JP2003067480A - Memory card and memory card rental system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for a memory card rental, storage and management of data recorded on the memory card and user management without trouble. SOLUTION: ID information of a memory card 15 and member information of a user 19 are matched and kept in a management server 12 when the memory card 15 is rented out from a media rental service department 16. When the user 19 mounts the borrowed memory card 15 on a digital camera 22 and takes a picture, image data are coded through coding function and recorded on the memory card 15. Authentication is performed through the ID information of the memory card 15 and the member information in the management server 12 by inserting the memory card 15 into a reception terminal to save the image data on the memory card 15, and when authenticated, the image data are read out from the memory card 15 through the reception terminal to be transmitted to the management server 12 and forwarded to and stored in an image database 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory card and a memory card lending system which are mounted on an image input device such as a digital camera to record image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In image input devices such as digital cameras,
A memory card that can be attached to and detached from a device body is widely used as a recording medium for recording and storing image data acquired by photographing or the like. The acquired image data is input and written in such a memory card, and when necessary, it can be taken out of the device and brought to a business operator to request services such as image printing and processing. ing. It is also possible for the user himself to connect the memory card or the device main body to a personal computer or the like, read out the image data, and perform storage, processing, printing, and the like.

[0003]

When using a digital camera equipped with a memory card such as the one described above, if the number of images to be taken at one time is large, the user is required to use a large capacity memory card or a plurality of memory cards. It is necessary to purchase and prepare the memory card of, and the cost burden is large. Also, if you have a small amount of memory card and want to take many images, carry a device such as a laptop computer with a data storage function with a digital camera etc. and transfer the data every time the memory card becomes full. Since it is necessary, carrying a digital camera or the like becomes complicated and there is a problem that portability deteriorates.

Therefore, a system may be considered in which a business operator lends a memory card to a user such as a digital camera. However, when operating such a system, a conventional memory card allows the user to freely download image data taken by the user. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent illegal use in renting out a memory card, and to construct a system that is beneficial to both users and businesses.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a memory card and a memory card lending system in which the lending of a memory card and the storage management and user management of data recorded in the memory card can be operated without trouble. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

A memory card according to the present invention is a memory card which can be attached to and detached from an image input device.
Unique ID information that can identify the memory card, a storage unit that stores the input image data, and an encryption unit that encrypts the image data and restricts the use of the image data stored in the storage unit. , With.

Further, the memory card of the present invention is rented out to a customer for use by a business operator, and the encryption means connects the memory card to a reception terminal managed by the business operator. When the memory card or the customer is authenticated by the ID information, the image data stored in the storage unit is encrypted so that the image data can be used.

A memory card lending system of the present invention is a memory card lending system that allows a business to lend a memory card to a customer for use, and a reception terminal to which the memory card can be connected and a communication with the reception terminal. It has a management server connectable via a line and an image database for accumulating image data from the reception terminal, and the memory card can be attached to and detached from an image input device and is a unique memory card that can identify the memory card. The reception terminal includes ID information, a storage unit that stores input image data, and an encryption unit that encrypts the image data and restricts use of the image data stored in the storage unit. Transmits the ID information of the memory card to the management server when the memory card is connected, and receives confirmation information from the management server. Then, the image data stored in the memory card is read out and transmitted to the management server. The management server, when lending the memory card, associates the ID information of the memory card with the customer of the lending destination. When the ID information of the memory card is sent from the reception terminal by holding the member information, the ID information is compared with the corresponding member information to perform authentication, and when the authentication is made, the reception terminal receives the information. The confirmation information is transmitted, the image data from the reception terminal is received, and the image data is transferred to and stored in the image database.

Also, in the memory card lending system of the present invention, when the ID information of the memory card and the member information are authenticated, the memory card is read from the memory card at the reception terminal or the management server. It has a decoding means for decoding the image data.

Further, the memory card lending system of the present invention has a terminal of a service department which performs a service related to the image data, and the reception terminal is related to the image data in response to an instruction input of an operation input means. Transmitting the service request information to the management server, the management server, when receiving the service request information from the reception terminal,
The service request and the member information of the request source are sent to the terminal of the corresponding service department together with the target image data of the image data sent from the reception terminal or the image data stored in the image database. To do.

In the memory card lending system of the present invention, the services related to the image data include an image print service and a recording medium writing service.
It includes at least one of an image processing service and an image data download service.

A reception terminal of the present invention is a reception terminal in a memory card lending system in which a business operator lends and uses a memory card to a customer, and a card interface for connecting the memory card and a communication line are used. A transmitting means for transmitting information to a connected management server, and when the memory card is connected, transmits the ID information of the memory card to the management server,
When the ID information is authenticated and the confirmation information is received from the management server, the image data stored in the memory card is read and transmitted to the management server.

Further, the reception terminal of the present invention has a decoding means for decoding the image data read from the memory card when the ID information of the memory card is authenticated.

The management server of the present invention is a management server in a memory card lending system in which a business operator lends a memory card to a customer and uses it, and for a reception terminal and an image database connected via a communication line. And a member information storage unit that stores member information of a customer who rents out the memory card. When renting out the memory card, the member information storage unit stores the member information in association with the ID information of the memory card. When the customer's member information is held and the ID information of the memory card is sent from the reception terminal, the ID information is compared with the corresponding member information for authentication, and when the authentication is made, the reception is performed. The confirmation data is transmitted to the terminal, the image data read from the memory card and transmitted from the reception terminal is received, and the image data is transmitted. It is intended to be stored and transferred to over the nest.

Further, the management server of the present invention has a decryption means for decrypting the image data read from the memory card when the ID information of the memory card is authenticated.

In the above configuration, by providing a function of restricting the use of the recorded data in the memory card, the lending of the memory card and the storage management and user management of the data recorded in the memory card can be operated without any trouble. Become. In addition, by lending out a memory card and performing storage management of the data recorded in the memory card, when using an image input device such as a digital camera,
It is possible to reduce a large initial investment such as purchase of a memory card by a user and a burden of carrying a data storage device. Also, if you rent and use multiple memory cards,
It is possible to capture a large amount of image data and save it in a batch. Further, the memory card lending system of the present invention allows the user to enjoy various services related to the recorded data with a small burden, and prevents the illegal use that is disadvantageous to the business operator, while also maintaining and managing the recorded data. It becomes possible to obtain compensation by providing such as.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a memory card lending system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a memory card according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a memory card for recording a captured image built in a digital camera is lent to a customer, and the image data in the memory card is taken out after image capturing and stored in a server.

The memory card lending system shown in FIG.
It includes a reception terminal 11 installed in a store or the like for performing operations such as service reception, and a management server 12 for managing image data and user data, which are connected via a network 13 such as the Internet, which is a communication line. It An image database 14 that stores and stores image data is connected to the management server 12. In addition, the management server 12
Is a media lending service department 16 that lends out the memory card 15, a content processing department 17 that processes image data, a print service department 18 that prints image data, and a communication line such as a network or a public line. It is configured to be communicable via. Further, the network 13 is connected to a user terminal 20 such as a personal computer used by the user 19 at the time of lending application, a reception terminal 21 provided at another place, and the like.

The memory card 15 is mounted in a digital camera 22 as an image input device and is built in, and is capable of recording image data obtained by photographing. Further, the memory card 15 is inserted in the reception terminal 11 to be operated. By doing so, the recorded image data can be read out.

As shown in FIG. 2, the memory card 15 is
A card interface 25 connected to a card terminal of the digital camera 22 or the reception terminal 11 for exchanging data, a storage unit 26 including a flash memory for storing data such as image data, and writing of data to the storage unit 26. And a control unit 27 for controlling the memory card 15 such as reading. This memory card 15 is a compact flash (registered trademark)
Is a removable card-type storage medium having an interface of a predetermined general-purpose format or a unique format. In this embodiment, the control unit 27 includes an encryption unit 28 as an encryption unit that encrypts the data to be written in the storage unit 26. The memory card 15 holds unique ID information for identifying each medium.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management server 12. The management server 12 is connected to the network 13 to perform data communication, such as a communication interface 31 such as a modem or TA, a transmission / reception circuit 32, a monitor 33 such as a CRT for displaying an operating state, and a frame memory 34.
And a CPU 35 for controlling each unit, a memory 36 including a ROM, a RAM, etc., service information for storing service information such as billing information for each user registered as a member and service request history such as print service for each user. The database 37 and the member registration information database 38 which stores the member information about the registered users are provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reception terminal 11. The reception terminal 11 includes a communication interface 41 such as a modem or TA that is connected to the network 13 for data communication, a transmission / reception circuit 42, a monitor 43 such as a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) that displays an operating state, and a frame memory 44. And a CPU 45 that controls each part, and R
Memory 46 including OM and RAM, and memory card 1
A card connector 47 for detachably connecting the five and exchanging data, and a transmission / reception circuit 48 are provided. Also,
An operation input unit 49 such as a key or a touch panel for performing an input operation, a voice generation unit 50 such as an amplifier or a speaker that produces a guidance voice, and an I / O 51 that inputs and outputs a signal.
A printer 52 for printing out image data, and a CD-R drive 53 for writing the image data on a recording medium such as a CD-R.

In such a memory card lending system, the user 19 sends a lending request for the memory card 15 from the user terminal 20 or the reception terminal 11 to the terminal of the media lending service department 16 of the business operator via the network 13. If the user has not been registered as a member, the member information such as name and address is registered. The media lending service department 16 uses the I of the memory card 15.
The media lending information in which the D information and the member information are associated with each other is transferred to the management server 12, and the memory card 15 is stored in the user 19
Lend to. The media lending information is the memory card 1
5 may be stored in itself.

The user 19 is the borrowed memory card 1
The image data of the obtained subject is recorded in the memory card 15 by mounting the camera 5 on the digital camera 22 and arbitrarily photographing. At this time, the image data is encrypted by the encryption unit 2.
Then, the data is encrypted by 8 and stored in the storage unit 26. Then, the memory card 15 in which the image data is stored
Is taken out of the digital camera 22 and inserted into the reception terminal 11 installed in a store or the like to perform an image data transfer operation.

In response to this image transfer operation, the reception terminal 1
The image data recorded in the memory card 15 is read by the computer 1 and is transmitted via the network 13 to the management server 12
And is stored in the image database 14 and accumulated. When a print request operation is performed with the above image transfer operation or independently, a print output instruction is sent from the management server 12 to the terminal of the print service department 18 together with the corresponding image data, and the print output is performed by the lab equipment. . Further, when an image processing request operation such as album creation is performed, an image data processing instruction is sent from the management server 12 to the content processing section 17 together with the corresponding image data, and the image data is processed.

Further, it is possible to send an image data distribution instruction from the reception terminal 11 or the reception terminal 21 installed in another place, or the user terminal 20 to download the image data accumulated in the image database 14. ing.

In the present embodiment, since the image data recorded on the memory card 15 is encrypted, it is in a copy-restricted state so that the user cannot arbitrarily read and use the image data. . Decoding of the image data read from the memory card 15 is performed in the management server 12 or the reception terminal 11 by collating the ID information of the memory card 15 with the member information, and the decrypted image data is stored in the image database 14. To be done. The image database 14 may store the image data in an encrypted state. Further, due to the copy limitation of the image data in the memory card 15, not only the above-mentioned encryption function but also the image data other than the transfer to the management server 12 is used in combination with the encryption function or instead of the encryption function. An image data output restriction function may be provided so that the image data cannot be read.

Further, the image data recorded in the memory card 15 uses an image file format such as Exif, and has a main image and a so-called thumbnail in which this image is reduced, so that only the thumbnail data can be freely used. The data of the main image can be read and copied, and the use of the data of the main image can be restricted by encryption or the like.

Next, the operation of the memory card lending system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a member registration procedure for receiving the memory card lending service, and FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a procedure for reading, transferring and storing image data from the memory card.

The user 19 performs an input operation from a user terminal 20 such as a personal computer connected to the network 13 to register as a member. First, the member information (member registration information) required for registration is input by the input operation of the user terminal 20. As the member registration information, the user's name, address, desired number of rental media, etc. are input (step S
51). The user terminal 20 transmits the member registration information to the management server 12 via the network 13 (step S5).
2). When the business operator charges for the provision of the service, the payment method or the like may be input. Note that the membership registration may be performed using the reception terminals 11 and 21 installed in a store or a street. Alternatively, the user may submit an application form in which the member information is filled in to a reception desk such as a store, and the input work may be performed at a terminal on the store side.

Upon receiving the member registration information from the user terminal 20, the management server 12 determines whether or not the member information has already been registered by the processing of the CPU 35 (step S
53) If it is not registered and is new, the member information is registered and recorded in the member registration information database 38 (step S54). Then, it is determined whether the memory card 15 as the lending medium has been sent to the user (step S55). Since the memory card 15 has not been sent to the user who has newly registered as a member, information such as the address of the member and the number of rented media is sent to the terminal of the media renting service department 16 to request the media renting ( Step S56).

Upon receiving the request for media lending from the management server 12, the media lending service department 16 sends the designated number of memory cards 15 to the designated location for the member who desires the lending (step S57). At this time, the media lending information in which the ID information of the lending memory card 15 and the member information of the lending destination user are associated with each other is transmitted to the management server 12 or stored in the memory card 15. Further, the media lending completion information indicating the completion of shipping of the memory card 15 is transmitted to the management server 12 (step S58).

When the management server 12 confirms that the rented media has been sent (step S55: Yes).
s), member registration completion information is transmitted to the user terminal 20 (step S59). The management server 12 also records the media lending completion information in the member registration information database 38. The user terminal 20 receives the member registration completion information from the management server 12 and performs a member registration completion confirmation process (step S60). For example, by displaying the completion of member registration on the monitor, the user 19 can confirm that the member registration is completed and the memory card 15 is shipped.

The user 19 is the media lending service department 1
The memory card 15 sent from No. 6 is received and mounted on the digital camera 22 for use. In addition, when the member 19 is registered at the reception terminal 11 installed in the store or the member registration is performed by submitting the application form in which the member information is filled, the user 19 receives the memory card 15 for lending on the spot. You can also When shooting is performed with the digital camera 22, the shot image data is recorded in the memory card 15. The image data input to the memory card 15 is encrypted by the encryption unit 28 by the processing of the control unit 27, and then written and stored in the storage unit 26.

Memory card 15 lent to user 19
Includes service-related information as well as ID information, such as print-only (including print-size designation information), CD-R writing service-specific service designation information, prepaid balance information when the service fee is prepaid, etc. The media may be written, and the service may be designated from the beginning for each medium. Further, a display unit such as a heat sensitive sheet may be provided on the surface of the memory card 15 to display service contents, prepaid balance and the like.

If it becomes necessary to read and save the recorded image data from the memory card 15 due to the memory capacity of the memory card 15 becoming full, for example, the user 19
Brings a memory card 15 to a store or the like, inserts it into the reception terminal 11 installed therein, and transfers (uploads) the image data to the management server 12.

At the reception terminal 11, the operation input means 49
The image data transfer operation is started by the operation of (step S
71), when the memory card 15 as the lending medium is inserted (step S72), the memory card 15 is connected to the card connector 47. At this time, the monitor 43
Is displayed on the screen related to the operation and its response, and the voice generating means 50 utters a guide voice to the user 19.
The reception terminal 11 reads out the ID information and member information for each medium recorded in the memory card 15 by the processing of the CPU 45, and transmits them to the management server 12 via the communication interface 41 and the network 13 (step S).
73).

The management server 12 uses the I of the memory card 15.
When the D information is received (step S74), the ID information received by referring to the media lending completion information of the member registration information database 38 is collated with the registered member information and the like (step S75), and the registered information is registered. If it matches with, the confirmation information is transmitted to the reception terminal 11 (step S7).
6). The reception terminal 11 confirms the registered member information based on the confirmation information sent from the management server 12 (step S77), and when the user who lent out the inserted memory card 15 is authenticated, the memory card 15
The image data recorded in is read and temporarily stored in the memory 46 (step S78). When the reading of the image data is completed, the display of the image data reading completion is displayed on the monitor 43 (step S79). The image data read from the memory card 15 may be decrypted at the reception terminal 11 and stored in the memory 46, or may be transferred to the management server 12 while being encrypted and decrypted by the management server 12. The certification process may be performed after the member information is authenticated. That is, the decryption means may be provided in any of the reception terminal 11 and the management server 12.

Next, a reception screen for a print service or the like is displayed on the monitor 43 (step S80), and the operation input from the user 19 is waited for. Then, it is determined whether there is a request for a print service or the like (step S81), and if there is a service request, the service content instructed by the user operation is input (step S82). After that, the image data and service request information temporarily stored in the memory 46 are transmitted to the management server 12 (step S83). In addition, in response to a request from the user 19, the reception terminal 11 immediately provides a print service with the printer 52, or a CD.
It is also possible to provide a CD-R writing service with the -R drive 53.

When the management server 12 receives the image data and the service request information sent from the reception terminal 11 (step S84), the management server 12 transfers the image data to the image database 14, writes it, and stores it (step S84).
85). Further, according to the service content requested by the user, the service request is transmitted to the terminals of the corresponding service department such as the content processing department 17 and the print service department 18 (step S86). Further, the service information history is stored in the service information database 37, such as service request history regarding requested services and the like, and provided service information such as billing information of each user. Then, the completion of registration of the image data and the service request information in the management server is transmitted to the reception terminal 11 (step S87).

Upon receipt of the service request, the corresponding service department responds to the request by performing a print service, a CD-R writing service, an album (processed into information with enhanced listing), or a postcard (additional information is added for processing). Created image), other image processing services, etc., and provide them to the user 19.

When the reception terminal 11 receives the registration completion information such as image data from the management server 12, the reception terminal 11 displays the completion of the reception on the monitor 43 or outputs a confirmation sound from the voice generating means 50 to notify the user 19. Yes (step S8)
8).

In addition to the reception terminal 11, the user terminal 20 used by the user 19 may access the management server 12 to authenticate the user and retrieve (download) the image data stored in the image database 14. It is possible. Further, a request instruction for various services such as a print service, an image processing service, and a download service for the stored image data can be performed by inputting an operation from another reception terminal 21. In addition, when a memory card that is not a lending medium is brought into the reception terminal 11, the reception terminal 11 inquires of the user whether membership registration is performed. If the user is a member, the image data is read from the memory card. It may have a function of reading out and saving it in the image database 14, and if not a member, a new member registration can be performed on the spot.

In this embodiment, by referring to the unique ID information written in the memory card 15 and the member information registered in the management server 12, or by reading the member information written in the memory card 15 or the like. Since the user registered as a member is authenticated, image data is transferred, and various service requests are accepted, it is necessary for the user to input the user ID and password for authentication when using this system. Without, information input work can be simplified. Further, even when only the service request instruction is given without transferring the image data stored in the memory card 15, the user can be authenticated by mounting the memory card 15 on the reception terminal 11 or the like. A memory card can be used.

Further, the memory card 15 is provided with an encryption function and a use restriction is imposed so that the stored image data cannot be freely copied, and the like.
Can be transferred to and stored in the image database 14 of the management server 12. As a result, it is possible to prevent the illegal use that would be disadvantageous to the business operator who rents out the memory card 15, and it is possible to exclusively provide the service to the users who are registered as members. In addition, the business operator can obtain compensation for the media lending service by paying for various output services such as prints and image data storage services. If the rental of the memory card 15 itself is made free, the initial cost burden on the user side can be significantly reduced.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the function of restricting the use of the recorded data in the memory card, the memory card can be rented out, and the storage management and user management of the data recorded in the memory card can be performed. Can be operated without any trouble.

Further, by lending out the memory card and managing the storage of the data recorded in the memory card as in this embodiment, the user can purchase the memory card when using the image input device such as a digital camera. It is possible to reduce the burden of carrying a large amount of initial investment and data storage equipment. Also, by lending and using a plurality of memory cards, a large amount of image data can be captured and stored together. Further, the memory card lending system of the present embodiment allows the user to enjoy various services related to the recorded data with a small burden, and prevents the illegal use that is disadvantageous to the business operator, and manages the storage and processing of the recorded data. Compensation can be obtained by providing services.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a memory card and a memory card lending system in which the lending of a memory card and the storage management and user management of the data recorded in the memory card can be operated without trouble. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a memory card lending system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a memory card according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management server.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reception terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a member registration procedure for receiving a memory card lending service.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for reading, transferring, and storing image data from a memory card.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 reception terminals 12 Management server 13 network 14 image database 15 memory card 16 Media Rental Service Division 17 Content Processing Department 18 Print Service Division 19 users 20 user terminals

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06K 17/00 G06K 17/00 L 19/00 H04N 5/907 B 19/073 G06K 19/00 P H04N 5 / 907 Q

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A memory card that is attachable to and detachable from an image input device, wherein unique ID information that can identify the memory card, a storage unit that stores input image data, and the image data that is encrypted. A memory card comprising: an encryption unit that restricts use of image data stored in the storage unit. 2. The memory card is for a business operator to lend to a customer for use, and the encryption means connects the memory card to a reception terminal managed by the business operator to provide the ID information. 2. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the memory card or the customer card is encrypted so that the image data stored in the storage unit can be used when the customer is authenticated. 3. A memory card lending system that allows a business to lend a memory card to a customer for use, wherein a reception terminal to which the memory card can be connected and a connection to the reception terminal via a communication line are possible. It has a management server and an image database that stores image data from the reception terminal, and the memory card can be attached to and detached from an image input device, and unique ID information that can identify the memory card is input. A storage unit that stores image data; and an encryption unit that encrypts the image data and restricts use of the image data stored in the storage unit. The reception terminal is connected to the memory card. When the confirmation information from the management server is received, the ID information of the memory card is transmitted to the management server. Read out image data and send it to the management server, wherein the management server holds the member information of the lending customer in association with the ID information of the memory card when lending the memory card, From the reception terminal I of the memory card
When the D information is sent, the ID information is compared with the corresponding member information for authentication, and when the authentication is made, the confirmation information is transmitted to the reception terminal, and the image data from the reception terminal is sent. A memory card lending system for receiving, transferring and storing in the image database. 4. Decryption for decrypting image data read from the memory card at the reception terminal or the management server when authentication is made by collating ID information of the memory card with the member information. The memory card lending system according to claim 3, further comprising a computerization unit. 5. A service department terminal that performs a service related to the image data is provided, and the reception terminal sends service request information related to the image data to the management server in response to an instruction input from an operation input unit. When the management server receives the service request information from the reception terminal, the management server stores the image data sent from the reception terminal or the image database transmitted to the terminal of the corresponding service department. The memory card lending system according to claim 3, wherein the service request and the member information of the request source are transmitted together with the target image data among the image data. 6. The service related to the image data is
The memory card lending system according to claim 5, comprising at least one of an image print service, a recording medium writing service, an image processing service, and an image data download service. 7. A reception terminal in a memory card lending system that allows a business to lend a memory card to a customer for use, wherein a management server connected via a card interface for connecting the memory card and a communication line For transmitting information to the management server when the memory card is connected to the management server, authentication by the ID information is performed from the management server. A reception terminal for receiving the confirmation information, reading the image data stored in the memory card, and transmitting the image data to the management server. 8. The reception terminal according to claim 7, further comprising a decryption unit that decrypts image data read from the memory card when the ID information of the memory card is authenticated. 9. A management server in a memory card lending system that allows a business to lend a memory card to a customer for use, and sends and receives information to and from a reception terminal and an image database connected via a communication line. It has a communication means and a member information storage means for storing member information of a customer who lends out the memory card, and when lending the memory card, I
Hold the member information of the lending customer in association with the D information,
When the ID information of the memory card is sent from the reception terminal, the ID information is compared with the corresponding member information for authentication, and when the authentication is made, the confirmation information is transmitted to the reception terminal. A management server that receives image data read from the memory card and sent from the reception terminal, transfers the image data to the image database, and stores the image data. 10. The management server according to claim 9, further comprising a decryption unit that decrypts image data read from the memory card when the ID information of the memory card is authenticated.