JP2003317074A - System and method for providing electronic album theater service, program realizing function of the system, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide album theater service of high additional value corresponding to a variety of needs of a user or viewer. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic album theater service is provided by a server 4 to which terminals 1, 2, and 3 can be connected through an Internet line 6. The user of the service transmits photographic data including image information, text information, audio information, etc., to the server 4. The server 4 stores the transmitted data in its storage means and allows the photographic data from the user terminal 1 to be edited, thereby making it possible to generate an electronic album theater capable of presenting the continuous photographic data in specified format by the editing. The editing operation can be performed at the same time on a plurality of terminals (e.g. the user terminal 1 and another user terminal 2). The photographic data are transmitted to the viewing terminal 3 allowed to view the photographic data having been edited and viewed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic album theater service providing system, an electronic album theater service providing method, a program and a recording medium for realizing the function of the system, and more specifically, to voice data and text data. Hold the attached shooting data on the server,
An electronic album theater service providing system and an electronic album theater service providing that allow the user to view the edited album theater data by sending the photographed data to the server and performing the editing work to create the album theater data. The present invention relates to a method, a program for realizing the function, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of digital cameras, album editing support software for editing albums of photographed data and the like and online album services have been provided. For example, the album editing support software that is installed and used on a stand-alone PC has a function to easily create an album by importing still image data from a digital camera body, a memory card, an MO drive, a photo CD, or the like. provide. In such album editing support software, for example,
The image data is indexed and managed like a real album, and the user can easily open the virtual album by operating the mouse.

In addition, it is possible to lay out image data using a prerecorded format or in a free style. Furthermore, by associating an audio file with image data, an album with audio or music can be created, and with such a function, a function of demonstrating a slide show with BGM using images of the album is provided. There are also things.

On the other hand, as an online album service, a service provider provides a service site on the Web, and a user can enjoy the album service by accessing this service site from a terminal device. There is. As the service content, for example, a service of storing image data up to a predetermined data capacity to create an album, and a service of presenting the created album to a third party according to a user's instruction are provided. There is also a service that allows you to add comments to each image and save it.

[0005]

An electronic album created / edited using software or an online service for supporting album editing as described above is basically an album composed of a conventional silver salt photograph on a mount. It's just an electronic board. That is, in the electronic album as described above, the shooting data is treated as electronic data, and the electronic album is created by executing the work of editing the album, which has been conventionally performed by an individual, on the computer system using the electronic data. It was to support that. In addition, there are some that can attach text data or voice data to the shooting data, but basically, it is a method of arranging layouts of individual shooting data and attaching comments and music to the shooting data. It was

As described above, when playing back an edited electronic album, a plurality of pieces of shooting data are displayed in time series, and at this time, there is provided a service capable of presenting a slide show by playing BGM. However, no method is provided that allows users to freely select how to view shooting data according to the requests of editors and viewing users. For example, it is possible to select whether to perform editing work jointly by multiple users, to browse only the image data, or to output the attached text or voice comment in the browsing, or the individual shooting data. You can choose whether to browse or browse the theatre program that has been edited in chronological order. With these, you can provide high-value-added album theater services that meet the diverse needs of users or visitors. Not done.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables a user to transmit shooting data to a server and perform editing work on the shooting data from a user terminal permitted to access. In addition, an electronic album theater service providing system, an electronic album theater service providing method, a program and a recording medium for realizing the function of the system, which are capable of presenting edited photographed data in a format according to a viewer's request It is intended to provide.

[0008]

According to the invention of claim 1, there is provided a server connectable from a user terminal via an internet line, the server comprising image data, text data,
And a function of receiving, from the user terminal, shooting data in one or more of voice / music data and storing the shooting data in the storage means of the server, and by permitting editing of the shooting data from the user terminal, A function that enables the creation of an electronic album theater that can present continuous shooting data in a predetermined method, and a function that enables the browsing terminal that holds the edited shooting data and permits the viewing of the edited shooting data. It is characterized in that it has a function of transmitting and viewing photographed data, and is capable of providing a user with an electronic album theater editing / browsing service.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the editing of the photographing data is a process of designating that the image data can be presented in order in time series, and text data for specific image data. And / or enabling processing of attaching voice / music data to display text data attached together with image data and / or output voice / music data at the time of browsing. is there.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, when the server edits the photographed data, the plurality of terminal devices permitted to perform the edit can simultaneously perform the edit. It is what

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the server is a user terminal capable of transmitting photographing data and registering it in the server, and the registered photographing data. It is characterized in that the access right of an editable terminal capable of collaborative editing and a viewing terminal capable of viewing edited shooting data is managed by an individual or partly common access right.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the server, based on a display instruction input from the browsing terminal, makes a comment or a voice / voice.
Present edited shot data in either image display mode that displays only still images or moving images regardless of the presence or absence of attached data due to music data, or full display mode that displays all shot data and attached data It is characterized by that.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, when the server performs a predetermined operation in the image display mode, a predetermined operation is performed on the image data in accordance with the operation input. It is characterized in that the text data and / or the voice / music data attached to is output by a predetermined method.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the server synthesizes the text data to be output in the image display mode, outputs the voice data as voice data,
It is characterized in that the browsing terminal can output a voice.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the invention of claim 6, the browsing terminal is provided with a voice synthesizing means, and the text data outputted from the server in the image display mode is voice-synthesized and outputted. It is a feature.

The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 7 or 8, the type of voice sound can be designated in advance for the voice to be synthesized by the server or the browsing terminal. It was done.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the invention of any one of the sixth to ninth aspects, when the server browses an image in the image display mode, the image displayed on the browsing terminal is It is characterized in that, when the text data is pointed by a predetermined method, the attached text data is displayed as a text together with the image by a predetermined method.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the tenth aspect of the invention, the server or the browsing terminal attaches a comment when the text data displayed on the browsing terminal is pointed by a predetermined method. The feature is that the data is voice-synthesized and voice-outputted.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the fifth to ninth aspects, when the server browses an image in the image display mode, the image displayed on the browsing terminal is When the pointing is performed by another predetermined method, the attached voice / music data is output.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the twelfth aspect, the server or the browsing terminal displays the image when the image displayed on the browsing terminal is pointed by the other predetermined method. When there is no voice / music data attached to an image and only text data is attached, a comment in text is synthesized by voice and output as voice.

[0021] The invention of claim 14 relates to claims 10 to 1.
In the invention of any one of 3, the server or the browsing terminal has no text data attached to the display image when the image displayed on the browsing terminal is pointed by the predetermined method, When only the voice data is attached, the text data is synthesized based on the voice data, and the text is displayed together with the display image.

The invention of claim 15 is based on claims 1 to 14.
In any one of the inventions, the server edits and manages the text data and voice / music data transmitted from the user in a form different from the edit data, presents the edited data to the terminal, and retrieves from the terminal. Based on the text data or voice / music data retrieved from the terminal,
The image data related in the edit data is displayed on the terminal.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in a method of providing an electronic album theater service provided by a server connectable from a user terminal via an Internet line, the server provides image data, text data, and audio data. One or a plurality of shooting data is received from the user terminal and stored in the storage means of the server, one or a plurality of user terminals are allowed to edit the shooting data, and continuous shooting is performed by the editing. It makes it possible to create an electronic album theater that can present data in a predetermined manner, holds edited shooting data, and sends the shooting data to a browsing terminal that is permitted to browse the edited shooting data The feature is that it can be browsed by the method.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the sixteenth aspect, the editing of the photographed data is a process of designating that the image data can be presented in order in time series, and text data for specific image data. And / or enabling processing of attaching voice / music data to display text data attached together with image data and / or output voice / music data at the time of browsing. is there.

[0025] The invention of claim 18 relates to claims 1 to 15.
It is a program for realizing the function of the electronic album theater service providing system described in any one of 1.

The invention of claim 19 is a recording medium in which the program of claim 18 is recorded.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a system configuration example to which an electronic album theater system according to the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a user who uses the album theater service provided by the present invention. Is a user terminal for transmitting shooting data, 2 is another user terminal that can participate in the creation and editing of an electronic album theater with the above user, and 3 is a browsing terminal that receives browsing provision of the created electronic album theater Reference numeral 4 denotes a server that stores software for storing transmitted image data and text data or voice / music data to provide album theater services, and 5 a content database that stores content that can be used for album editing. 6 is an internet line. In addition, the above shooting data is
Not only image data taken by a still camera or the like, but also image data in which document data such as PDA is attached or written as a comment or image data with audio information taken by a video camera can be included.

For example, a service user who wants to receive the provision of the album theater service connects to the server 4 in advance and registers a service member. A fee-charging contract for the service is made by member registration, and the server 4 sets a user box for each user. When using the service, the user transmits the captured image data from the user terminal 1 to the server 4 via the Internet line 6. If the user terminal 1 for transmitting to the server 4 is, for example, a digital camera or the like with a communication function, the data captured by the camera can be transmitted by the communication function. In the case of a still camera or a video camera having no communication function, the service user may use a terminal device having an Internet connection function, such as a mobile PC, to transmit the shooting information to the server 4. At this time, the user terminal 1 can be set to send one image each time a still picture is captured or a predetermined number of images are collectively sent to the server 4.

As described above, as photographing data to be transmitted to the server 4, a comment in text can be attached to the image data, or voice data can be attached by voice input. Alternatively, the user may take other voice data or music data into the user terminal 1, attach the image data to the image data, and send the image data to the server 4. Further, it is possible to edit the photographing data once transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the server 4 later. This editing function will be described later.

The photographing data transmitted from the user terminal 1 is temporarily held in the server 4. An information box for each contract user is prepared in advance in the storage means of the server 4, and the transmitted photographing data is stored in the corresponding information box. The service site provided by the server 4 is provided with a function that enables the user to access the information box and edit the album. The album editing function can be a known method as described in the related art, that is, an album layout of still images using a prepared format or an album layout of free style. Also, the user
At the time of editing, album editing can be performed by using various content data held in the content database 5. In addition, in editing from the user terminal, it is possible to add, delete, or change a comment attached to image data or voice / music data.

In editing the album theater, a plurality of users simultaneously access the server 4 using a plurality of terminal devices, for example, the user terminal 1 and another user terminal 2, and the plurality of users access the server 4. The album theater can be edited in cooperation with each other. Such collaborative work among multiple users is called collaboration. As a computer system that supports collaboration, for example, typical groupware can be applied. The groupware can make the basic function available from the browser, for example, by adding software that realizes the basic function supporting the collaboration to the browser. Also JAVA (R)
It is also possible to make basic functions available only by using the browser.

As described above, in the server 4, any or all of text data such as comments and voice or music data can be stored in association with predetermined image data for the image data. With regard to the structure of the above-mentioned attached data, when the user transmits the image data to the server 4, the attached data may be attached at the same time, and the above-mentioned editing work may be performed by one or a plurality of users. You can also

For example, in the case of a still image, a comment or voice / music data may be individually attached to one piece of image data, and in the case of a moving image, a comment or voice / music data may be attached to a series of image data. You can also do it. Further, a plurality of still image pickup data can be arranged in time series and displayed in order, and at this time, the comment data and the voice / music data can be individually edited so as to be output at a predetermined timing. That is, the shooting data is updated sequentially in time series, and a character comment and voice / music output are made at appropriate timings, and an entertainment theater with a storyline can be realized.

The photographed data, which has been edited and completed as an album theater, is recorded in a permitted terminal device, for example, FIG.
Then, it can be browsed by the browsing terminal 3. The service provider manages the access right to the site related to this service, but the user terminal that can upload the captured data, the editable terminal that can edit the uploaded captured data using the collaboration function, Browsing terminals that cannot be edited but can browse edited data can be managed by different access rights. At this time, of course, the terminal capable of uploading the photographing data can enable editing and browsing. The edited shooting data can be viewed simultaneously on multiple viewing terminals. For example, a viewing user can enjoy viewing shooting data in real time with a distant family, relative, or friend.

The browsing terminal 3 may be a terminal device having a display screen such as a PC, but for example, a large-screen multimedia board or a projection projector is prepared as a display means connected to the browsing terminal 3 and edited. It is possible to allow a plurality of viewers to simultaneously view and enjoy the captured image data.

On the browsing terminal 3, the display format of the photographing data can be selected. For example, it is possible to select an image display mode in which only a still image or a moving image is displayed regardless of the presence or absence of attached data such as comments and voice / music data, or a full display mode in which all captured data and attached data are displayed. In addition, in the image display mode described above, it is possible to set that attached data such as a comment or voice / music data is output in a predetermined method by a predetermined operation.

In the server 4, text data such as a comment is voice-synthesized and output as voice data, and the browsing terminal 3
So that it can be played back and output. Alternatively, the browsing terminal 3 may be provided with a voice synthesizing unit, and the attached text data output from the server 4 may be subjected to voice synthesis on the browsing terminal 3 side and output. At this time, the type of voice sound can be specified for the voice synthesized by the server 4 or the browsing terminal 3. For example, it is possible to prepare a plurality of types of voice sounds of the synthetic voice in advance and specify the voice voice to be used for voice synthesis output from the voice voice pattern at the time of editing. As the voice sound pattern, for example, a synthetic pattern having characteristics assuming father, mother, son, daughter, grandfather, grandmother, etc. is prepared.

On the browsing terminal 3, when the image is browsed in the image display mode, the comment data attached can be displayed in text by one-clicking the image. The text comment data can be displayed in the form of a balloon 7 as shown in FIG. 2, for example. Such a display format is
It can be predetermined at the time of editing. Further, by clicking the displayed portion of the text with one click, the attached text data can be synthesized by voice and output as voice. Further, the displayed comment data can be set to disappear after being displayed for a certain period of time.

By double-clicking the displayed image, the attached voice / music data can be output. Furthermore, when there is no voice / music data attached to the shooting data when only the displayed image is double-clicked, and only the text comment is attached, it is determined that the text comment is voice-synthesized and output as voice. May be. Similarly, when there is no text data attached to the shooting data and only voice data is attached when the displayed image is one-clicked, the text data is synthesized based on the voice data and the text is displayed on the screen. You may decide to do.

The click patterns that trigger the above comment display, voice synthesis output, and voice / music output are not limited to the above, and can be set as appropriate.
Further, in addition to the method of using a click as a trigger, it is possible to set the trigger appropriately by various types of methods that can be adopted.

Further, the server 4 edits and manages the text data and voice / music data transmitted from the user in a form different from the edit data, presents it to a terminal having an access right, displays the keyword, the transmission date and time, It is also possible to provide a service that enables search by category or the like. Also, based on the text data or voice / music data retrieved from the terminal, the image data related in the edit data can be displayed.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a processing example of a method of providing an electronic album theater service according to the present invention. First, the user acquires unedited data such as shooting data using a still camera or a video camera (step S1), and uses the communication function added to the camera or another mobile terminal to edit the unedited information. Is transmitted to the server via the Internet line (step S2). At this time, it is possible to add a voice comment or a text comment to the captured data and transmit the captured data.

The server stores the received unedited data in the corresponding user box set in the storage means (step S3). The user accesses the server using the user terminal and edits the album data of the unedited image pickup data (step S4). At this time, a plurality of users can access at the same time and a plurality of users can cooperate with each other to edit.

In the editing work, the layout of the imaged data and theta edit for displaying in time series can be performed, and text comments and voice / music data can be attached to the imaged data. When editing, any content can be selected from the prepared content database and used for editing. Then, the server stores the edited edited shooting data in the corresponding user box (step S5). A browsing terminal that is permitted to browse by inputting authentication information such as an access key can browse the edited data and can specify the browsing method at this time (step S6).

A program for realizing the functions of the electronic album theater service providing system according to the present invention is the server 4
Held in. A browser is prepared on the terminal side, and the server can be connected to the Internet to use the program. It is also possible to prepare collaborative software for the browser and enable collaborative editing. Such add-on software may be downloaded from a predetermined server and used. Further, in addition to the above, the program capable of providing the album theater service according to the present invention is distributed and held in any or all of the server and the terminal device or other resources according to the respective functions. You can also

As the recording medium, specifically, a CD
-ROM, magneto-optical disk, DVD-ROM, FD, flash memory, and other various ROMs and RAMs can be envisioned, and these recording media allow a computer to realize the functions of the electronic album theater service providing system of the present invention described above. By recording and distributing the program, the function is facilitated. Then, the recording medium as described above is attached to an information processing device such as a computer and the program is read by the information processing device, or the program is stored in a storage medium included in the information processing device, and as necessary. By reading out, the electronic album theater service providing system function according to the present invention can be realized.

[0047]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a user transmits photographed data to a server and edits the photographed data from one or a plurality of user terminals permitted to access. It is possible to present the edited shooting data in a format suitable for the viewer. In the present invention, at this time, by freely selecting how to browse the shooting information in accordance with the request of the browsing user, only the image data is browsed in the browsing or the comment by the attached text or voice is added. It is possible to select whether or not to output, or whether to view individual shooting data or to view the theater program edited in chronological order. It is possible to provide high-value-added album theater services that meet a variety of needs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a system configuration example to which an electronic album theater system according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying comment data in text in a balloon format.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example of a method of providing an electronic album theater service according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... user terminal, 2 ... other user terminal, 3 ... browsing terminal,
4 ... Server, 5 ... Content database, 6 ... Internet line, 7 ... Speech balloon.

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 19/00 140 G06F 19/00 140 H04N 5/76 H04N 5/76 Z 5/765 5/91 LF term (reference) ) 5B050 AA08 BA06 BA10 CA07 CA08 EA20 FA02 FA10 FA13 FA19 GA08 5B085 AA08 BG02 BG03 5C052 AA01 AB02 CC01 DD02 DD04 5C053 FA08 FA14 GB21 LA01 LA06 LA11 LA14

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A server is provided which can be connected from a user terminal via an internet line, and the server receives, from the user terminal, shooting data of any one or a plurality of image data, text data, and voice / music data. The function of receiving and storing in the storage means of the server, and the creation of an electronic album theater that allows editing of the shooting data from the user terminal and presents continuous shooting data by a predetermined method by the editing It has a function that enables it, and a function that retains the edited shooting data and sends the shooting data to a browsing terminal that permits the viewing of the edited shooting data to browse the user, An electronic album theater service providing system characterized by being able to provide an electronic album theater editing / browsing service. 2. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the shooting data is edited by a process of designating the image data so that the image data can be presented in order in time series, and with respect to specific image data. It is possible to display the text data attached together with the image data and / or output the voice / music data by enabling the process of attaching the text data and / or the voice / music data. Electronic album theater service providing system. 3. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the server is
An electronic album theater service providing system, characterized in that, when the photographing data is edited, the editing can be simultaneously executed from a plurality of terminal devices that are permitted to edit. 4. The electronic album theater service providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the server is a user terminal capable of transmitting shooting data to be registered in the server, and registered shooting. Provision of an electronic album theater service characterized by managing the access right of an editable terminal capable of collaboratively editing data and a viewing terminal capable of viewing edited shooting data by individual or partly common access right system. 5. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the server is a comment or attached data by voice / music data based on a display instruction input from the browsing terminal. It is characterized by presenting edited shooting data in one of an image display mode that displays only still images or moving images regardless of the presence or absence of the image, and a full display mode that displays all shooting data and attached data. Electronic album theater service providing system. 6. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 5, wherein the server responds to an operation input when a predetermined operation is performed on the viewing terminal in the image display mode. An electronic album theater service providing system characterized by outputting text data and / or voice / music data attached to image data by a predetermined method. 7. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 6, wherein the server voice-synthesizes the text data to be output in the image display mode, outputs the voice data, and outputs the voice from the browsing terminal. An electronic album theater service providing system characterized by making it possible. 8. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 6, wherein the browsing terminal includes a voice synthesizing unit, and voice-synthesizes and outputs the text data output from the server in the image display mode. An electronic album theater service providing system characterized by that. 9. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the voice to be synthesized by the server or the browsing terminal can be designated in advance in the type of voice sound. A featured electronic album theater service providing system. 10. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 6,
When browsing the image in the image display mode, the server determines the attached text data together with the image when the image displayed on the browsing terminal is pointed by a predetermined method. An electronic album theater service providing system characterized by displaying text in a system. 11. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the server or the browsing terminal is attached when text data displayed on the browsing terminal is pointed by a predetermined method. An electronic album theater service providing system characterized by synthesizing voice data of the comment data and outputting the voice. 12. The electronic album theater service providing system according to any one of claims 5 to 9,
The server causes the attached voice / music data to be output when the image displayed on the browsing terminal is pointed by another predetermined method while browsing the image in the image display mode. An electronic album theater service providing system characterized by that. 13. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 12, wherein the server or the browsing terminal, when an image displayed on the browsing terminal is pointed by the other predetermined method, An electronic album theater service providing system, wherein when there is no voice / music data attached to the display image and only text data is attached, a comment in text is voice-synthesized and voice-outputted. 14. The electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the image displayed on the browsing terminal is pointed to by the predetermined method on the server or the browsing terminal. When there is no text data attached to the display image and only voice data is attached, the text data is synthesized based on the voice data and the text is displayed together with the display image. Electronic album theater service providing system. 15. The electronic album theater providing system according to claim 1, wherein the server uses the text data and the voice / music data transmitted from the user in a different form from the edit data. It edits and manages and presents it to the terminal, enables the search from the terminal, and based on the text data or voice / music data searched from the terminal, the image data related in the edited data is displayed on the terminal. An electronic album theater service providing system characterized by being displayed on. 16. A method of providing an electronic album theater service provided by a server connectable from a user terminal via an Internet line, wherein the server uses one or more of image data, text data, and audio data. Image data is received from the user terminal and stored in the storage means of the server, editing of the image data from one or a plurality of user terminals is permitted, and continuous image data is converted into a predetermined format by the editing. It is possible to create an electronic album theater that can be presented with, hold edited shooting data, and send the shooting data to a viewing terminal that is permitted to view the edited shooting data and view it with a predetermined method. A method of providing an electronic album theater service, which is characterized in that 17. The method of providing an electronic album theater service according to claim 16, wherein the editing of the shooting data is a process of designating the image data so that the image data can be sequentially presented in time series, and the specific image data. By enabling a process of attaching text data and / or voice / music data by a user, it is possible to display the text data attached with the image data and / or output the voice / music data at the time of browsing. How to provide electronic album theater services. 18. A program for realizing the function of the electronic album theater service providing system according to claim 1. Description: 19. A recording medium in which the program according to claim 18 is recorded.