JP2005063302A - Electronic album creation support device, its method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily carry out prior layout setting for an electronic album a process of travel planning, and to facilitate sorting and organizing in later album creation. <P>SOLUTION: By having a user input basic information comprising an area to be traveled, and a travel theme such as seeing and eating, a journey scenario creating part 33 extracts relevant images from precedently prepared material data for scenario creation to create an electronic album type journey scenario, an electronic album creating part 34 receives photographic image data photographed during the journey, and positional information and time information of its photographed point of time, it carries out association with the priorly created journey scenario, and it creates the electronic album by carrying out layout setting of photographic image data with, for example, matching positional information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic album creation support apparatus suitable for use in an electronic album creation system that provides photographic image data received via a communication network such as the Internet by attaching it to a mount, a method thereof, and a computer program.

Many electronic album creation apparatuses have been proposed that create electronic albums by pasting photographic images taken on a trip or the like on a mount.
For example, in order to facilitate registration and classification of images in an electronic album, a technique for pasting images on mount data based on GPS (Global Positioning System) information is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

In addition, it is possible to edit images taken when going on a trip as an electronic album during the trip, and to associate the location information and time information with the shot images using a mobile terminal so that it can be easily released. There is also a technique for registering (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Furthermore, in order to save the trouble of registering data while laying out, there is also known a technique that can easily perform data management and image display only by adding attribute information to the mount and selecting the mount (for example, And Patent Document 3).
JP 2002-329191 A JP 2002-183742 A JP-A-9-198392

According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, layout arrangement is automated based on predetermined points (position information) when classifying and organizing image data. For this reason, it is not possible to reduce the ex-post work for the adjustment of the layout with the addition and change of points and the designation of the display size, the background, etc., contrary to the automation.
In addition, in the technology for creating an electronic album based on position and time information and comment information disclosed in Patent Document 2, if the created image data covers a large number, classification according to a traveling event (sightseeing spot, moving, etc.) Operation for organizing and hierarchizing is complicated. Furthermore, the classification of registration data must be performed by the user even by the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 that distinguishes the processing of inserting and deleting image registration data according to the type of cover, mount, and partition sheet. The burden on the user is large.

  The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and by providing a user-friendly interface for setting a layout and supporting the creation of an electronic album, it is possible to easily set a layout in advance during the travel planning process. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic album creation support apparatus and method, and a computer program that facilitate the classification and organization of the above.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an electronic album creation support apparatus connected to a terminal device via a communication network, which captures basic elements of process information via the terminal apparatus, and A process scenario generator that generates a process scenario in the form of an electronic album from scenario-prepared material data prepared in advance, and receives a photographic image taken during digestion of the process, and position information and time information at the time of shooting And an electronic album generation unit that generates a desired electronic album in association with the generated process scenario.

  According to the present invention, the scenario creation unit prepares a scenario prepared in advance by, for example, inputting basic elements of the trip information including a travel area, a trip theme such as watching and eating, by the user. Extracting related images from material data to generate a process scenario in the form of an electronic album, and the electronic album generation unit receives the photographic image data taken during the process digestion and the position information and time information at the time of shooting, An electronic album based on a user-friendly interface for setting the layout by associating with the process scenario generated by the scenario generation unit, for example, by setting the layout of photo image data having the same positional information and generating the electronic album Creation support is possible, and it is possible to set the layout in advance without difficulty during the process of planning, It can be facilitated classification, organize later.

  Further, in the present invention, an electronic album edited by browsing the electronic album generated by the electronic album generating unit is transferred to the terminal device involved in the electronic album generation or editing or a preset terminal device. A terminal authentication unit that permits the disclosure.

  According to the present invention, the terminal authenticating unit allows the electronic album to be disclosed to a terminal device involved in generation or editing, or a terminal device set in advance, thereby improving security, for example. It is also possible to share information about electronic albums and comments that are shot and created during group trips.

  Further, in the present invention, the process scenario generation unit takes in basic elements of process information including a place and a theme necessary for generating the process scenario, and an object related to the place developed in accordance with the theme is electronic. The object selected by referring to a template displayed in the album format is given priority information and registered.

  In the present invention, each object displayed in the event template corresponds to each item of the scenario generation material data, and each item includes a link between objects developed in accordance with the theme. It is characterized by.

  Further, in the present invention, the electronic album generation unit accumulates photographic image data transmitted from the terminal device during the process digestion, and location information of a place where each of the accumulated photographic image data is taken, Comparing the position information of the object registered in the process scenario, and setting the layout of the corresponding photographic image data on the mount in the form of an electronic album according to the priority information given to the matched object. To do.

  In the present invention, the electronic album generation unit may set the layout of the object on the mount with a different size according to the difference in the priority information.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an electronic album creation support method for supporting creation of an electronic album by attaching photographic image data taken during digestion of a process to a mount, and incorporating basic elements of process information The process of generating a process scenario in the form of an electronic album from scenario-prepared material data prepared in advance based on the basic elements, and a photographic image taken during digestion of the process and the position information and time information at the time of shooting Receiving and generating a desired electronic album in association with the generated process scenario.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an electronic album creation support apparatus that is connected to a terminal device via a communication network and pastes photographic image data received via the communication network during the process to a mount. A process for generating a process scenario in the form of an electronic album from material data for scenario creation prepared in advance based on the basic element, which is a computer program used to take in the basic elements of the process information via the terminal device; Receiving a photographic image taken during digestion of the process, position information and time information at the time of the capture, and generating a desired electronic album in association with the generated process scenario; Features.

According to the present invention, when an electronic album is created, a user-friendly interface for setting a layout in advance is provided and supported, so that it is possible to easily set a layout in advance during the travel planning process. In addition, even when a large number of photographed image data is obtained, the layout is automatically performed based on preset conditions, so that subsequent classification and organization are facilitated.
Furthermore, the created electronic album is based on the location information and time information at which the image data was taken, and is expressed in a format according to organizing needs (titles) such as sightseeing spots or moving, so that the experience of travel experience can be realized. It is possible to create with a structure with a rough relief and a beam. In addition, by permitting a plurality of terminals to view an electronic album, it is possible to share images and comment information taken in a group trip or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a communication infrastructure to which an electronic album creation support apparatus of the present invention is connected.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a user terminal owned and managed by a user who is a user, 2 is a mobile terminal of the user, 3 is managed and operated by a service provider, and is implemented by the electronic album creation support apparatus of the present invention. Server (hereinafter referred to as an electronic album creation support server 3), both of which are connected via a communication network 4 such as the Internet.
The mobile terminal 2 is a mobile terminal with a camera that a user carries while traveling, and has a camera equipped with a tool for connecting to the communication network 4 and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) with a GPS receiver and the same function. A digital camera may be substituted.

The general operation will be described as follows. That is, prior to a trip, the user operates the user terminal 1 to access a site operated by the service provider and create a travel scenario for the trip. In creating a travel scenario, the electronic album creation support server 3 is a user-friendly interface (to be described later) that prompts the user to select and input basic information (basic elements of the travel information) such as a sightseeing area, a schedule, a theme, and a transportation system. Provide basic information setting screens and event templates).
Next, the user transmits a photographic image taken during the trip from the portable terminal 2 or the user terminal 1 to the electronic album creation support server 3. As a result, the electronic album creation support server 3 generates an electronic album by associating the previously created process scenario with the received photo image, and the user terminal 1 involved in the creation of the electronic album. , And only the user terminal 1 permitted to browse. Then, the user can access the service provider's site by operating the user terminal 1, and can browse and edit the created electronic album.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional development of the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, and shows the configuration of the electronic album creation support server 3 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, an electronic album creation support server 3 in which the present invention is implemented includes a communication interface unit 31, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) unit 32, a process scenario generation unit 33, and an electronic album generation unit 34. A terminal authentication unit 35, process scenario generation material data 36, and an image registration DB 37.

The communication interface unit 31 manages an interface with the communication network 4 and is connected to the Internet here, so that TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and the like are implemented. Further, the GUI unit 32 outputs screen information related to a basic information setting screen (FIG. 10a), an event template (FIG. 10b), a travel scenario registration screen (FIG. 11), etc., which will be described later, generated by the electronic album creation support server 3. , And taking in information input by the user terminal 1 is executed via the communication interface unit 31.
The itinerary scenario generation unit 33 takes in basic information (basic elements of the itinerary information) such as a travel region, a schedule, and a theme via the user terminal 1 and prepares a scenario preparation material prepared in advance based on the basic information. It has a function of generating an electronic album format process scenario from the data 36. In addition, the electronic album generation unit 34 receives a photographic image taken during digestion of the process and the position information and time information at the time of shooting from the mobile terminal 2, and associates them with the process scenario generated by the process scenario generation unit 33. It has a function to generate a desired electronic album. The process scenario generation unit 33 records the generated process scenario in the process scenario DB 38, and the electronic album generation unit 34 records the generated electronic album in the electronic album DB 39.

  The terminal authentication unit 35 is an electronic album created by browsing the electronic album generated by the electronic album generation unit 34. The user terminal 1 involved in electronic album generation or editing or a user terminal set in advance 1 has a function that permits it to be disclosed to the public.

The process scenario generation material data 36 includes, for example, a destination information DB (database) and a traffic information DB whose examples of data structures are shown in FIGS.
The destination information DB stores, for each object (image) constituting an event template, which will be described later, its ID, name, location information, region division, major division, subdivision, and data items of image link and required time. Have.
Here, the image link is a link between objects prepared for each event such as “watching”, “moving”, “staying”, “eating”, etc., developed according to the theme input on the basic information setting screen described later. Means. Further, the required time means an average required time required for executing an event, here, an average required time required for sightseeing of the object.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4 as an example of the data structure, the traffic information DB is composed of data items of ID, name, position information, area division, major division, and route name.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of data stored in the image registration DB 37. As shown in FIG. 5, the image registration DB 37 has an ID, an image link of photographic image data transmitted from the mobile phone 2 by the user, Shooting information, shooting date, and shooting time are recorded.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of data held in the stroke scenario DB 38. As shown in the drawing, the stroke scenario DB 38 stores, for example, user IDs and stroke scenario data in association with each other.
FIG. 7 shows the structure of data held in the electronic album DB 39. As shown in this figure, the electronic album DB 39 stores the user ID of the user and the data of the electronic album in association with each other.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts cited for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and show the processing procedure of the computer program in the process scenario generation process and the electronic album generation process, respectively.
10 to 12 are diagrams showing an example of a GUI screen configuration used in the embodiment of the present invention. Basic information setting screen (a in FIG. 10), event template (b in FIG. 10) process scenario registration Each of a screen (FIG. 11) and an electronic album (FIG. 12) is shown.
The operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

First, prior to a trip, a user operates a user terminal 1 to access a site operated by a service provider via a communication network 4 such as the Internet. The electronic album creation support server 3 of the site that has received the access transmits basic information setting screen information via the communication interface unit 31 by the GUI unit 32. FIG. 10A shows a basic information setting screen. Here, the user inputs an area, a schedule, and a theme necessary for creating a travel scenario. For example, the region (Fukuoka), the schedule (August 1st to August 4th), and the theme (sightseeing) are entered to complete the basic information setting (S61).
Next, the input basic information taken in via the GUI unit 32 is supplied to the process scenario generation unit 33. Subsequently, the process scenario generation unit 33 transmits the event template (template) shown in FIG. 10B via the GUI unit 32 and the communication network 4. In this event template, sightseeing spots (objects) that are developed according to the theme, specifically, related to Fukuoka are output as thumbnails, and are displayed on the user terminal 1 that has received them.

The user creates an album-style process scenario from the scenario generation material data 36 composed of the event templates described above by an operation such as drag and drop. That is, the user refers to the displayed event template, selects an object (image) corresponding to a spot scheduled for sightseeing (S62), and then selects and operates a means of transportation between destinations (S64). ).
Specifically, in the electronic album creation support server 3, the process scenario generation unit 33 refers to the destination information DB for the object and the traffic information DB for the transportation means, and the user via the GUI unit 32 and the communication interface unit 31. By transmitting to the terminal 1, the above-described selection operation by the user is made possible.

The user subsequently transmits the object and the transportation means of the tourist spot displayed on the process scenario registration screen shown in FIG. 11 which is transmitted via the GUI unit 32 and the communication interface unit 31 and displayed on the user terminal 1. Is assigned and registered with priority information (high, low, medium) (S63, S65). Here, when the priority information is set to “high”, for example, if it is a tourist spot, it means a spot that is particularly desired to be visited. It becomes information necessary to have
The above operations and processes are repeated until a process scenario that satisfies the user is completed (S66). When the generation of the process scenario is completed, the process scenario generation unit 33 records the process scenario data in the process scenario DB 38.
Thus, in the process scenario according to the present invention, the tourist spot (object) is recorded together with its coordinates. The process scenario may be recorded separately for each actual process, for example, the first day, the second day, and the date. Further, tourist information of each tourist spot (object) may be recorded together as information displayed as an album. The tourist information or the like may be recorded in the scenario generation material data 36 and automatically read out.

It should be noted that a plurality of objects can be selected, and a priority is assigned to each. Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the event template is the same when the theme “tour”, “stay”, or “eat” is selected by the user in addition to the theme (tourism). Referring to the destination information DB shown in FIG. 3, the corresponding objects are thumbnail-expanded and displayed.
Furthermore, in the scenario registration operations of S63 and S65, the upper limit of the daily action time is set in advance by default, and registration is not possible when the total required time of each registered process exceeds the previous upper limit. Consideration is also given.

On the other hand, after formulating the travel plan as described above, the user acts according to the travel scenario while carrying the mobile terminal 2 equipped with a camera and a GPS function, and photographic image data taken during the travel scenario digestion, and photography The position information and time information at the time are transmitted to the electronic album creation support server 3. This is automatically transmitted by an application downloaded to the mobile terminal 2 in advance.
The electronic album creation support server 3 receives these information via the communication interface unit 31 and the GUI unit 32 and provides them to the electronic album generation unit 34 (S71). The electronic album generation unit 34 accumulates these pieces of information in the image registration DB 37 whose example of data structure is shown in FIG. The electronic album generation unit 34 also associates the accumulated information with the previously created process scenario (S72) to generate an electronic album. At that time, the electronic album is subjected to the following editing process in order to obtain an electronic album with a sharp edge.

Specifically, the electronic album generation unit 34 compares the position information of the location where each photographic image data stored in the image registration DB 37 is taken with the position information of the object previously registered as the process scenario, The matched object is searched, and the photographic image data is laid out in an album format according to the priority information given to the object (S73).
For example, for an object whose priority information is “high”, the photographic image data is set to a relatively large size as a single topic, and for an object whose priority information is “low”, the corresponding photographic image data is set. Are laid out in thumbnail format in small size. If “Medium” is set, the layout is set at the intermediate size.
Then, the electronic album generation unit 34 records the generated electronic album data in the electronic album DB 39.
As described above, when the process scenario is recorded separately from the first day and the second day, the electronic album data is also the first day album data and the second day album data, respectively. It may be divided into Moreover, the tourist information recorded in the process scenario may be displayed in the vicinity of the laid out photographic image data. Further, the time information transmitted together with the image information may be displayed together. As described above, in the electronic album DB 39, information of data to be displayed as the electronic album is recorded together with layout information (image size, position, etc.) based on the process scenario stored in the process scenario DB 38.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of an electronic album screen. FIG. 12 shows a screen configuration example when sightseeing the “Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine” which is the scenario of the second day, and a photograph taken at a point corresponding to the priority section (high priority) set earlier. It can be seen that the images and other less important (low priority) photographic images are arranged in different sizes. In this way, hierarchization is performed according to the number of shots, and a background image is added based on the post-setting information.

Finally, the user operates the user terminal 1 or the portable terminal 2 to access the electronic album creation support server 3 to view the electronic album created by the electronic album generation unit 34 and to edit such as writing a comment. It can be performed.
In order to view or edit an electronic album created by the electronic album generation unit 34, only the user terminal 1 involved in the generation or editing of the electronic album or the user terminal 1 set in advance is used. Operation is permitted. For this reason, the terminal authentication unit 35 checks the unique ID of the accessed terminal or the set of the user ID and password prior to the publication of the electronic album. This makes it possible to share photographic image data and comment information taken in a group trip.

  The procedure executed by each of the communication interface unit 31, the GUI unit 32, the process scenario generation unit 33, the electronic album generation unit 34, and the terminal authentication unit 35 shown in FIG. 2 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. It is assumed that the electronic album creation support apparatus of the present invention is realized by causing a computer system to read and execute a program recorded on a recording medium. The computer system here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that becomes a client or a system when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the communication infrastructure to which the electronic album creation assistance apparatus of this invention is connected. It is the block diagram which expanded and showed the structure of the structure of this invention embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the database used in this invention embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the database used in this invention embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the database used in this invention embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the data which stroke process DB used in embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the data which electronic album DB used in embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a GUI screen structure used in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a GUI screen structure used in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a GUI screen structure used in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... User terminal, 2 ... Portable terminal, 3 ... Electronic album production assistance server, 31 ... Communication interface part, 32 ... GUI part, 33 ... Process scenario production part, 34 ... Electronic album production part, 35 ... Terminal authentication part, 36 ... Material data for generating a scenario, 37 ... Image registration DB, 38 ... Process scenario DB, 39 ... Electronic album DB

Claims (8)

A terminal device is an electronic album creation support device connected via a communication network,
A process scenario generation unit that captures basic elements of process information via the terminal device and generates a process scenario in an electronic album format from scenario creation material data prepared in advance based on the basic elements;
An electronic album generation unit that receives a photographic image captured during digestion of the process and position information and time information at the time of the capture, and generates a desired electronic album in association with the generated process scenario;
An electronic album creation support device comprising: Permit to publish an electronic album edited by browsing the electronic album generated by the electronic album generation unit to the terminal device involved in the electronic album generation or editing or a preset terminal device A terminal authentication unit;
The electronic album creation support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The process scenario generation unit
Incorporate the basic elements of process information including the location and theme required to generate the process scenario,
The priority information is assigned to the object selected by referring to a template in which an object related to the place developed in accordance with the theme is displayed in an electronic album format, and is registered. The electronic album creation support apparatus described in 1.   4. Each of the displayed objects corresponds to a respective item of the scenario generation material data, and each of the items includes a link between objects developed in accordance with the theme. Electronic album creation support device. The electronic album generation unit
Accumulating photographic image data transmitted from the terminal device during the process digestion,
The position information of the place where each of the accumulated photographic image data is taken is compared with the position information of the object registered in the process scenario, and the corresponding information is applied according to the priority information given to the matched object. 4. The electronic album creation support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic image data is laid out on the mount in an electronic album format. The electronic album generation unit
6. The electronic album creation support apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the object is laid out on the mount with a different size according to the difference in the priority information. An electronic album creation support method for supporting creation of an electronic album by attaching photographic image data taken during the process digestion to a mount,
The process of capturing the basic elements of the process information and generating a process scenario in the form of an electronic album from the material data for scenario creation prepared in advance based on the basic elements,
Receiving a photographic image taken during digestion of the process and position information and time information at the time of shooting, and generating a desired electronic album in association with the generated process scenario;
An electronic album creation support method comprising: A terminal device is a computer program used for an electronic album creation support device that is connected via a communication network and pastes photographic image data received via the communication network during a process on a mount.
A process for capturing a basic element of process information via the terminal device, and generating a process scenario in an electronic album format from scenario creation material data prepared in advance based on the basic element;
A process of receiving a photographic image taken during digestion of the process and position information and time information at the time of shooting, and generating a desired electronic album in association with the generated process scenario;
A computer program that causes a computer to execute.

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