JP2003173353A - Information processor, information processing system, information management method, storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system capable of enhancing the efficiency of development of image dictionary to provide an image dictionary of good quality for providing an image required by a user. <P>SOLUTION: A server 101 manages two or more pieces of information provided from two or more user sides 102 (A) and 102 (B) together with the frequencies of use by the user sides 102 (A) and 102 (B), and provide an optional service (benefit) to the user sides 102 (A) and 102 (B) on the basis of the management information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information management method, and an information management method used for an image management apparatus or an image management system for developing an image dictionary. The present invention relates to a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an image management system for developing an image dictionary, a developer independently collects images that a user thinks necessary and uses the collected images to create an image dictionary. The image dictionary created in this way is sold or provided. In addition, the user, for example,
The image is transmitted to the WWW server or the like on the development side, and the development side reflects the image transmitted from the user in the image dictionary as it is.

[0003]

However, in the conventional image management system as described above, in developing an image dictionary, the developing side needs to collect the images that the user thinks are necessary while individually judging them. It was Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a considerable time to develop the image dictionary.

Further, in the past, since the developing side originally collected the images, a difference between the developing side and the user may occur, and the image actually required by the user may not be collected.

Furthermore, when the user provides an image to the developer or when the provided image is reflected in the image dictionary and used, the user only needs to receive the copyright fee or the usage fee of the provided image. there were.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and can improve the efficiency of image dictionary development, and obtain a high-quality image dictionary that provides images required by the user. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information management method, a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the information processing method, and the program.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Under such a purpose,
A first invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of users via a communication means, and manages a plurality of pieces of information provided by the plurality of users together with the frequency of use by the plurality of users. And a providing means for providing an arbitrary service to the plurality of users based on the management information of the managing means.

A second invention is the same as the first invention,
The management means is characterized in that, when the target information is used by a user other than the user who provided the target information, the usage frequency of the target information is updated.

A third invention is the same as the first invention,
The management means comprises a creating means for creating an information dictionary based on a plurality of information managed by the managing means so that the information dictionary can be provided to the plurality of users, and the managing means uses the number of times each information forming the information dictionary is used. It is characterized by managing.

A fourth invention is the same as the above-mentioned third invention,
The creating means, based on the management information of the management means,
It is characterized in that at least one of information addition and information deletion with respect to the information dictionary is executed.

A fifth invention is based on the first invention,
The management means is characterized in that when a specific user side uses the target information, the frequency of use of the target information is updated.

A sixth invention is the same as the first invention,
The managing means is characterized by updating the usage frequency of the target image when the target information is information provided from a specific user side.

A seventh invention is based on the first invention,
In the providing means, the user to whom the service is provided is
The service is provided based on whether or not the user has provided the information.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system in which a plurality of devices are communicably connected to each other, and at least one of the plurality of devices is a device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
It has a function of the information processing device described in any one of 1.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system in which a plurality of users and an information management side are connected via any communication means, and the plurality of users are connected to the information management side. On the other hand, a means for providing arbitrary information is provided, and the information management side manages the plurality of information provided by the plurality of users together with the frequency of use by the plurality of users, and based on the management information. And a means for providing an arbitrary service to the plurality of users.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is an information management method for managing a plurality of information provided from a plurality of users via communication means, which is provided from any one of the plurality of users. It is characterized by including a management step of managing the above information together with the frequency of use by the plurality of users, and a service step of providing an arbitrary service to the plurality of users based on the management information.

An eleventh invention in the above-mentioned tenth invention includes a dictionary creating step for creating an information dictionary from the management information, wherein the managing step includes a plurality of users for each information constituting the information dictionary. It is characterized by including the step of managing the frequency of use by the side.

In a twelfth aspect based on the eleventh aspect, the dictionary creating step includes a step of deleting the corresponding information from the information dictionary based on the number of times of use.

According to a thirteenth invention, a program for causing a computer to realize the function of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or the function of the information processing system according to claim 8 or 9 is read by a computer. It is characterized by being recorded in a possible storage medium.

A fourteenth invention is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the information management method according to any one of claims 10 to 12 is recorded in a computer-readable storage medium.

A fifteenth invention is a program for causing a computer to realize the function of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or the function of the information processing system according to claim 8 or 9. Is characterized by.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the information management method according to any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects.

Specifically, for example, a membership image in which a plurality of users and a server that stores images provided by the users are connected so that they can communicate with each other via communication means such as a network. When the present invention is applied to the management system, the server side recruits image providing members for the user side, and when the application for the image providing member is accepted from the user side, the server side specifies a specific user. The image providing member ID indicating that is is notified. The user side provides the image using the image providing member ID from the server side. The server side creates an image dictionary using the images provided by the user side. When using the image dictionary created on the server side, the user side notifies the server side of the frequency of use (frequency of use) of the image used. The server side totals the frequency of use of the images notified from the user side, and gives a privilege (arbitrary service) to the user side based on the totaled result.

The frequency of use of the image is updated every time the user uses the image, for example. Further, when the user side other than the user side who provided the image uses the image, the usage frequency of the image is updated. When the user who is the image providing member or the user who is not the image providing member uses the image, the usage frequency of the image is updated.

The image information as arbitrary information which is the object of the present invention can be applied to both still images and moving images.

The image usage frequency is totaled, for example, for each image providing member. Alternatively, the image providing member and the image are combined.

The privilege given to the user side is given based on the total number of times of use corresponding to all the images provided by the user side. Alternatively, it is given based on the usage frequency used by the other user. Alternatively, it is given based on the number of images provided by the user.

When creating an image dictionary on the server side,
The corresponding image is deleted from the image dictionary based on the frequency of use of the image.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the server can automatically collect the images from the image providing members, that is, the images actually required by the user, so that the image dictionary can be efficiently developed. . Further, even if the user does not need the image on his / her own side, if other users use the image, the image is a collection of images required by the user in order to provide many images by being given a privilege for it. dictionary,
That is, a good image dictionary can be provided.

As a privilege to be given to the user, money such as a discount money at the time of next image dictionary purchase or version upgrade,
This includes providing gift certificates, gifts, or other goods, or providing specific services.

The target image information may be either a still image or a moving image. For example, in the case of a still image, a photograph, an illustration, etc. can be applied. Further, as the format method of the image information, any format method can be applied. For example, BITMAP, JPEG, GIFF, and MPE
Any of G and the like can be applied.

When the user provides the image or when the image provided by the user is used by another user, the user asks the providing destination or the user to have a copyright fee or a usage fee for the image. Etc. may be imposed. Alternatively, it may not be imposed.

The communication means between the server and the user may be wired or wireless. Also, as the communication means, for example,
It is also possible to use the TCP / IP Internet, and it is also applicable to communication by other protocols.

[0034]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Overall Configuration of this Embodiment] The present invention is applied to, for example, a membership image management system 100 as shown in FIG. Membership image management system 1 of the present embodiment
00 indicates the image management server 10 as shown in FIG.
1. User image system 102 of user 103 (A)
(A) and user image system 102 (B) of user 103 (B).

In FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, 1
One image management server 101 and two users 103
User image system 102 of (A) and 103 (B)
(A) and 102 (B) are shown, but the number is not limited to these. Further, the number of users for each of the user image systems 102 (A) and 102 (B) is not limited to one.

The user image system 102 (A) and the user image system 102 (B) are connected so as to be communicable with the image management server 101 via arbitrary communication lines. The arbitrary communication line here may be a wired or wireless network or the like.

The image management server 101 includes a WWW server, and at the site of the WWW server, sets up a home page describing the contents of recruitment of image providing members for the users 103 (A) and 103 (B). Has been published. The contents of the recruitment of image providing members include obligations and benefits of the image providing members.

The user image system 102 (A) includes a terminal device such as a personal computer or a mobile phone, and stores an image or the like according to the operation of the user 103 (A). Similarly, the user image system 102 (B) also includes a terminal device such as a personal computer, and stores an image or the like according to the operation of the user 103 (B).

Membership image management system 10 as described above
A series of operations of 0 will be described. Here, for simplicity of explanation, the user 103 (A) is focused on. User 103
In the case of (B), the user 103 in the following description
Since it is similar to the case of (A), its detailed description is omitted.

First, the image management server 101 determines that the user 1
03 (A) is recruited for image providing members (step S201). The user 103 (A) makes an application for an image providing member by accessing the image management server 101 by the user image system 102 (A) (step S202).

The image management server 101 which has received the application from the image providing member is the user image system 102.
The image providing member ID capable of uniquely identifying the image providing member is notified to (A) (step S203).

When the user image system 102 (A) receives the image providing member ID from the image management server 101,
Images newly owned by the user 103 (A) can be registered in association with this ID, or another user (for example, 103 (B))
When the image owned by the user is used, information for updating the frequency of use for the images of other users is stored (step S204). Also, the user image system 1
02 (A) transmits the image of the user 103 (A) and information on the frequency of use to the image management server 101 (step S205).

The image management server 101 creates an image dictionary on the basis of the image transmitted from the user image system 102 (A), and executes a process of totalizing the usage frequency transmitted together with the image (step S206). And
The image management server 101 notifies the user image system 102 (A) of the privilege based on the result of counting the usage frequency (step S207).

[Internal Configuration of Image Management Server 101] The image management server 101 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a WWW server 311, a mail server 312, and an FTP server 3.
13 is a main component.

The WWW server 311 is the homepage 31.
4 and the image providing member recruiting module 315 for recruiting image providing members.

Specifically, for example, the WWW server 311
Generally stores a page (home page 314) described in a language such as HTML format on its own site. The homepage 314 is linked to the homepages of other WWW servers connected by the network by HTTP.

In this embodiment, the home page 314 stored in the WWW server 311 includes information on recruitment of image providing members. Therefore, the WWW server 311
And, for example, the user side (here, user image systems 102 (A), 10) connected via a network (for example, the Internet using TCP / IP, etc.).
2 (B)) can access the information on recruitment of image-providing members from a desired place at a desired time.

Further, the WWW server 311 uses the image providing member recruiting module 315 to allow the plurality of users 103.
(A), 103 (B) to the user image system 102
The application of the image providing member using (A) and 102 (B) is accepted.

The mail server 312 uses the image providing member ID transmission module 316 that receives the image providing member ID and transmits the image providing member ID, the privilege transmitting module 317 that notifies the privilege, and the like, and the image users 103 (A), 10
3 (B) notification information is sent as an electronic mail. The notification information includes an image providing member ID and privilege information when the application of the image providing member is accepted.

The FTP server 313 implements a user image receiving module 318 for receiving an image from a user, an image dictionary creating module 322 for creating an image dictionary and totaling the usage frequency, and the like. The image received by the user image receiving module 318 is stored in the image database 32.
It is stored as 1.

In the image management server 101 as described above, for example, the WWW server 311 is the home page 31.
4 is stored and it is open to the public. The WWW server 311 also executes an image providing member recruiting module 315 for recruiting image providing members.

The mail server 312 sends the image providing member ID when the application of the image providing member is accepted, and the image providing member ID transmitting module 316 and the user 10.
The privilege transmission module 319 that notifies the privilege to 3 (A) and 103 (B) is executed. Award transmission module 3
When executing 16, the privilege management module 319 is used. Further, when executing the privilege management module 319, the user image totaling module 320 is used.

The FTP server 313 is used by the user 103.
With the images received from (A) and 103 (B), the user totaling module 320 and the image dictionary creating module 3
22 is executed. When the image dictionary is created by executing the image dictionary creating module 322, the image database 321 is used.

[User Image System 104 (A), 10
4 (B) Internal Configuration] User Image System 104
Each of (A) and 104 (B) has a configuration as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

For example, the user image system 104 (A)
Is a CPU (Central) as shown in FIG. 3 above.
Processing Unit) 408, ROM (R
ead Only Memory 409, RAM (R
anddom AccessMemory) 402, HD
D (hard disk drive) 406, FDD (flexible disk drive) 401, CD-ROM drive 403, graphic board 404, communication control unit 40
7, and I / F (interface circuit) 405, 41
0s are connected to each other via a bus 416.

A keyboard 414 is connected to the I / F 405. In addition, the I / F 410 includes a mouse 41
5, a trackball, a flat space, or a pointing device such as a joystick (not shown) is connected.

The ROM 409 stores various programs such as a boot program and data. For example, RO
The startup program stored in M409 is read from the CPU 408 and executed when the user image system 102 (A) (102 (B)) is powered on. As a result, the operating system (OS) stored in the HDD 406, 1 for display processing and communication processing, etc.
Or multiple drivers are loaded on the RAM 402,
Various processes and controls can be executed.

In the RAM 402, a processing program for executing the image dictionary creating processing and the like is loaded. Also, R
The AM 402 temporarily stores, for example, the processing result of the execution of the processing program and the data generated by the execution of the processing program, and also holds the display data for displaying various data on the screen of the display 413. ,
It is also used as a work area for the CPU 408.

A display 413 such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) is connected to the graphic board 404. Graphic board 40
A display unit 413 displays the display content (text, image, etc.) corresponding to the display data expanded on the RAM 402.

Under the control of the CPU 408, the HDD 406 records various processing programs, control data, text data, image data, etc. on the hard disk, and reads out the programs, data, etc. recorded on the hard disk. Device.

Under control of the CPU 408, the FDD 401 records various processing programs, control data, text data, image data, etc. in the FD 411, and reads out programs, data, etc. recorded in the FD 411. Device.

The CD-ROM drive 403 is the CPU 4
A device for reading programs, data, and the like recorded in a CD-ROM (read-only memory using a compact disc) 412 under the control of 08.

The communication control unit 407, under the control of the CPU 408, controls the user image system 102 (A) (10).
2 (B)) is used to transmit / receive data to / from other devices or systems, or to download or transmit programs or data, etc., via the communication line connected to 2 (B).

The keyboard 414 is provided with a plurality of keys (character keys, cursor keys, etc.), and the user 103
(A) (103 (B)) is the user image system 102
(A) (102 (B)) is used to input data and the like. The mouse 415 has a display 413.
Is used to enter selection instructions using the mouse cursor on the display screen.

The CPU 408 is composed of the ROM 409 and the HDD 4.
06, FD 411, and various processing programs stored in the CD-ROM 412 are read and executed to give instructions to the respective constituent elements of the user image system 102 (A) (102 (B)), and the user image system 102.
(A) Controls the operation of the entire (102 (B)) and its peripheral devices or systems.

The programs and data held in the storage medium such as the HDD 406 may be held in advance, or the programs and data downloaded from another device or system may be held in the storage medium such as the HDD 406. It may be done.

[Operation of Membership Image Management System 100] FIG. 4 shows an operation sequence of the membership image management system 100. The step code ("SXXX" (X is a number)) shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the same step code shown in FIG. Further, for simplicity of explanation, the user 103 (A) and the user image system 102
Focusing on (A), the operation of the membership image management system 100 will be described.

First, the image management server 101 uses the user image system 102 (A) to send a message to the user 103 (A).
To recruit image providing members (step S20)
1). Regarding the method of acquiring information regarding recruitment of image providing members, for example, the user 103 (A) accesses the home page 314 of the image management server 101 by the user image system 102 (A), and thus, regarding the recruitment of image providing members. Get information.

If the user 103 (A) wants to be an image providing member according to the information regarding recruitment of image providing members,
The user image system 102 (A) applies for an image providing member to the image management server 101 (step S202).

The image management server 101 which has received the application for the image providing member from the user 103 (A) notifies the user image system 102 (A) of the image providing member ID (step S203). This allows user 1
03 (A) acquires the image providing member ID from the image management server 101 via the user image system 102 (A).

Here, although not shown, the user management system 102 (A) has an image owned by the image user 103 (A) and owned by another user (or another user owns a server). The user management table for managing and storing the information for specifying the image used by the user 103 (A). This table stores images owned by other users (or registered by other users in the server) in the user 103
It also has information for causing the server to update the usage frequency of the image used when (A) uses it.

The user image system 102 (A) is based on the operation by the user 103 (A).
Among the images included in (A), the image management server 101 is newly registered. At this time, the new image to be registered by the image user 102 (A) is the user image system 10
If it is not registered in the user image table of 3 (A), the image is registered.

Also, the user image system 102 (A)
When the user 103 (A) uses an image of another user in the image dictionary, the user 103 (A) updates the usage frequency for the image (step S204). For example, user 103
(A) is the user 103 registered in the image dictionary
When the image of (B) is used, the usage frequency of the image in the user management table is updated.

Then, the user image system 102 (A)
Transmits the content of the user image table in which the image from the user 103 (A) is registered to the image management server 101 (step S205). As a result, the image management server 1
To 01, information regarding the usage frequency and the like are transmitted together with the image registered by the user 103 (A).

The image management server 101, based on the image transmitted from the user image system 102 (A),
An image dictionary is created, and the frequency of use is totaled based on the contents of the user management table transmitted together with the image (see step S206 in FIG. 1 above). At this time,
The image management server 101, for example, adds the newly transmitted image to the image dictionary stored in the image database 321, and deletes the image with a low frequency of use. Further, for example, based on the content of the transmitted user management table, the user image totaling module 320 updates the information on the usage frequency managed for each image of each image providing member.

The image management server 101 determines the user image system 102 based on the result of the above-mentioned usage frequency aggregation.
The privilege is notified to the user 103 (A) via (A) (step S207). The privilege here is, for example, the discount at the time of the next image dictionary purchase or version upgrade,
It includes the provision of specific services such as the provision of money, gift certificates, prizes, and other goods.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the membership image management system 100 as described above.

Step S501: Image management server 101
Requests the user 103 (A) for an image providing member via the user image system 102 (A).

Step S502: User 103 (A)
Determines whether to apply for an image providing member based on the information regarding the recruitment of image providing members.

When the image providing member is applied as a result of the determination in step S502, the user 103 (A) uses the user image system 102 (A) to apply to the image managing server 101 as the image providing member. . In this case, the process proceeds to the next step S503. On the other hand, if the image providing member does not apply, the next step S50
Step 3 is skipped and step S504 described later is performed as it is.
Proceed to.

Step S503: When the user 103 (A) makes an application for an image providing member, the image management server 101, which has received the application for the image providing member, provides an image to the user image system 102 (A). Notify the member ID.

For the users who are already members, S50
It goes without saying that it is sufficient to skip steps 1 to 503 and proceed to step S504 described below. Further, in order to recognize that the user is a member, the user who has accessed the server 101 may be required to input the member ID and password. If the input is justified, the steps S501 to S503 may be skipped.

Step S504: User image system 1
02 (A) is operated by the user 103 (A).
It is determined whether or not the image input by the user 103 (A) is a new image. As a result of this determination, if the image is a new image, the process proceeds to the next step S505, and if not, the process directly proceeds to step S506 described later.

Step S505: When the input image from the user 103 (A) is a new image, the user image system 102 (A) registers the input image in the user image table.

Step S506: User image system 1
02 (A) determines whether the user 103 (A) has used an image in the image dictionary. As a result of this determination, if the image is used, the process proceeds to the next step S507, and if not, the process directly proceeds to step S509 described later.

Step S507: When the user 103 (A) uses an image in the image dictionary, the user image system 102 (A) determines whether the image is an image of another user. As a result of this determination, if another user image is used, the process proceeds to the next step S508, and if not, the process directly proceeds to step S509 described later.

Step S508: When the user 103 (A) uses an image of another user in the image dictionary, the user image system 102 (A) updates the usage frequency of the user image table.

Step S509: User 103 (A)
Determines whether to transmit the contents of the user image table (registered image and information regarding the usage frequency) to the image management server 101. As a result of this determination, if the content is to be transmitted, the process proceeds to the next step S510, and if not, the process returns to step S504 and the subsequent process steps are repeatedly executed.

When the contents of the user image table (registered image and information regarding the frequency of use, etc.) are transmitted to the image management server 101, the user image system 102 (A) operates the user 103 (A) based on the user's operation. The contents of the image table are transmitted to the image management server 101.

Step S510: Image management server 101
Checks whether or not the user 103 (A) is an image providing member based on the transmission information from the user image system 102 (A). As a result of this determination, if the user is an image providing member, the process proceeds to the next step S511, and if not, the process directly proceeds to step S512 described later.

Step S511: When the user 103 (A) is an image providing member, the image management server 101 totals the usage frequency included in the transmission information from the user image system 102 (A). The counting process at this time includes, for example, a counting process of the usage frequency for each image providing member or a counting process of the usage frequency for each combination of the image providing member and the image.

Step S512: Image management server 101
Creates an image dictionary based on the images included in the transmission information from the user image system 102 (A). The image dictionary creating process at this time includes, for example, a process of adding a newly registered image to the image dictionary, a process of deleting an image having a low frequency of use from the image dictionary, and the like.

Step S513: Image management server 101
Checks again whether the user 103 (A) is an image providing member. As a result of this determination, if it is an image providing member, the process proceeds to the next step S514, and if not, the present process ends.

Step S514: When the user 103 (A) is an image providing member, the image management server 101 indicates that the usage frequency of the image provided by the user 103 (A) is included in the above-described usage frequency aggregation result. It is determined whether or not there is. That is, the image provided by the user 103 (A) is
It is determined whether it has been used by another user. If the result of this determination is that the usage frequency is present, the next step S515.
If not, the process is terminated as it is.

Step S515: When there is a usage frequency for the image provided by the user 103 (A), the image management server 101 sends the user 103 (A) to the user 103 (A) based on the usage frequency. Notify A) of the benefits. Then, this process ends.

[Configuration for Image Management in Membership Image Management System 100] Here, a configuration for managing images included in the image dictionary in the image management server 101 will be described in particular.

FIG. 6 is a management table (example 1) of the image management server 101. In the management table, each image included in the image dictionary is managed by the “image providing member ID” of the user who provided the target image, the file name (“user image”) of the target image, and the “frequency of use”. The timing of storing information in the management table (storing information about a new image, updating the frequency of use, etc.) is based on the user image table transmitted from the user, when the new image is registered, and when the user changes other information. This is when the frequency of use is updated by using the image of the user.

For the "user image", the target image itself may be set, or information indicating the location (address) where the target image is stored may be set.

For example, when the user registers a new image that does not exist in the management table based on the user image table from the user, the image management server 101 determines whether or not the user is an image providing member ID based on the image providing member ID. To do. As a result of this determination, if the user is an image providing member, the image management server 101 sets the image providing member ID in the “image providing member ID” column of the management table. On the other hand, if the user is not an image providing member, the image management server 101
Is the "column of image providing member ID" of the management table.
Is set to an unknown value (for example, NULL). Then, the image management server 101 sets a new image in the “user image” column of the management table and sets an initial value (for example, “0”) in the “usage frequency” column.

As described above, by allowing the user who is not a member to register the image, it is possible to allow other users to freely appreciate the image. However, in this case, it is regarded as abandoning to control who the registrant is and is not subject to the privilege described above. In addition, it is preferable that no claim of rights such as copyright is accepted. In addition, member registrants can receive this service for a fee and receive the above benefits. On the other hand, if an unregistered member registers an image in the image dictionary, it is free, but the above benefits are available. Try not to be denied. This can be established as a business as an image distribution service, and also for the user, it is possible to obtain the enjoyment of being disclosed to other users and the enjoyment of being profitable when they are viewed. Also, for users who just want to publish, the enjoyment of publishing can be obtained, and by making it free of charge, it becomes easier to accumulate images on the server, and many images to be disclosed to other users can be provided. .

Further, the image management server 101 updates the "frequency of use" of the corresponding image in the management table when the user uses an image of another user in the image dictionary, based on the user image table from the user. .

The user image system 102 (A), 1
In 02 (B), there is the following method for determining whether or not the user has used the image of another user in the image dictionary. For example, table information similar to the management table of FIG. 6 is added to the image dictionary, and the image providing member ID corresponding to the image used by the user is acquired from the table information. Then, the acquired image providing member ID is compared with the image providing member ID owned by the user, and if they are different, it is determined that the user has used the image of another user in the image dictionary, and the corresponding Update (add) the value of the usage frequency. At this time, if the image providing member ID cannot be acquired and it is determined that the user who provided the image used by the user is not the image providing member, the usage frequency is not updated. Even if the user who used the image is not an image providing member, the usage frequency is not updated.

FIG. 7 is a management table (example 2) of the image management server 101. In the management table, the target image is directly stored in the table which is a storage medium. As for the target image here, as shown in FIG. 7, “BITMAP” (.bmp), “JPEG” (.
jpg), “GIFF” (.gif), and “MPE”.
Each format format such as G ″ (.mpg) may be used, or any other format format may be used.

FIG. 8 is a management table (example 3) of the image management server 101. In the management table, the target image is stored in a storage medium such as a disk,
The storage destination is set. That is, instead of directly storing the target image in the management table, which is a storage medium,
A storage destination on another storage medium in which the target image is stored, that is, pointer information is set. For example, in FIG. 8 above, the image of "baseball" is "c: \ work \ baseb".
all. gif ”.

FIG. 9 is a management table (example 4) of the image management server 101. In the management table, the target image is stored in the image management server 101, and the storage destination is set. That is, the target image is not directly stored in the management table, which is a storage medium, but the storage destination of another image management server 101 in which the target image is stored, that is, the URL name is set. For example, in FIG. 9 above,
The image of "baseball" is "http: //server.x.
xx / baseball. gif ”.

The object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the host and the terminal of this embodiment to a system or apparatus, and to supply the computer (or the computer of the system or apparatus). C
It is needless to say that this can be achieved also by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium by the PU or MPU. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of this embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code and the program constitute the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, a ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk,
Optical disc, magneto-optical disc, CD-ROM, CD-
R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, etc. can be used. Further, not only the functions of the present embodiment are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS or the like running on the computer actually performs the processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where a part or all of the above is performed and the processing realizes the functions of the present embodiment is also included. Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the extended function board inserted in the computer or the extended function unit connected to the computer, the extended function is executed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the CPU provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of this embodiment are realized by the processing.

FIG. 10 shows the function 600 of the computer.
Is shown. As shown in FIG. 10, the computer function 600 includes a CPU 601 and a ROM 602.
RAM 603, keyboard controller (KBC) 605 of keyboard (KB) 609, CRT controller (CRTC) 606 of CRT display (CRT) 610 as a display unit, and hard disk (HD)
611 and a flexible disk (FD) 612 disk controller (DKC) 607, and a network 6
A network interface controller (NIC) 608 for connection with the
It is configured to be communicably connected to each other via.

The CPU 601 is a ROM 602 or HD.
By executing the software stored in 611 or the software supplied from FD612, each component connected to the system bus 604 is comprehensively controlled.
That is, the CPU 601 executes the processing program according to the predetermined processing sequence in the ROM 602 or the HD 61.
1 or by reading from FD612 and executing,
Control for realizing the operation in this embodiment is performed.

The RAM 603 functions as the main memory or work area of the CPU 601. KBC605
Controls instruction input from the KB 609 or a pointing device (not shown). CRTC606 is C
It controls the display of the RT 610. The DKC607 is a boot program, various applications, edit files,
It controls access to the HD 611 and the FD 612 that store a user file, a network management program, and a predetermined processing program according to the present embodiment. N
The IC 608 bidirectionally exchanges data with a device or system on the network 620.

[0111]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of pieces of information (image information, etc.) provided by a plurality of users are managed together with the frequencies of use by the plurality of users,
It is configured to provide an arbitrary service (privilege, etc.) to a plurality of users based on the management information. With this, for example, when creating a dictionary based on information from multiple users, it is possible to automatically collect the information actually needed by the user and efficiently create a dictionary composed of such information. Further, by deleting information having a low frequency of use, a better information dictionary can be provided.

For example, when the present invention is applied to an image management system in which a user who provides an image is a member (image providing member), a new image is registered to the user of the image providing member, and other users. Since it is obliged to provide information on the frequency of use of images from the server, the server (image dictionary developer side) can improve the efficiency of image dictionary development by using the information, and the user can Since necessary images can be collected and images can be added and deleted based on the frequency of use when creating the image dictionary, a good image dictionary can be provided. Further, since the privilege is given to the user of the image providing member based on the frequency of use of the image provided by the user, even if the image is not required by the user, the privilege is increased if it is used by another user. There is an advantage. Also, the server (developer side)
Can provide a better image dictionary by collecting more such images.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a membership image management system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image management server of the membership image management system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a user image system of the membership image management system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation sequence of the membership image management system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the membership image management system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example (example 1) of a management table of the image management server.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example (example 2) of a management table of the image management server.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example (example 3) of a management table of the image management server.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example (example 4) of a management table of the image management server.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer that reads a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the membership image management system from a computer-readable storage medium and executes the program.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 membership image management system 101 image management server 102 (A), 102 (B) user image system 103 (A), 103 (B) users 311 WWW server 312 mail server 313 FTP server 314 Home Page 315 Image offer member recruitment module 316 Image providing member ID transmission module 317 Benefit transmission module 318 User image receiving module 319 Benefits management module 320 User image totaling module 321 image database 322 Image dictionary creation module 401 FDD 402 RAM 403 CD-ROM drive 404 graphic board 405 I / F 406 HDD 407 Communication control unit 408 CPU 409 ROM 410 I / F 411 FD 412 CD-ROM 413 display 414 keyboard 415 mouse 416 bus

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An information processing device capable of communicating with a plurality of users via a communication means, wherein a plurality of pieces of information provided by the plurality of users are managed together with the frequency of use by the plurality of users. An information processing apparatus comprising: management means; and provision means for providing an arbitrary service to the plurality of users based on management information of the management means. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit updates the usage frequency of the target information when the target information is used by a user other than the user who provided the target information. . 3. An information dictionary is created based on a plurality of pieces of information managed by the managing means so as to be provided to the plurality of users, and the managing means constitutes the information dictionary. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of use of each information is managed. 4. The information processing according to claim 3, wherein the creating unit executes at least one of a process of adding information to the information dictionary and a process of deleting information based on the management information of the managing unit. apparatus. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit updates the usage frequency of the target information when a specific user uses the target information. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit updates the frequency of use of the target image when the target information is information provided by a specific user side. 7. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the providing means provides the service based on whether the user to whom the service is provided is the user who provided the information. apparatus. 8. An information processing system comprising a plurality of devices communicably connected to each other, wherein at least one device of the plurality of devices is an information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. An information processing system having the function of. 9. An information processing system in which a plurality of users and an information management side are connected via an arbitrary communication means, wherein the plurality of users are optional with respect to the information management side. The information management side manages the plurality of information provided from the plurality of user sides together with the usage frequency by the plurality of user sides, and the plurality of information based on the management information. An information processing system comprising means for providing an arbitrary service to the user side of the. 10. An information management method for managing a plurality of pieces of information provided from a plurality of users via communication means, wherein information provided by any one of the plurality of users is An information management method comprising: a management step of managing together with the frequency of use by the plurality of users, and a service step of providing an arbitrary service to the plurality of users based on the management information. 11. A dictionary creating step of creating an information dictionary from the management information, wherein the managing step includes a step of managing the usage frequency by the plurality of users for each piece of information constituting the information dictionary. The information management method according to claim 10, wherein: 12. The information management method according to claim 11, wherein the dictionary creating step includes a step of deleting corresponding information from the information dictionary based on the usage frequency. 13. A computer readable program recording a program for causing a computer to realize the function of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or the function of the information processing system according to claim 8 or 9. Storage medium. 14. A computer-readable storage medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the information management method according to claim 10. 15. A program for causing a computer to realize the function of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or the function of the information processing system according to claim 8 or 9. 16. A program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the information management method according to claim 10.