JP2003067585A - Portrait merchandise circulation service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portrait merchandise circulation service enabling portrait drawing services for a variety of merchandise by enabling the subject of the portrait and a portrait drawer at a great distance from each other to receive portrait-drawing services, and converting the portrait into data for database management and for extraction of the data from a terminal through a telephone line. SOLUTION: This system comprises a face-image receiving terminal, a management host computer, a portrait-drawing terminal, and a portrait information extracting terminal, all of which are connected together via a public line or the Internet.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a caricature drawing service for a caricature subject and a caricature creator over a long distance, and by managing the caricature as a data base, data can be acquired through a telephone line. Related to the distribution service of portrait products that enables portrait drawing services for various products.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, caricatures have been used for a certain amount of time at a tourist spot or a place where a caricature maker sits in front of a customer at a specific place and visits the place. I painted it on a paper medium such as colored paper and sold the work to the customers on the spot. Further, when the portrait is drawn on the product, it is not directly drawn on the product, but a plate is made from a paper medium on which the portrait is drawn, and this is transferred by a silk screen or the like. Even when converting to electronic data, each person only converts it into data himself and sends it to the other party by personal documents or personal e-mail, and there was no system that could freely copy this to the product. In addition, as a method of converting the data into electronic data, a photograph is sometimes taken and the outline and the shadow thereof are image-processed to be produced.

[0003]

In the conventional caricature service, there is no choice but to secure a caricature maker who draws a caricature and make it stand by at that place. , I had no choice but to receive the service. Moving the caricature creator required expenses, which resulted in higher prices for clients. Moreover, if the price is not raised, the caricature creator or the planner bears the burden and cannot obtain a proper profit. In the face-to-face caricature creation, the movement of the client is restricted during that time, and if it is at various event venues, the time is bound, the time to go around the venue is deprived, and the time can be used effectively. It was gone. Also, during production, the face is nervous because it is facing each other, and the face cannot be expressed as it should, and the person who normally contacts the resulting caricature may not be able to recognize it as the face of the person being described. It was With these analog methods, there is no choice but to draw a caricature on a paper medium such as colored paper, not only to transfer it to a three-dimensional product such as a cup or bowl, but also to a two-dimensional product such as a handkerchief that requires special printing technology. It was not possible to transfer to even commercial products. Even with the technology that uses application software that takes a picture of this with a digital camera and determines the contours and shades from the electronic data and makes it a portrait, the contour line after conversion is created with a constant width, depending on the strength of the line width unique to the portrait. It was impossible to characterize. Moreover, it was impossible to make a depiction that emphasizes the visual impression. Further, even if it is converted into electronic data, its management is used only within a limited range of individuals or producers, and it is only possible to use it in a limited commercialization technique. The present invention is to solve these problems.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a management host computer which is connected to a portrait production center by an arbitrary line, a face image reception terminal, and a portrait information extraction terminal are configured via a public line or the Internet. It is a system that allows portrait creators to create handwritten portraits even if they are not there, and manages the portraits as electronic data stored in a database in the host computer and used as data for printing or outputting on various products. It is a shared caricature product distribution service system.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows the overall system of the present invention. Basically, the management host computer (1), the face image reception terminal (2), and the portrait information extraction terminal (3) are connected by a public line (6). Further, the management host computer (1) can communicate with any communication line of the portrait making center. Of these, the face image reception terminal (2) and the portrait information extraction terminal (3) can be used individually or both to register portraits, produce products at a product manufacturing company, at event venues and portrait product shops. It is possible to develop various services such as a portrait providing service and a product production and sales service. The case will be described below.

A portrait service and a portrait product production / sales service at an event venue will be described as an example. Face image reception terminal (2) and portrait information extraction terminal (3) at special venue
Is installed so that it can be connected to the public line. The face image receiving terminal (2) is connected to the digital camera (7) and the scanner (8) as shown in FIG. This is to capture the face information necessary for creating a portrait of the client as electronic data. Usually, the face of the client present at the spot is photographed by a digital camera, the electronic data thereof is taken into the terminal as face information electronic data, and transmitted to the management host computer (1) via the communication line. At this time, the face image receiving terminal (2) simultaneously transmits the customer information and the request content as attached data. It is also possible for a client to bring a photograph or printed matter of himself or another person and make a request by using face information of the photograph.
In that case, the face information is read by the scanner as face information electronic data into the terminal, and the same operation is performed thereafter. As shown in FIG. 3, the management host computer (1) has a transmission / reception function, and a face image reception terminal (2) through a public line.
It is possible to send and receive data to and from the portrait information extraction terminal (3). In addition, data can be transmitted / received to / from the portrait making center (4) using an arbitrary line. Further, the management host computer (1) has a portrait electronic data file management database (11) and a customer information management database (12), which are managed by the central processing unit (13). First, receiving the reception information such as the face information electronic data and the customer information transmitted, as shown in FIG. 7, the customer information management database (1
2) Customer number, name, postal code, address, TEL, FA
Information such as X and E-Mail is stored. However, the information is not limited to the above-mentioned contents, and if necessary information is set accordingly. The portrait electronic data file management database (11) stores portrait information electronic data transmitted from the portrait production center (4). In response to this, as shown in FIG. 6, it is composed of a work number, a file name, a name, a customer number, etc., and the portrait information electronic data can be managed. In this example, the database is given as a file name, but in this case, the file is saved with this file name, and the relationship between the file name and the file with the file name is taken. There is. When managing these, the number of files is not limited to one for each client, and it is possible for one person to hold a plurality of portrait information electronic data. The portrait production center (4) displays the face information electronic data transmitted from the management host computer (1) to the portrait production center (4) as shown in FIG. Handed to the person (16). Caricature creator (16)
Creates a handwritten portrait based on this. The created portrait (17) is read by the scanner (8b) as shown in FIG. 5, processed by the central processing unit (14) together with necessary data, and transmitted to the management host computer (1) as portrait information electronic data. To be done. The management host computer (1) having received this manages the portrait electronic data in the portrait electronic data file management database (11) as described above. In the management, when an instruction is given that the content of the reception information is a notification at the time of completion of production, the completion of production is notified to the designated portrait information extraction terminal (3) and the content such as the file No. Also, portrait information electronic data is delivered at the same time depending on the content of the reception information. In the drawing, one portrait making center (4) is connected to the management host computer (1), but the portrait making center (4) is not limited to one, and a plurality of portrait making centers (4) may be used. It is also possible to install and connect a portrait making center (4) at a place. As shown in FIG. 8, the portrait information extraction terminal (3) receives the production completion notification via the public line, and
It has a printer (17) for outputting this. Then, the printer (17) outputs the portrait information electronic data to a paper medium and provides the client with the portrait.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a product printing machine (18) may be provided in addition to the printer. In this case, the portrait information electronic data may be directly taken into the product printing machine (18),
It is also possible to output the portrait information electronic data from the portrait information extraction terminal (3) to an arbitrary storage medium and read it to be used as data in the product printing machine (18). The product printing machine (18) can print according to various product forms such as a mouse pad, a T-shirt, and a golf ball as shown in FIG. 11, and a printable product medium is selected according to an order of a client. It can be printed. In addition to this, it is possible to develop various products such as edging processing on glass products by creating masking stickers. By using these systems, it is possible to receive a portrait service even when there is no portrait creator at the special event venue. Various attractions are held at such event venues,
There were situations where it was not possible to use those events due to the fact that it took time to move or wait in line and the production waiting time was taken, but by using this system, the receiving time can be grasped and it is up to that time There is no waiting time, so you can use your time effectively. The event venue has been described above as an example, but the face image reception terminal (2)
Various business forms are possible by combining the portrait information extraction terminal (3) with.

[0007] In the case of a portrait product shop, both terminals are installed in the store, and necessary printers and product printing machines and products to be processed based on the portrait information electronic data are provided, so that similar services can be provided nationwide. It will be possible. In this case, it is not always necessary to prepare all the products to be handled, and it is possible to place an order in a catalog or the like and deliver it to the customer at a later date, or have the store directly receive it. When using a catalog, a product manufacturing company that handles the catalog product and a public line are instructed to manufacture the product. The merchandise production company has at least a portrait information extraction terminal (3) and extracts the instructed portrait electronic data file from the portrait electronic data file management database (11) to produce a product. Then, the product is delivered to the portrait product shop requested, or is delivered to the ordering customer upon receiving an instruction from the portrait product shop.
In this system, it is also possible to previously create and register only portrait electronic data. In this case, use the Internet homepage, etc.
Registration is accepted in the acceptance format as shown in. In the figure, first, there is a personal information input field (19) for inputting the information of the person himself / herself as customer information. Then, the image is read from a digital camera or a scanner, or face image information stored in advance in a storage medium is attached and transmitted to the management host computer. It is also possible to specify the expression method as the form of the service. In the figure, if you apply with a sample image such as a serious type expressing a serious face and a deformed type with humor, you can use it for a wider range of applications.

[0008]

[Other Embodiments of the Invention] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. This is a system using a portrait production management center (21) for managing the portrait production center (4) as shown in FIG. The portrait production management center (21) is connected to the management host computer (1) via a public line. Then, in response to a request for production of portrait information electronic data from the management host computer (1), the portrait information electronic data is transmitted to the portrait production center (4), and the portrait creator electronic data is produced. , Send the portrait information electronic data to the management host computer (1). In this case, the portrait production management center (21) is preferably an educational institution that trains portrait creators, and makes the students study and pays for the achievements. As a result, the practice of the students is increased, the cost of living can be secured, and the study and practical training can be done without spending time for other part-time jobs, and it becomes possible to efficiently train caricature creators.

[0009] Further, it is possible to provide a service in which the portrait information electronic data is used in combination with other electronic data so that it can be used more widely. For example, it is possible to provide a combined electronic data management database for managing combined electronic data. A background, clothes, etc. can be considered as the combined electronic data. By using this, a plurality of variations of portrait works can be made from one portrait information electronic data. Figure 12 shows an example of this. By selecting background electronic data for the beach image for the background, selecting electronic clothing data for a swimsuit, and combining these with portrait information electronic data, a work suitable for the image of summer is created. . By using this, it is possible to create works that match the four seasons or that match the event.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. By using the present invention, a portrait that can be represented only by handwriting can be obtained without the portrait maker being there. Since caricature makers no longer need to move, the number of productions per unit time has increased and the production efficiency has improved. By being able to exchange various types of information using public lines, it has become possible to work in remote areas and receive equivalent services regardless of region. Also, by using the terminal at home, it became possible to receive the service at home. By converting the portrait information into electronic data and managing it in the database of the host computer, the data created once can be used any number of times thereafter. The requesting customer or the assembly company that received the instruction from the requesting customer exchanges the data management information of the database with the product manufacturing company,
It has become possible to easily produce original products that print portrait information. At this time, it is possible to shorten the time and reduce the manufacturing cost by sharing the design that is manufactured and managed for each normal product. By being able to select the depiction method, it has become possible to utilize in a wider range of applications than before. By the data combining means using the combined electronic data management database for managing the combined electronic data, it is possible to produce a plurality of works from one portrait information electronic data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing a face image reception state of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of a management host computer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of receiving image information at the portrait making center of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a portrait information transmission state of the portrait production center of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a portrait electronic data file management database of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a customer information management database of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram showing a portrait image extraction state of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a system diagram showing the flow of commercialization of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a reception format of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a system diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a work produced using the system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Management host computer 2 Face image reception terminal 3 Portrait information extraction terminal 4 Caricature Production Center 5 database 6 public line 7 Digital camera 8 scanner 9 photos 11 Portrait electronic data file management database 12 Customer information management database 13 Central processing unit 14 Central processing unit 15 monitor 16 Portrait creator 17 Printer 18 Reception format 19 Personal information input field 20; 20a; 20b Sample image display unit 21 Caricature Management Center

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06T 1/00 200 G06T 1/00 200A 11/80 11/80 D H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 Z F term (reference) ) 5B050 AA08 BA06 BA10 CA07 CA08 DA04 EA19 FA02 FA12 FA19 5B075 KK07 KK13 KK33 KK37 ND08 ND23 ND34 PQ02 PQ03 PQ05 PQ13 PQ20 UU08 UU40 5C062 AA51 AC06 AC05 AC02 AC04 AC04 AC04 AC02 AC04 AC24 AC02 AC04 AC04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A system in which a management host computer connected to the portrait production center via an arbitrary line, a face image reception terminal, and a portrait information extraction terminal are configured via a public line or the Internet and used for face image reception. The terminal can capture the face information of the client as face information electronic data and send it to the management host computer. The management host computer sends the face information electronic data to the portrait making center and the portrait electronic data from the portrait making center. Database managing and transmitting to the portrait information extracting terminal as needed, the portrait producing terminal has portrait electronic data producing means for converting the face information electronic data from the management host computer into the portrait electronic data. Send electronic portrait data to management host computer The portrait information extraction terminal can receive electronic portrait data from a management host computer, print it on a required medium, output it on a monitor, or extract it as electronic data. A portrait product distribution service system. 2. The portrait merchandise distribution service system according to claim 1, wherein any store has a face image reception terminal and a portrait information extraction terminal. 3. The portrait merchandise distribution service system according to claim 1, wherein the portrait electronic data of the management host computer is encoded into an arbitrary recognition code. 4. The portrait merchandise distribution service system according to claim 1, further comprising receiving means for designating an arbitrary drawing method. 5. The management host computer has a combined electronic data management database for managing combined electronic data such as background electronic data and clothing electronic data, and data combining means for combining the combined electronic data with the portrait information electronic data. 5. The portrait product distribution service system according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4.