JP2003150690A - Image browsing and distributing system, image browsing and distributing method and image browsing and distributing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily distribute and browse image data and to steadily keep them. SOLUTION: A system server 10 keeps the image data transmitted from a terminal 20 of a person A, receives a request from the terminal 20 of the person A and performs setting of a right of use to the image data, preparation of an album in which the image data are gathered and setting of a pass code to the prepared album. The terminal 20 of the person A reports an album code and the pass code to the terminal 30 of a person B. The terminal 30 of the person B transmits the album code and the pass code to the system server 10 and the system server 10 lets the terminal 30 of the person B browse the album corresponding to the album code in the case that the pass code is suitable. The terminal 30 of the person B acquires the image data to which the right of user is set, prepares its own album and adds comments. In the case that the person B 3 desires prints of the image data to which the right of use is set, the terminal 30 of the person B transmits order data to the system server 10 and a shop terminal 40 prints them.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image browsing distribution method and an image browsing distribution program, and more particularly, to an image browsing distribution method, an image browsing distribution method, and an image browsing distribution program for exposing image data obtained by digital camera photography or the like via the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of distributing image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera to an acquaintance or a colleague, there is a method of sending it by electronic mail. Image data of digital cameras is becoming higher in quality day by day to meet user needs. Generally, the number of pixels of a digital camera exceeds 3 million pixels. Further, due to the cost reduction of memory chips, storage devices such as compact flash (registered trademark) and smart media used in digital cameras have high capacities of several tens of megabytes. If the image data is shot in the full storage element, the amount of data is too large to be sent by e-mail.

As a method of distributing image data, there is also a method of printing and then distributing. The printout may be performed with a household inkjet printer, but in order to satisfy high image quality and high storability, a method of requesting a DPE shop to print out with a silver salt printer is also used. In that case, until you see the fold and go to the DPE shop,
The image data is stored in a storage element or temporarily saved in a personal computer.

[0004]

As described above, the image data of the digital camera has a high image quality day by day, and the storage element for the digital camera has a large capacity. There is a problem that the amount of data becomes too large and it is difficult to send it to a remote place or a person who has no opportunity to meet.

Further, since a storage element is required for printing out, even if the storage element has a shortage of capacity, it cannot be erased until it goes to a DPE shop by folding, and the storage element is temporarily stored in a personal computer. Even if it is saved, since the capacity is not small, the free capacity of the hard disk device becomes a problem.

Further, although the same image data cannot be photographed again, there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to store it completely by the individual level storage method.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image browsing distribution system, an image browsing distribution method, and an image browsing distribution program method that easily distribute and browse image data and perform solid storage.

[0008]

An image browsing and distributing system of the present invention comprises a network, a system server mutually connected to the network, a first user terminal, a second user terminal, and a shop terminal, The system server stores the image data transmitted from the first user terminal, and an album that collects the image data and the usage right setting for the image data by receiving a request from the first user terminal. And the passcode for the created album are compared with the album code received from the second user terminal and the passcode, and if the passcode matches, the received album code is set. A means for causing the second user terminal to browse a corresponding album, and image data for which a usage right has been set is acquired by the second user terminal. Means for creating an album from the image data acquired by the second user terminal at the request of the second user terminal, and a print request for the image data for which the usage right has been set by the second user. Means for receiving from a terminal and transferring to the shop terminal, the first user terminal collecting means for transmitting image data to the system server, setting a usage right for the transmitted image data, and collecting the image data. The second user terminal includes means for requesting creation of an album and setting a passcode for the created album, and means for transmitting the album code and the passcode to the second user terminal. A method of sending a passcode to view image data, a method of acquiring image data for which usage rights have been set, and acquired image data Luo comprising means for creating its own albums, and means for transmitting the print request of the image data acquired, the shop terminal, characterized in that it comprises a means for printing out the print request image data.

In the image browsing and distributing system of the present invention, the first user terminal includes means for requesting to add a comment to the created album, and the second user terminal adds a comment to its own album. The image browsing and distributing method of the present invention is characterized by including means for requesting an image using a system server, a first user terminal, a second user terminal, and a shop terminal mutually connected to a network. A browsing and distributing method, wherein the system server stores the image data transmitted from the first user terminal, and the system server uses the image data upon receiving a request from the first user terminal. The steps of setting the right, creating an album that collects image data, and setting a passcode for the created album,
The system server collates the album code received from the second user terminal with the pass code, and if the pass code matches, causes the second user terminal to browse the album corresponding to the received album code. A step of causing the second user terminal to obtain image data for which a usage right is set,
The system server requests the second user terminal to create an album from image data acquired by the second user terminal by the system server, and the system server issues a print request for the image data for which the usage right is set. It is characterized by including the steps of receiving from the second user terminal and transferring to the shop terminal, and the step of printing out the image data requested to be printed by the shop terminal.

In the image browsing and distributing method of the present invention, the system server adds a comment transmitted from the first user terminal to the album created by the request from the first user terminal, and the second method. The system server may add a comment transmitted from the second user terminal to the album created by the request from the user terminal.

A system server of the present invention is a system server which is mutually connected to a first user terminal, a second user terminal and a shop terminal via a network,
A means for storing the image data transmitted from the first user terminal, setting a right to use the image data by receiving a request from the first user terminal, and creating and creating an album in which the image data is collected. The means for setting a passcode for the album and the album code received from the second user terminal are compared with the passcode, and if the passcode matches, the album corresponding to the received album code is set as the above. The second user from the means for causing the second user terminal to browse, the means for causing the second user terminal to acquire the image data for which the usage right is set, and the second user based on the image data acquired by the second user terminal. A means for creating an album at the request of the terminal, and a print request for the image data for which the usage right is set are received from the second user terminal and the show is performed. Characterized in that it comprises a means for transferring the up terminal.

The system server of the present invention stores the first file in the album created in response to a request from the first user terminal.
And a unit for adding a comment transmitted from the second user terminal to the album created by the request from the second user terminal. Good.

The program of the present invention stores image data transmitted from the first user terminal to a system server interconnected to the first user terminal, the second user terminal and the shop terminal via a network. And a process of receiving a request from the first user terminal, setting a usage right for image data, creating an album in which image data is collected, and setting a passcode for the created album. A process of collating an album code received from the second user terminal with a pass code, and if the pass code matches, a process of causing the second user terminal to browse an album corresponding to the received album code; From the means for causing the second user terminal to obtain the image data for which the right is set, and the image data obtained by the second user terminal A process for creating an album by request of the serial second user terminal, a print request of the image data use right is set to receive from the second user terminal to execute a process to be transferred to the shop terminal.

The program of the present invention executes a process of adding a comment transmitted from the first user terminal to an album created in response to a request from the first user terminal, and a request from the second user terminal. You may make it perform the process which adds the comment transmitted from the said 2nd user terminal to the produced album.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. System server 10 and Mr. Ko terminal 20
And the Otomi terminal 30 and the shop terminal 40 are the network 5
It is connected through 0.

The Internet is typical as the network 50. In the following description, an example of the Internet will be described.

The system server 10 is a web server used by a system business operator 1 who operates an image browsing and distribution system on the Internet. It has a storage device 13 inside or outside thereof, and the storage device 13 is the image database 1
Have 5.

The Kou terminal 20 is an information processing device such as a personal computer used by Mr. Kou 2 who is registered as a user in the image browsing and distribution system, and has an input device 21 such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting data and an image display. And a display 22 for performing. The Mr. Ko terminal 20 further has a storage device (not shown) for temporarily storing data, and has a function of taking in the image data captured by the digital camera 25 and stored in the storage element to the storage device.

The Otsu terminal 30 is an information processing device such as a personal computer used by Otsu 3 who has registered as a user in the image viewing and distributing system, and an input device 31 such as a keyboard and a mouse for data input and an image display. And a display 32 for performing.

The shop terminal 40 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer used by the DPE shop 4, and a printer 45 is connected to the shop terminal 40. Shop terminal 40
Receives image data from the system server 10 via the Internet and causes the printer 45 to print out the image data. The printer 45 prints out image data with high image quality, and a typical example is a silver salt printer. It may be an ink jet type or heat sensitive type printer.
If the printer 45 has a function of receiving data from the Internet and performing image processing, a configuration without using the shop terminal 40 is also possible.

[0021] As a general form, a single system server 10, a plurality of Mr. Ko's terminals 20, and a plurality of Mr. Otsu's terminals 3
0 and one or more shop terminals 40 (or printers 45).

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the present invention.

The system business operator 1 concludes a print outsourcing contract with the DPE shop 4 (step A1). At the time of contract, the payment method of printing fee is set in advance. There are a method in which the user pays directly to the DPE shop 4 and a method in which the user pays to the DPE shop 4 via the system provider 1.

Mr. Kou 2 uses Mr. Kou's terminal 20 to access the homepage established by the system business operator 1 on the Internet, register the user in the image browsing and distribution system, and obtain the user ID (identification number). It is acquired (step A2). In the same way, Mr. Otsu 3 also uses Mr. Otsu's terminal 30 to access the homepage established by the system business operator 1 on the Internet, register as a user in the image browsing distribution system, and obtain a user ID (step A3). ). Both Mr. Kou 2 and Mr. Otsu 3 decide beforehand how to pay the cost to the system operator 1 at the time of user registration.

Mr. Ko 2 takes an image using the digital camera 25, for example, on a group trip. The captured image data is transferred from the storage device of the digital camera 25 to the Mr. Kou terminal 2
0 is stored in the storage device. Mr. Ko 2 uses the Mr. Ko terminal 20 to access the image browsing and distribution system on the Internet and transfers the image data to the system server 10 (step A4). The system server 10 adds this serial number to the image database 15 of the storage device 13 and stores it (step A5).

A procedure for Mr. Ko 2 to create an album using the image data stored in the image database 15 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an album cover. The album code is automatically given by the image viewing and distributing system and is a unique serial number on the system. Each user can freely set the album name and passcode.

When Mr. Ko 2 uses the Mr. Ko terminal 20 to access the image viewing / distributing system as "new creation" (step A6), the cover in which only the album code is entered is displayed on the display 22 (step A6). A7). Mr. Ko uses the input device 21 to fill in the album name and passcode and sends it to the system server 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a page edit screen in the album. A preview of the photos stored by Mr. Ko 2 is displayed on the left side, and the editing screen is on the right side. When a photo number is entered in the number input field, the photo is placed in the position of the number input field. Comments can be freely entered in the comment field. By checking the check box above the number input field, the "right to use the photo and comment" is set. The page is edited by repeating the arrangement of the photo and the comment, and the album is completed with a plurality of pages (step A8). By repeating the above, Mr. Ko 2 can create a plurality of albums.

Mr. Ko 2 sends the album code and pass code to Mr. Otsu's terminal 30 of Mr. Otsu 3 by e-mail or the like using Mr. Ko's terminal 20 (step A9).

Otsu 3 accesses the image browsing and distribution system as "Browse" on Otsu's terminal 30 (step A10).
Then, a cover (same as in FIG. 3) in which the album name, album code, and passcode are all blank is displayed on the display 32 (step A11). Otsu 3 fills in the album code and passcode using the input device 31 and sends the album code and passcode to the image browsing and distribution system (step A12).

The system server 10 searches the image database 15 for a corresponding album based on the album code transmitted from the second person terminal 30, and when the pass code matches, transmits the album of Mr. Ko 2 to the second person terminal 30. (Step A13). The display 32 of the Otsuji terminal 30 displays this. To browse the album, you will see the cover page and browsing page. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the browsing page.
Referring to FIG. 5, the browsing page is similar to the right side of the page edited by Mr. Ko 2 (see FIG. 4), and there is an acquisition button instead of a check box. This acquisition button is present only in the photos for which the "right to use for photos and comments" is set.

By using the input device 31 and pressing the acquisition button, Mr. Otsu 3 can make the target photo a "photo of Mr. Otsu", and Mr. Otsu 3 can create an album with the photo. Is. Moreover, his / her comment can be added to the comment of Mr. Ko 2's album (like a bulletin board) (step A14).

By doing this, it is possible to deal with external albums such as company introductions only by browsing without giving a usage right, and when using a photo at the browsing destination or when a comment is required, a usage right is given. It will be possible. The usage right can be set to allow all viewers and not allow all viewers for each image data, each page, and each album.

When Otsu 3 wants to print out the image data for which the usage right has been obtained at the photographic level, he can print out at the DPE shop 4. Otomi Terminal 3
When the order data is transmitted from 0 to the system server 10 (step A15), the order data is transferred from the system server 10 to the shop terminal 40 (step A16) and printed out by the printer 45. If you send your serial number and your ID, you will get a passcode and your ID in units of one.
You can order one page of an album by sending. The printed out matter is delivered to the second party 3 by the method requested by the second party terminal 30 (step A17). As the delivery method, Otsu 3 goes to the DPE shop 4, the home of Otsu 3 or the delivery to the destination specified by Otsu 3, and Otsu 3 designates the nearest convenience store. There are ways to receive it at.

Mr. Ko 2 and Mr. Otsu 3 process the expense with the system operator by the method agreed upon at the time of contract (step A18). If there is a contract to pay the printing cost to the DPE shop 4, the second party 3 will process the cost with the DPE shop 4 (step 19).

In this way, by saving the image data and printing out page by page, it is possible to make a book-type album. For example, it is possible to make a book of image data for one year for each birthday and distribute it to relatives. In the above example, Mr. Otsu can distribute the image data taken by Mr. Ko. Of course, it is also possible for Mr. Ko himself to request a print and distribute it.

System server 10 in the present embodiment
The operation of can be performed by a program process. That is, the program recorded on the recording medium is read by the system server 10, or the program is read by the system server 10 from the network and the operation of the system server 10 described in the present embodiment is executed.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the system server stores the image data and sets the passcode and the usage right, you can easily distribute and view the image data without burdening the hard disk of your personal computer. The effect is that it can be stored.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an album cover.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a page edit screen in an album.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a browsing page.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 system business 2 Mr. Ko 3 Otsu 4 DPE shop 10 system server 13 Storage device 15 image database 20 Kou terminal 21 Input device 22 Display 25 digital camera 30 Otsu terminal 31 Input device 32 display 40 shop terminals 45 printer 50 network

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A network, a system server interconnected to the network, a first user terminal, a second user terminal, and a shop terminal, wherein the system server transmits from the first user terminal. Means for storing the created image data, setting a right to use the image data by receiving a request from the first user terminal, creating an album in which the image data is collected, and setting a passcode for the created album. The means for performing and the album code and the passcode received from the second user terminal are collated, and if the passcode matches, the second user terminal is caused to browse the album corresponding to the received album code. Means, means for causing the second user terminal to acquire image data for which a usage right has been set, and means for causing the second user terminal to acquire the image data. Means for creating an album from the image data in response to a request from the second user terminal, and means for receiving a print request for the image data for which a usage right has been set from the second user terminal and transferring it to the shop terminal. The first user terminal includes means for transmitting image data to the system server, setting a usage right for the transmitted image data, creating an album in which the image data is collected, and setting a passcode for the created album. Requesting means and means for transmitting an album code and a passcode to the second user terminal, wherein the second user terminal means for transmitting the album code and the passcode to browse image data; A method of acquiring image data for which usage rights have been set, a method of creating an own album from the acquired image data, and a method of acquiring And means for transmitting a print request of the image data, the shop terminal, image viewing distribution method characterized in that it comprises a means for printing out the print request image data. 2. The first user terminal includes means for requesting to add a comment to the created album, and the second user terminal includes means for requesting to add a comment to its own album. The image browsing and distributing method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An image browsing / distributing method using a system server, a first user terminal, a second user terminal, and a shop terminal interconnected to a network, wherein the system server is the first user. Storing the image data transmitted from the terminal, receiving a request from the first user terminal, setting the right to use the image data by the system server, creating an album in which the image data is collected, and creating the album And setting a pass code for the pass code, and the system server collates the pass code with the album code received from the second user terminal, and if the pass code matches, corresponds to the received album code. The step of making the second user terminal browse the album, and the image data for which the usage right has been set are stored in the system support. A server causes the second user terminal to acquire the image data; a step in which the system server creates an album from the image data acquired by the second user terminal at the request of the second user terminal; The system server receives a print request for the image data for which the print request is set from the second user terminal and transfers the print request to the shop terminal; and the shop terminal prints out the print-requested image data. An image browsing and distributing method characterized by including. 4. A step in which the system server adds a comment transmitted from the first user terminal to an album created in response to a request from the first user terminal, and a request from the second user terminal 4. The image browsing and distributing method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of adding, by the system server, a comment transmitted from the second user terminal to the created album. 5. A system server interconnected to a first user terminal, a second user terminal, and a shop terminal via a network, and stores image data transmitted from the first user terminal. Means for receiving a request from the first user terminal, setting a usage right for the image data, creating an album in which the image data is collected, and setting a passcode for the created album.
When the album code and the pass code received from the second user terminal are collated and the pass code matches, the album corresponding to the received album code is set to the second.
Of the second user terminal from the image data acquired by the second user terminal, and means for allowing the second user terminal to acquire the image data for which the usage right is set. A system server comprising: means for creating an album by request; and means for receiving a print request for image data for which usage rights have been set from the second user terminal and transferring it to the shop terminal. 6. A means for adding a comment transmitted from the first user terminal to an album created by a request from the first user terminal, and an album created by a request from the second user terminal. 6. The system server according to claim 5, further comprising means for adding a comment transmitted from the second user terminal. 7. A process of storing image data transmitted from the first user terminal in a system server which is mutually connected to the first user terminal, the second user terminal and the shop terminal via a network. A process of receiving a request from the first user terminal, setting a usage right for image data, creating an album in which image data is collected, and setting a passcode for the created album; When the album code and the passcode received from the user terminal are collated and the passcode matches, the process of causing the second user terminal to browse the album corresponding to the received album code and the usage right are set. Means for causing the second user terminal to obtain the image data obtained by the second user terminal, and the image data of the second user terminal selected from the image data obtained by the second user terminal. A program for executing a process of creating an album by a request and a process of receiving a print request of image data for which a usage right is set from the second user terminal and transferring the print request to the shop terminal. 8. A process of adding a comment transmitted from the first user terminal to an album created by a request from the first user terminal, and an album created by a request from the second user terminal. The program according to claim 7, which executes a process of adding a comment transmitted from the second user terminal.