telephone network are known, and therefore detailed description thereof will not be given here. The digital camera 2 also has a local storage device, and image data can be stored in the digital camera 2.

The server 3 has a storage device similar to the server 3 in the first embodiment and stores image data in the server 3.
Can be stored in.

As a second embodiment, a case where image management is performed using the digital camera 2 of the image management system will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of the digital camera 2 shown in FIG. 6 according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, the digital camera 2 is
It includes a processing device (CPU) 21, a work storage area 22, a storage device 23, a read-only storage device 24, and a user interface unit 25.

The processing device 21 controls the operation of the entire digital camera 2 and executes the image selection program stored in the read-only storage device 24.

The work storage area 22 is an area for storing information temporarily required when the processing device 21 executes control or executes a program.

The storage device 23 is composed of a flash memory or the like and includes an image data storage area 231.

The input image data is stored in the image data storage area 231. The read-only storage device 24 is
It is composed of a mask ROM and the like, and includes an image selection program storage area 241.

The image selection program stored in the image selection program storage area 241 always operates, and image data is transferred to the WEB every time a new digital image is captured.
It is determined whether or not to store in the upper server 3.

The user interface section 25 is composed of a screen, buttons and the like, and realizes an input / output means for the user to operate the digital camera 2.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the first image management method performed by the image management system in the present embodiment.

In the digital camera 2, the image selection program shown in FIG. 8 stored in the image selection program storage area 241 is always operating. According to the image selection program, the processing device 21 of the digital camera 2
It is monitored whether or not there is newly captured image data (S41).

When the processing device 21 discovers the newly photographed image data (YES in S41), the processing device 21 selects whether or not to transmit to the server 3 on the WEB depending on the content of the photographed image. Is automatically performed (S42).
The selection process performed in step S42 is similar to the selection process performed in personal computer 1 in the first embodiment, and therefore, detailed description will not be repeated.

When the processing device 21 determines that the image data is to be transmitted to the server 3 (YES in S43), the image data is transmitted to the server 3 via the Internet. The digital camera 2, as shown in FIG.
If a device for connecting to the Internet is not built in, it is possible to connect to the Internet by connecting to a mobile phone or a landline phone. When the digital camera 2 has a built-in device for connecting to the Internet, the device may be used to connect to the Internet.

In the received server 3, the unprocessed image data is stored in the storage device provided in the server 3 (S
44).

When the processing device 21 determines that the image data is not transmitted to the server 3 (NO in S43), the processing device 21 stores the newly captured image data in the image data storage area 231 of the digital camera 2. (S45).

By performing the image management method shown in FIG. 8 described above, it is determined in the first embodiment whether or not image data is stored in the server 3 on the WEB, which is performed by the personal computer 1. The digital camera 2
Can be done at. That is, the digital camera 2
When a digital image is taken with, the digital camera 2 does not need to take image data into the computer 1.
Automatically determines from the contents of the image data whether the storage location is the local storage device 23 or the server 3 and performs storage processing.

The processing means 21 of the digital camera 2
May notify the user of the determination result of whether or not to transmit the image data to the server 3 in step S42 by displaying on the user interface unit 25 or the like.

Further, in step S42, the processing device 21 shows the judgment result to the user and displays the image data in the server 3
The final instruction from the user may be accepted as to whether or not to send to the user.

Further, in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment,
A flowchart is shown about the 2nd image management method which an image management system performs.

Referring to FIG. 9, steps S51 to S53.
Since the process in is the same as the process in steps S41 to S43 in FIG. 8, the description thereof will not be repeated here.

When the processing device 21 determines that the image data is to be transmitted to the server 3 (YES in S53), the newly photographed image data is transmitted to the server 3 via the Internet and stored in the storage device provided in the server 3. It is stored (S54).

Further, the image data stored in the server 3 is also stored in the image data storage area 231 which is a local storage device of the digital camera 2 (S55).

By performing the image management method shown in FIG. 9 described above, the processing performed by the personal computer 1 in the first embodiment can be performed by the digital camera 2. That is, when a digital image is taken by the digital camera 2, it is not necessary to load the image data into the personal computer 1,
The digital camera 2 sends the captured image data to the server 3
It is automatically judged whether or not to store in and stored. Further, regardless of this determination, the digital camera 2 also stores the image data in the image data storage area 231 which is a local storage device.

[Third Embodiment] A specific example of the configuration of the image management system in the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the image management system in the second embodiment shown in FIG. , Description will not be repeated here.

As a third embodiment, in the case of performing image management using the server 3 of the image management system,
The description will be given below. In the present embodiment, the image captured by the digital camera 2 is sent to the server 3 on the WEB, and the server 3 determines where to store the image data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the server 3 shown in FIG. 6 in the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, the server 3 includes a processing device (CPU) 31, a work storage area 32, and a storage device 3.
Including 3 and.

The processing device 31 controls the operation of the entire server 3 and executes the image selection program stored in the storage device 33.

The work storage area 32 is an area for storing information temporarily required when the processing device 31 executes control or executes a program.

The storage device 33 includes an image selection program storage area 331 and an image data storage area 332.

The image selection program stored in the image selection program storage area 331 is always activated,
Every time a new digital image is taken by the digital camera 2 and sent to the server 3, the image data is updated to W
It is determined whether or not to store in the server 3 on the EB.

The input image data is stored in the image data storage area 332. Note that the configuration of the server 3 shown in FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a server constructed using a general personal computer or the like, and thus components other than those shown in FIG. 10 may be included. Absent.

The digital camera 2 shown in FIG.
7 has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 7, but in the present embodiment, since the server 3 performs the image management processing shown below, the image selection program storage area 241 shown in FIG. 7 is provided. It doesn't matter if it isn't.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the first image management method performed by the image management system in the present embodiment.

The processing unit 21 of the digital camera 2 receives a new digital image (YE in S61).
S), image data is sent to the server 3 via the Internet.
(S62). The transmission of the image data in step S62 may be automatically transmitted to the server 3 when the digital camera 2 newly captures a digital image,
It may be transmitted to the server 3 when the user gives an instruction from the user interface unit 25 of the digital camera 2.

After transmitting the image data in step S62, the digital camera 2 waits for a reply from the server 3 (S63).

When there is a reply from the server 3 (S
If YES at 63), the digital camera 2 receives the reply (S64).

From the reply received from the server 3 in step S64, the image data is stored in the storage device 33 of the server 3.
If the server 3 determines not to memorize in (N in S65
O), the digital camera 2 stores the image data in the image data storage area 231 which is a local storage device (S66).

On the other hand, when the image data is transmitted from the digital camera 2 (YES in S71), the server 3 receives the image data via the Internet (S7).
2).

The processing device 31 of the server 3 selects whether to store the image data received in step S72 in the storage device 33 of the server 3 according to the image selection program in operation (S73). ). The selection process performed in step S73 is similar to the selection process performed in the first and second embodiments, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated here.

The result of the processing in step S73 is
The digital camera 2 is notified via the Internet (S74).

When the processing device 31 of the server 3 determines to store the image data in the server 3 (YES in S75).
S), the processing device 31 stores the image data in the image data storage area 332 (S76).

By performing the image management method shown in FIG. 11 described above, the image data of the newly photographed digital image is simply transmitted from the digital camera 2 to the server 3, and the server 3 determines the contents based on the contents. Then, it is automatically determined whether the image data is stored in the local storage device of the digital camera 2 or the server 3, and the storage process is performed.

Further, in FIG. 12, in the present embodiment,
A flowchart is shown about the 2nd image management method which an image management system performs.

Referring to FIG. 12, the process performed in steps S81 to S82 of digital camera 2 is similar to the process performed in steps S61 to S62 shown in FIG. 11, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated here.

In the second image management method shown in FIG. 12, the digital camera 2 stores the image data transmitted to the server 3 in step S82 in the image data storage area 231 which is a local storage device of the digital camera 2. Is also stored (S83).

On the other hand, the processing performed by the server 3 in steps S91 to S95 is the same as steps S71 to S73 in FIG.
Since it is similar to the processing performed in S75 to S76, detailed description of each processing will not be repeated here.

In the second image management method shown in FIG. 12, the server 3 performs step S9 on the image data transmitted from the digital camera 2 in step S92.
In 3, it is selected whether or not to store in the storage device 33 of the server 3.

In the second image management method shown in FIG. 12, the image data is stored in the local storage device of the digital camera 2 regardless of whether the server 3 stores the image data. , Step S7 of FIG.
The determination result notification (reply) process performed in 4
This is not performed in this image management method.

By performing the image management methods described in the above first to third embodiments, the image management system
When there are multiple storage areas such as a personal computer and a server on the WEB, or a digital camera and a server on the WEB, the image to be stored in the server on the WEB is automatically generated from the contents of the image. Can be sorted and stored in.

By storing and managing the image data in the server on the WEB as described above, it becomes possible to exchange the image data among a plurality of users, and it becomes easier to share the image data.

Further, storing in the server on the WEB can provide the user with higher reliability than storing in the local storage device of the personal computer or digital camera.

[0125] The user sets the reference in advance for each image in consideration of its value, necessity of sharing, etc., so that the image is automatically selected in the above-mentioned image management method, and a plurality of images are selected. The difference in the characteristics of the storage device can be effectively used. Therefore, the user does not need to make a judgment for each image data, and the image data can be stored in an appropriate storage device. As a result, it is possible to manage image data with high versatility.

Further, the above image management method can be provided as a program. Such a program is a computer-readable program.

The program may be recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a ROM, a RAM and a memory card attached to a computer and provided as a program product. Alternatively, the program may be provided by being recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. Further, the program can be provided by downloading via the network.

The provided program product is installed and executed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk.

The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of a configuration of an image management system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a personal computer 1 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the structure in 1st Embodiment of this.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a first image management method performed by the image management system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a second image management method performed by the image management system in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a third image management method performed by the image management system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of a configuration of an image management system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a second digital camera 2 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the structure in embodiment of this.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a first image management method performed by the image management system in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second image management method performed by the image management system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a server 3 shown in FIG. 6 according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a first image management method performed by the image management system according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a second image management method performed by the image management system in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 personal computer, 2 digital camera,
3 server, 11 processing unit of personal computer, 12 working storage area of personal computer,
13 personal computer storage device, 14 personal computer user interface unit, 15
Interface section of personal computer, 21 Digital camera processing device, 22 Digital camera working storage area, 23 Digital camera storage device,
24 digital camera read-only storage device, 25 digital camera user interface unit, 31 server processing device, 32 server work storage area, 33
Server storage device, 131 Personal computer image selection program storage area, 132 Personal computer image data storage area, 231 Digital camera image data storage area, 241 Digital camera image selection program storage area, 331 Server image selection program storage area Area, 332 Image data storage area of server.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/781 H04N 101: 00 5L096 5/907 5/91 L // H04N 101: 00 5/781 510C ( 72) Inventor Natsuko Shioda 2-3-13 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Hasegawa 2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka Minato International Building Incorporated (72) Inventor Kyoko Nakamura 2-3-13 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Inc. (72) Inventor Yusuke Nakano 2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka Osaka International building F term in Minolta Co., Ltd. (reference) 5B050 AA09 BA10 BA12 CA05 CA06 CA08 DA04 EA04 EA09 FA19 GA08 5B075 ND06 NK06 5C022 AA13 AC69 5C052 GA02 GA08 GA09 GE06 GE08 5C053 FA08 FA14 FA23 FA27 FA30 JA21 LA02 LA11 LA14 5L096 AA02 BA20 DA01 FA15 GA38 HA09 JA11 KA09 LA05

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image management device for managing image data by storing the image data in a storage means of a server, wherein the image data is inputted from the input image data based on at least one of the content or the attribute of the image data. An image management apparatus comprising: a selection unit that selects image data to be stored in a server; and a storage unit that stores the image data selected by the selection unit and to be stored in the server in a storage unit of the server. 2. The storage means stores the image data in a storage means of the server and also stores the image data in a storage means of a computer or a digital camera,
The image management device according to claim 1, wherein the image data is managed also by using a storage device of the computer or the digital camera. 3. The image management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit that deletes the image data stored in the server that has been selected by the selection unit from the storage unit of the computer. 4. The contents or attributes of the image data are image data showing a face, image data showing a specific face, and image data showing a face having a specific facial expression. At least one of image data having a specific color, a specific color having a specific distribution, and image data stored in association with specific shooting date and time information. The image management device according to any one of 3 above. 5. A method of managing image data by storing the image data in a storage means of the server, wherein the image data is input to the server based on at least one of the content and the attribute of the image data from the input image data. An image management method comprising: a selection step of selecting image data to be stored; and a storage step of storing the image data selected by the selection step and stored in the server in a storage unit of the server. 6. A program for causing a computer to realize a method of managing image data by storing the image data in a storage means of a server, wherein at least one of the content or the attribute of the image data is input from the input image data. An image management program including a sorting step of sorting image data to be stored in the server based on the above, and a storing step of storing the image data to be stored in the server, which is sorted by the sorting step, in a storage means of the server. . 7. A computer-readable recording medium for recording the image management program according to claim 6.