JP2003125324A - Image storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image storage device in which the capacity of storing area can be set appropriately depending on the type of an apparatus being connected or the resolution of image data being transferred and storage of a specified number of sheets can be ensured. SOLUTION: An image storage server 11 comprises a section 23 for managing the storing area of an image storing section 22, and a section 25 for managing client information. At the time of storing the image data of a digital camera 14 transferred from a terminal 12, the maximum number of pixels of the image data being delivered is acquired and a data capacity required for ensuring storage of a specified number of sheets for a client is calculated before the storage area of the image storing section 22 is set. For example, the camera ID 15 of the digital camera 14 is acquired as apparatus information, the maximum number of pixels of the image data being delivered to the image storage server 11 is acquired based on the camera ID 15 and the capacity of storage area is set such that a specified number of sheets can be stored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image storage device that stores image information of a customer transferred using a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image information captured by an image input device such as a digital camera is transferred from a built-in memory of the image input device to a personal computer of each user and transferred to a large capacity such as a hard disk or a CD-R. It was recorded on a recording medium and stored. Further, when hard printing is required, printing is performed by a printer connected to a personal computer, a recording medium is brought into a store, image information is provided using a network, and a print request is made. However, in the case of storing image information with a personal computer, it has been expensive to prepare a large-capacity recording medium and it has been time-consuming to manage the image information.

Therefore, recently, a business operator operates a server for image storage, and a customer transfers image information from the personal computer or a terminal installed in a store to the server and stores it in the server. Service is being considered.

[0004]

For example, in image information taken by a digital camera, the image data resolution (the number of pixels) varies depending on the number of pixels of the image pickup element of the digital camera and the difference in the shooting mode. The data volume of may differ greatly. Therefore, in the system for performing the image storage service as described above, the required capacity of the recording area to be prepared on the server side varies depending on the resolution of the image data transferred from the user. In addition, if a certain amount of recording area is secured in the server,
The number of images that can be saved varies depending on the resolution of the image data, and there is a problem that the recording area is insufficient for the number of saves required by the user, and the storage area is excessively large. Occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the capacity of the storage area can be appropriately set according to the type of connected device, the resolution of image data to be transferred, and the like, and the predetermined number of sheets to be stored can be set. An object is to provide an image storage device that can be secured.

[0006]

An image storage apparatus of the present invention is an image storage apparatus for storing image information transferred via a communication line in an image storage unit, and manages a storage area of the image storage unit. And a customer information management section that manages customer information regarding a customer who requests storage of the image information, and the storage area management section acquires the maximum number of pixels of the image information. The storage area is set by calculating the data capacity required to secure a predetermined storable number for one customer from the maximum number of pixels.

Further, the storage area management section acquires device information of an image input device as a transfer source of the image information, and obtains the maximum number of pixels of the image information based on the device information.

Further, the storage area management unit acquires from the customer information the device information of the image input device used by the customer who is the transfer source of the image information, and based on this device information, the maximum of the image information is obtained. The number of pixels is obtained.

Further, the storage area management unit acquires the device information of the image input device that generated the image information from the attached information added to the image information, and based on this device information, the maximum pixel of the image information. You get the number.

If the device information corresponding to the customer information of the predetermined customer stored in the customer information management unit is different from the acquired device information, the storage area management unit is based on the acquired device information. The storage area is reset.

In the above arrangement, when image data is transferred from an image input device such as a digital camera and stored, the maximum number of pixels of the transferred image information is acquired, and a predetermined storable number is obtained from this maximum number of pixels. The storage capacity of the image storage unit is set by calculating the data capacity required to secure it. For example, the device information of the image input device is acquired to determine the model etc., and the image information formed by shooting with this image input device, or the maximum pixel of the image information sent from the image input device of this transfer source. Grasp the number and secure the required storage area capacity.

With this, it is possible to set the optimum storage area capacity according to the customer's situation, and it is possible to efficiently allocate the area for storing the image while securing a predetermined number of sheets to be stored, and to store the image. The utilization efficiency of resources in the image storage unit of the server is improved. Further, it is not necessary for the customer to calculate the amount of image data at the time of saving request, and the image information can be stored up to a preset storable number of images that can be intuitively understood.

[0013]

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 an image storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an example applied to a system for transferring image data captured by a digital camera to a server via a network and storing the image data will be described.

The image storage device of the present embodiment has an image storage server 11 for storing image data. The image storage server 11 is a personal computer used by a user or a reception terminal installed in a store or the like. Is connected to a terminal device 12 made up of the Internet via a network 13 such as the Internet, which is a communication line. A digital camera 14, which is an image input device, is connected to the terminal device 12 to transfer captured image data.

The image storage server 11 is a network 13
Communication interface 21 that is connected to and performs data communication
And an image storage unit 22 for accumulating and storing image data, and a control unit 26 for controlling each unit. Control unit 26
Has a storage area management unit 23 that sets and manages a storage area for each customer in the image storage unit 22, and a customer information management unit 25 that sets, changes, and manages customer information.

The terminal device 12 is connected to the network 13 to perform data communication, a monitor 32 such as a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) for displaying an operating state, a memory 33 for temporarily storing image data and the like.
And a control unit 34 that controls each unit, and the digital camera 1
Communication interface 3 connected to 4 for data communication
5 and an input operation unit 36 for inputting operation instructions and the like. The digital camera 14 holds a camera ID 15 as device information inside the device, and transmits image data together with the camera ID 15 to the connected terminal device 12. Various interfaces and protocols such as USB, IEEE1394, and Bluetooth can be used for communication between the terminal device 12 and the digital camera 14.

In the present embodiment, when the image data is transferred to and stored in the image storage server 11 especially in the initial state of customer registration or when the customer information is changed, the camera ID 15 of the digital camera 14 connected to the terminal device 12 is set. By detecting, the model of the digital camera 14 is determined in the image storage server 11 or the terminal device 12, and the maximum number of pixels of the image data transferred to the image storage server 11 is grasped. Then, the storage area management unit 23 of the image storage server 11
In step 2, the minimum number of image data that can be stored is set, and the necessary data capacity is calculated from the number of images and the maximum number of pixels to secure the storage area of the image storage unit 22.

When a customer who receives an image storage service purchases a digital camera or makes a user registration with a business operator when applying for a service, customer information is stored by the customer information management unit 25. Customer information includes personal information such as the customer's name and address, as well as the image input device such as the model of the digital camera used, serial number, and the number of images that can be stored, and for each customer who provides image storage services. Information is also included. Then, the image data captured from the digital camera 14 and transferred from the terminal device 12 via the network 13 is recorded and stored in the storage area set for each customer in the image storage unit 22 of the image storage server 11.

Depending on the model of the digital camera 14,
The resolution (number of pixels) from the maximum to the minimum of the captured image data can be known from the number of pixels of the mounted image sensor. Then, the capacity per image data is roughly determined from the resolution and compression rate of this image data.
In consideration of the maximum capacity, the capacity of the storage area required to store a predetermined number of sheets in the image storage unit 22 is determined.

Note that the model identification is performed not only by the camera ID 15 held in the camera, but also in the image data conforming to the Exif standard in DCF, which is the image file standard used in many digital cameras, for example, header information is added as ancillary information. Since the device information of the camera that captured the image is recorded in the tag, the image storage server 11 or the terminal device 12 can determine the model by reading the header portion of the image data. It is also possible to read, for example, one piece of the image data itself as a sample and determine the resolution and capacity of the image data to be stored.

Next, the operation of the image storage device of this embodiment will be described. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the terminal device, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image storage server. In the following description of the operation, the control unit 3 of each of the terminal device 12 and the image storage server 11 will be described.
The operations in 4 and 26 will be mainly described.

When the digital camera 14 is connected to the terminal device 12, the connected external device is recognized (step S2).
1) It is determined whether the digital camera is compatible with this system (step S22). When the corresponding digital camera is connected, the camera ID 15 is acquired (step S23), and the image data stored in the digital camera 14 is loaded into the memory 33 (step S2).
4). Then, an image data transfer request is transmitted to the image storage server 11 (step S25), and the image storage server 11
To the transfer permission is waited (step S26).
At this time, in the transfer request, the camera ID 15 of the connected digital camera 14 is included as device information, or the user ID of the customer who is registered in advance is included as customer information and transmitted.

When the transfer permission is received from the image storage server 11 (step S26), the predetermined number of image data stored in the memory 33 is transmitted to the image storage server 11. The number of pieces of image data that can be stored in the image storage server 11 by one customer is set, for example, at the time of user registration of the customer, and is notified to the terminal device 12 side together with the transfer permission. When the image data exceeding the storable number is sent to the terminal device 12 or the image storage server 11, a screen for image selection is generated in the terminal device 12 or the image storage server 11 to monitor the terminal device 12. 32,
Notify the customer that a predetermined number of images to be saved should be selected.

If the digital camera 14 connected in step S22 is not compatible with this system, a message indicating that transfer is not possible is displayed on the monitor 32, and the user is notified that image transfer is not possible with a model that does not support the system. Notify.

The digital camera 14 in the terminal device 12
When it is not possible to determine the model of, or when the image data previously stored in the memory 33 is transferred to and saved in the image storage server 11 without connecting the digital camera 14,
A small amount of image data such as one sheet is sent to the image storage server 11 as a sample, and the server side determines whether or not it is possible. If the terminal device 12 can determine the camera ID from the attached information of the image data, the camera ID corresponding to the image data may be transmitted to the image storage server 11.

Upon receiving the image data transfer request from the terminal device 12 (step S31), the image storage server 11 first determines whether or not the transfer request includes device information such as a camera ID (step S32). When the transfer request includes the device information, the camera ID of the digital camera 14 connected to the terminal device 12 is detected from the device information (step S33).

When the device information is not included in the image data transfer request, it is determined whether or not the user ID of the pre-registered customer is included (step S34). If the transfer request includes the user ID and the model of the digital camera used by the corresponding customer can be determined, the camera used by the customer based on the customer information stored in the customer information management unit 25. The ID is acquired (step S35).

As described above, when the camera ID is detected from the device information or the customer information and the model of the image data transmission source can be determined, the storage area management unit 23 determines the specification information previously recorded in the image storage server 11. The maximum number of pixels of the image data of the corresponding digital camera is acquired by referring to it (step S36). Then, from the obtained maximum number of pixels, a data capacity necessary to store a predetermined number of sheets, such as a preset number of sheets that can be stored, is calculated, and the image storage unit 2
A storage area is secured in step 2 (step S37). Next, the transfer permission of the image data and the storable number of sheets are transmitted to the terminal device 12 (step S38). After that, when the image data transferred from the terminal device 12 is received, it is stored in the storage area reserved in the image storage unit 22.

If the device information is not included in the image data transfer request, the image data for one image is requested and fetched to the terminal device 12, and it is determined whether the image data is in the corresponding format (step S39). . If the transferred image data is in a format supported by the image storage server 11, it is determined whether the camera ID can be detected by referring to the header of the image data (step S).
40). When the camera ID is detected, the process proceeds to steps S36 to S38 described above, similarly, a storage area having a data capacity of a predetermined number corresponding to the model of the digital camera is secured and the transfer permission of the image data is transmitted.

If the camera ID cannot be detected in step S40, the image data is analyzed and the maximum number of pixels of the transferred image data is calculated from the attached information of the image, the data format, the data capacity, the compression ratio, etc. ( Step S41). Then, the above step S37-
In step S38, similarly, a storage area having a data capacity of a predetermined number of pixels is secured from the maximum number of pixels and the transfer permission of the image data is transmitted.

If the image data transferred in step S39 is not compatible with the image storage server 11, an image transfer refusal is transmitted to the terminal device 12 (step S42). When the terminal device 12 receives the image transfer refusal, the terminal device 12 displays on the monitor 32 that the image cannot be transferred, and notifies the user that the image cannot be transferred by a model that does not support the system.

As described above, in the image storage device of the present embodiment, the number of images that can be stored is set for each customer, and the data capacity necessary to store at least the image data of the number of images that can be stored is set to the image size. Calculated from the maximum number of pixels of data and secure a storage area. At this time, the maximum number of pixels of the image data to be stored is obtained from the camera ID of the connected digital camera of the image transfer source. Therefore, it is not necessary for the customer to calculate the amount of image data, and it is possible to use the image storage service with the number of images that can be intuitively understood. In addition, by setting the optimum storage area capacity according to the maximum number of pixels of the connected digital camera, etc., the area for image storage can be efficiently allocated while ensuring a predetermined number of storage areas, and image storage. The utilization efficiency of resources in the image storage unit of the server can be improved.

The device information can include not only the model of the digital camera but also information about the individual camera such as a serial number. If such individual information is held in the memory or firmware of the digital camera, the serial number of the camera can be read and recorded in association with the user ID at the time of user registration.
The time and effort required for user registration can be greatly reduced, and user authentication can be performed simply by connecting a digital camera to a terminal device when saving an image, improving operability during use and making it easier to use. .

Further, when the customer uses a plurality of types of cameras or purchases new cameras, that is, when the device information of the customer information registered in the customer information management unit is different from the newly acquired device information. The capacity of the storage area of the image storage server is adjusted and reset according to the model of the connected digital camera based on the currently acquired device information. As a result, the operator who provides the image storage service can guarantee the preset number of storable images, and by allocating a large-capacity storage area to customers who have purchased high-resolution cameras, Appropriate services can be realized according to the usage status.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the capacity of the storage area can be appropriately set according to the type of the connected device, the resolution of the image data to be transferred, etc., and a predetermined number of sheets to be stored can be secured. There is an effect that it is possible to provide an image storage device capable of doing so.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image storage device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image storage server.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Image storage server 12 terminal devices 13 network 14 digital camera 15 camera ID 21, 31, 35 communication interface 22 Image storage 23 Storage Area Management Department 25 Customer Information Management Department 26 Control unit 32 monitors 33 memory 34 Control unit 36 Operation input section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/92 H04N 5/91 JF term (reference) 5B050 AA08 BA10 BA15 CA08 DA01 GA08 5B082 CA16 HA05 HA08 5C052 AB04 DD02 DD04 5C053 FA08 LA11 LA14 5C073 AA06 AB04 BB03 BC02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image storage device for storing image information transferred via a communication line in an image storage unit, comprising: a storage region management unit for managing a storage region of the image storage unit; and storage of the image information. The storage area management unit acquires a maximum number of pixels of the image information, and a predetermined storage for one customer based on the maximum number of pixels. An image storage device that sets the storage area by calculating a data capacity required to secure the number of sheets that can be stored. 2. The storage area management unit acquires device information of an image input device as a transfer source of the image information, and obtains the maximum number of pixels of the image information based on the device information.
The image storage device described. 3. The storage area management unit acquires device information of an image input device used by a customer who is a transfer source of the image information from the customer information, and based on the device information, the maximum of the image information is acquired. The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein the number of pixels is obtained. 4. The storage area management unit acquires the device information of the image input device that generated the image information from the attached information added to the image information, and based on this device information, the maximum pixel of the image information. The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein the number is obtained. 5. The storage area management unit, based on the acquired device information, if the device information corresponding to the customer information of the predetermined customer stored in the customer information management unit and the acquired device information are different. The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage area is reset.