JP2004185076A - Photographing service system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing service system enabling a user to selectively order an image to be printed or recorded in storage media from automatically taken images in advance. <P>SOLUTION: The user browses images taken by himself/herself or automatically taken images in a digital camera 300 at hand with the waiting time for the next attraction or the like, selects the image, designates the number of prints or the kind of media, and then performs a fixing operation. An image file including attribute information such as the number of prints is transmitted from the digital camera 300 to a server device 400 via the closest automatic photographing unit 200. A service station 500 downloads the image file from the server device 400 and performs creation of picture prints on the basis of the attribute information. An attendant sorts and stores the picture prints by users to prepare for users' visit. The user visits the service station 500 on the way home and receives the ordered picture prints or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photographing service system constructed in a predetermined area such as an amusement park, and more specifically, an image desired by a user from images automatically photographed in a predetermined area or images taken by a user. The present invention relates to a photographing service system that provides a service for recording images on a print medium or a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, automatic camera cameras have been installed in places within a predetermined area, a user moving in the area has an identification tag, the user identified by the identification tag is photographed with an automatic camera, and the image is There is known a system in which a service station in an area records the information on a recording medium such as a print or a CD (Compact Disk) and provides it to the user. (See Patent Document 1)
[0003]
In addition, a digital camera with a user ID is lent to a user in a predetermined area, and an image taken by the user with a digital camera or an image taken with an automatic shooting camera installed in various places in the area is displayed together with the user ID. A system is known that wirelessly transmits to a station, prints a received image at a service station in the area, and provides it to a user. (See Patent Document 2)
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-193646 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-197407
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the system described in the above document, an automatically captured image cannot be viewed unless the user goes to the service station. Therefore, when the system described in the above document is applied to a shooting service system such as an amusement park or a theme park, if the user does not go to the service station, a desired image is selected from a plurality of automatically shot images and printed. I can't place an order for recording to the recording media. In amusement parks and theme parks, users tend to concentrate on service stations near the closing time, so many users wait for a long time to place orders for prints and recording media.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to select an image to be recorded on a print or recording medium from a plurality of automatically taken images before the user goes to the service station. It is to provide a photographing service system capable of completing an order.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention installs automatic photographing cameras in places within a predetermined area, automatically photographs the users in the area, and the user from the images photographed by the automatic photographing camera. In a photographing service system that provides a service for printing an image selected by the service station in the area or recording it on a recording medium, a wireless terminal device lent to a user who uses equipment in the predetermined area, and the automatic photographing An automatic captured image transmission device that transmits an image captured by a camera to the wireless terminal device, and the wireless terminal device has received a reception function of receiving an image transmitted from the automatic captured image transmission device; A display function for displaying an image, an image selection function for selecting an arbitrary image from received images, and the selected image or the image. And a transmission function for transmitting to the server accessible device identifiable information from the service station.
[0008]
In the photographing service system configured as described above, an image photographed by an automatic photographing camera is transmitted to a user's wireless terminal device and displayed. The user selects an arbitrary image on the wireless terminal device, and transmits the image or information that can specify the image to a server device accessible from the service station.
[0009]
Therefore, according to the photographing service system of the present invention, before going to the service station, the user can select an image to be recorded on a print or recording medium from a plurality of automatically photographed images and complete an order in advance. Can do. The service station can record an image ordered by the user on a print or recording medium in advance for the user's visit.
[0010]
In the photographing service system of the present invention, the wireless terminal device has a camera function, and can select an arbitrary image from images photographed using the camera function and transmit the image to the server device. It is desirable to be.
[0011]
If configured as described above, the service station selects not only automatically shot images but also images that the user wants to record on the recording medium from among the images shot by the user using the camera function of the wireless terminal device. You can order in advance before going to.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a photographing service system according to the present invention. The photographing service system 100 is a system built in a theme park, and includes a plurality of automatic photographing units 200 (200a, 200b, 200c,...) Installed in places and a plurality of digital cameras lent to users. (Wireless terminal device) 300 (300a, 300b, 300c,...), A server device 400, and a service station 500.
[0014]
Each automatic photographing unit 200 includes an automatic photographing camera 201 that automatically photographs a user, a communication / control device (automatic photographing image transmission device) 202 that communicates with the digital camera 300 on the user side via a wireless LAN 601, and automatic photographing. And an image memory 203 for temporarily storing the processed image. All automatic photographing units 200 are connected to the server device 400 via a LAN line 602 laid in the theme park.
[0015]
The communication / control device 202 communicates with the digital camera 300 within the communication area of its own device to acquire the user ID (camera ID), and when the digital camera 300 comes to a predetermined point set in advance. The automatic photographing camera 201 is operated at a predetermined timing to perform photographing. Thereby, the user carrying the digital camera 300 is photographed. The captured image (image data) is temporarily stored in the image memory 203 together with the user ID. After the automatic shooting, the communication / control apparatus 202 communicates with the digital camera 300 to acquire the user ID, reads an image with the same user ID from the image memory 203, and transmits the image to the digital camera 300. The image that has been transmitted to the digital camera 300 is deleted from the image memory 203.
[0016]
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the digital camera 300 includes a camera function unit 310, a communication function unit 320 that communicates with the automatic photographing unit 200 via the wireless LAN 601, an image photographed by the camera function unit 310, and an automatic photographing unit. 200, an image memory 330 that stores images received from the image 200, an image display function unit 340 that displays images stored in the image memory 330, an image displayed on the image display function unit 340, and an arbitrary image to be selected. And an image selection function unit 350.
[0017]
When a release button (not shown) is pressed, the camera function unit 310 captures a subject image with an image sensor and stores the obtained image in the image memory 330. The image display function unit 340 includes a display device such as an LCD. The image selection function unit 350 displays a display mode switching button 351 for setting the display mode of the image display function unit 340 to either a normal mode for displaying one image at a time or a thumbnail display mode for displaying a list of thumbnails. An image switching button 352 for switching an image, an image selection button 353 for selecting an image, and a recording method of the selected image, that is, whether to print or record on a recording medium such as a CD-R. A recording method selection button 354, a deletion button 355 for deleting the selected image, a number specification button 356 for specifying the number of prints and the number of media, a media specification button 357 for specifying a recording medium, and a shooting End message transmission button 35 for instructing transmission of a message not to continue And, and a confirmation button 359.
[0018]
When the confirm button 357 is pressed, the image selected by the operation of the image selection button 353 is stored in an image file of a predetermined format and transmitted to the server device 400 by the communication function unit 320. At that time, the signal transmitted from the communication function unit 320 is received by the communication / control device 202 of the nearby automatic photographing unit 200 and is transmitted to the server device 400 via the LAN line 602. Each image file includes image data and additional information such as a user ID, a recording method (printing or recording on a recording medium), the number of prints, and the number of recording media.
[0019]
When the remaining capacity of the image memory 330 is reduced, an unnecessary image is deleted from the image memory 330 by selecting the unnecessary image by operating the image selection button 353 and pressing the delete button 355. A recording area for an image to be newly photographed can be secured. Further, when returning the digital camera 300, it is possible to notify the service station 500 in advance by pressing the end message transmission button 358 before stopping at the service station 500.
[0020]
The server device 400 accumulates image files sent one after another from each digital camera 300 via the wireless LAN 601, the automatic photographing unit 200, and the LAN line 602, and manages them using user IDs.
[0021]
At the service station 500, user registration (issue of user ID) of the digital camera 300, rental, reception of the returned digital camera 300, and image recording service are performed. In the service station 500, an image processing system 550 connected to the server apparatus 400 via a LAN line 600 is installed. As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing system 550 performs various image processing such as a communication control unit 551 that controls a communication line with the server apparatus 400, and an image downloaded from the server apparatus 400. An image processing unit 552, an image processing unit 552 that outputs an image processed on a photographic paper to produce a photographic print, and an image processing unit 552 that processes the image on a CD-R, MO, FD, smart media, A media output unit 554 for recording on a recording medium such as ZIP and a control unit 555 for controlling the entire image processing system 550 are provided.
[0022]
The control unit 555 constantly monitors the image file stored in the server device 400 via the communication control unit 551. If there is an image file that has not been downloaded, it is downloaded and the image processing unit 552 performs image processing. To do. Then, the recording method is discriminated from the attached information of the image file, and the processed image file is sent to the print preparation unit 553 or the media output unit 554 depending on whether the recording method is printing or recording on a recording medium. send. The print production unit 553 creates the number of photo prints designated for each image file. The media output unit 554 creates a number of recording media designated for each image file. The created photo prints and recording media are sorted by user and stored in a storage space in the service station 500.
[0023]
Lending information, user ID, and storage management information of the digital camera 300 are displayed on a display unit of a terminal device (PC) 560 provided in the customer service counter 501 of the service station 500. The terminal device 560 is connected to the control unit 555, and both share necessary information such as rental information, user ID, and management information of stored items. The customer service staff rents the digital camera 300 and receives the returned digital camera 300 to the user who has visited the service station 500, and inputs the accompanying information to the terminal device 560. The terminal device 560 searches for a stored item based on the returned user ID of the digital camera 300, and if there is a corresponding stored item, that is, a photo print or recording medium ordered by the user, the information is displayed on the display unit. indicate. Based on the contents displayed on the terminal device 560, the customer service staff takes out the stored item from the storage space, delivers it to the user, and performs settlement processing. When a predetermined time elapses after the settlement process, the image file of the corresponding user ID stored in the server device 400 is deleted.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the photographing service system 100 described above will be described according to the flow shown in FIG. The service station 500 lends the digital camera 300 to a user who has performed a predetermined procedure (S1). The user who borrows the digital camera 300 carries the digital camera 300 and takes a picture (still picture or moving picture picture) at any place in the theme park (S2). The captured image is stored in the image memory 330 of the digital camera 300. When a user carrying the digital camera 300 uses an attraction facility in the theme park, automatic shooting is performed by the automatic shooting unit 200 (S3), and the image is transmitted to the digital camera 300. (S4). The digital camera 300 receives the automatically shot image sent from the automatic shooting unit 200 (S5) and stores it in the image memory 330.
[0025]
The user uses the waiting time or moving time of the next attraction to browse the image that he / she has taken and the image that has been automatically taken with the digital camera 300 at hand, and selects a favorite image (S6). . When printing is desired (Yes in S7), after specifying the number of prints (S8), the confirm button 357 is pressed. As a result, the image file in which the number of prints is written in the attached information is transmitted from the digital camera 300 to the server apparatus 400 via the nearest automatic photographing unit 200 (S9). When recording on a recording medium is desired (Yes in S10), after specifying the type of the medium and the number of recordings (S11), the confirm button 357 is pressed. As a result, the image file in which the type and the number of recording media are written in the attached information is transmitted from the digital camera 300 to the server device 400 via the nearest automatic photographing unit 200 (S12).
[0026]
In the service station 500, image files are downloaded from the server device 400, and based on the attached information of each image file, a photo print is created and a recording process is performed on a recording medium. The service staff of the service station 500 sorts the created photographic prints and recording media according to users, stores them in a storage space in the service station 500, and prepares for the visit of the users.
[0027]
When the remaining capacity of the image memory 330 in the digital camera 300 is insufficient or when there is an apparently unnecessary image, the user operates the image selection button 353 and the delete button 355 to delete the unnecessary image. Is deleted from the image memory 330 (S13). As a result, a capacity for a new image is secured in the image memory 330, so that shooting can be continued.
[0028]
If the user does not continue to use the digital camera 300 (No in S14), the user operates the end message transmission button 358 to transmit a message to that effect to the service station 500 (S15). Thereafter, the user stops at the service station 500 when returning home and returns the digital camera 300 (S16). Then, the photograph print or recording medium ordered in advance using the digital camera 300 is received (S17), and the fee is paid (S18).
[0029]
As described above, according to the imaging service system 100 of this embodiment, before the user goes to the service station 500, the user automatically takes an image taken by the digital camera 300 or the automatic imaging unit 200. A desired image can be selected from the recorded images, and an order for printing or recording on a recording medium can be completed in advance.
[0030]
The service station 500 can record an image ordered by the user on a print or recording medium in advance for the user's visit. In addition, prior to the visit of the user, an end message indicating that the user has finished using the digital camera 300 is sent to the service station 500. Therefore, the service station 500 prepares for the visit of the user. It is possible to promptly take measures such as preparing products to be delivered to the user.
[0031]
Therefore, according to the photographing service system 100, the time for the user to select a desired image at the service station 500, the waiting time until the ordered print or recording medium is completed, and the time for delivery of the product are omitted. Can do.
[0032]
Further, in the conventional system of this type, since all the images automatically captured are stored in the image storage device inside or outside the service station, a large-capacity image storage device is necessary. Since only the image selected by the user needs to be stored in the system 100, it is possible to cope with the server apparatus 400 having a relatively small capacity without wasteful data storage.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the system configuration in which the digital camera 300 with a user ID having a wireless LAN function is lent to the user has been described as an example. An image browsing apparatus with a user ID having a LAN function may be lent out.
[0034]
In the above example, the server device 400 is provided outside the service station 500, but it goes without saying that the server device 400 may be provided inside the service station 500. The server device 400 may be provided outside the theme park.
[0035]
Further, in the above example, the image file selected by the user is transmitted from the digital camera 300 to the server device 400 via the nearest automatic photographing unit 200, but not via the automatic photographing unit 200. You may make it transmit directly to the server apparatus 400. FIG.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, before going to the service station, the user can select a desired image and make an order for printing or recording on a recording medium in advance. The image ordered by the user can be printed in advance or recorded on a recording medium in preparation for the user's visit, so the time for the user to select the desired image at the service station and the ordered print In addition, it is possible to provide an efficient service by omitting the waiting time until the recording medium is completed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a photographing service system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital camera (wireless terminal device) lent to a user in the photographing service system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system provided in a service station of the photographing service system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart used to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100: photographing service systems 200a, 200b, 200c,...: Automatic photographing unit 201: automatic photographing camera 202: communication / control device (automatic photographing image transmission device)
203: Image memories 300a, 300b, 300c, ...: Digital camera (wireless terminal device)
310: Camera function unit 320: Communication function unit 330: Image memory 340: Image display function unit 350: Image selection function unit 400: Server device 500: Service station 553: Print production unit 554: Media output unit 601: Wireless LAN
602: LAN line

Claims (2)

Automatic camera cameras are installed in certain areas to automatically photograph users in the area, and images selected by the user from the images photographed by the automatic camera are service stations in the area. In a shooting service system that provides services for printing or recording on recording media,
A wireless terminal device lent to a user who uses the equipment in the predetermined area;
An automatic photographed image transmitting device that transmits an image photographed by the automatic photographing camera to the wireless terminal device;
The wireless terminal device
A receiving function for receiving an image sent from the automatic captured image transmitting device;
A display function to display received images;
An image selection function for selecting an arbitrary image from received images;
An imaging service system comprising: a transmission function for transmitting a selected image or information that can identify the image to a server device accessible from the service station. The wireless terminal device includes a camera function, and can select an arbitrary image from images captured using the camera function and transmit the image to the server device. Shooting service system.

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