JP2005085250A - Clickable map editing system for album - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To add new functions to an album editing system comprising a computer and to simplify the editing work to reduce the cost. <P>SOLUTION: A clickable map is added to album editing software of a computer. When the use is limited to producing of memorial albums of sightseeing travels mainly, an impressive and effective album associated with the topography of a travel place can be created, by taking a draft of the clickable map as a map. Photographs like picture postcards of a sightseeing place are already inputted to a commodity provided by this system, so that the commodity has a value as a photograph collection of the sites. Consequently, it is necessary or becomes possible to have a large stock of commodities per sightseeing site, and the number of commodities expected to be sold is extraordinarily large, in comparison with the conventional general-purpose album editing systems, and the cost can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is one of computer-based virtual album editing systems called “photo albums”.

  Data such as still images (so-called photos), movies, text, and audio are imported from files on digital cameras and computers, and they are trimmed, color-adjusted, laid out, and text-explained by functions such as text output. A system (software) for editing a virtual album that moves is a so-called photo album system (software). The edited album can be started from the disc or viewed on another computer via a CD on which it is burned.

  By using the photo album system, you can arrange still images (photos) etc. in chronological order, group them by subject, or group them for events such as weddings and trips. You can edit it. The appeal of the photo album system is that each photo can be edited freely, such as trimming and layout. Furthermore, the ability to express video and audio is a decisive advantage when compared to “normal albums” of photo albums.

  If you can create photos and videos related to geographic information when creating a “memories album” as a photo album when traveling to a theme park such as a sightseeing trip, honeymoon, school trip, etc. This makes it possible to create an album that is very easy to understand and effective. However, at present, there is no tool for general users that can easily create an album in association with geographic information.

  Therefore, the clickable map is adopted by the present invention. For example, by placing a clickable map with a map on the first page of an album, it becomes possible to associate geographic information with data such as photographs. By linking data such as photos taken there at any point on the map, it is possible to easily edit photos and video albums taken during the trip.

  Conventional clickable maps are often used to provide links to images on WWW pages. On the other hand, in the present invention, it is used for the purpose of linking data such as photographs taken in the system and arbitrary points on the map and calling those images.

  The main components of the system according to the present invention are a clickable map system and editing means for associating captured data such as photographs with the clickable system. However, neither the clickable map nor the album editing means are new. As described above, clickable maps are frequently used on homepages. Many album editing systems are commercially available.

  However, the present invention is the first to adopt a clickable map in the album editing system. As a result, a new type of album editing software product is born, the price is reduced, and conditions for the rapid spread of album editing software can be created. It is also an excellent point of the present invention that the editing operation is made very simple by adopting a simple technique such as drag and drop for the editing operation.

  The present invention makes it possible to effectively create a memory album for sightseeing trips (including honeymoon trips and school trips) by using the clickable map as a key for photo editing. At the same time, the present invention is a so-called photo collection such as photographs and moving pictures associated with map information, and can provide products having multiple roles and values. The sketch of the clickable map can be a group photo instead of a map. For example, when a school graduation album is created as a CD album with this technology, if a student's photo is clicked in the group photo, photos related to that student can be displayed one after another. In addition, students can add and edit their own photos and create more memorable albums.

  The greatest effect of the present invention is that the price of the album editing software can be significantly reduced by limiting the usage to a travel album, for example. When the technology that is the premise of the present invention is released as general-purpose album editing software, the number of sales is limited, and considering the development cost, a price of at least several thousand yen or more must be set. However, for example, by limiting the use to “postcard and album” for travelers, many kinds of products corresponding to many tourist spots are required. This is because geographical information and image data unique to the area are indispensable. As a result, a large amount of sales can be expected. Also, the editing function can be made very simple compared to general-purpose “album editing software”. As a result, the price can be reduced by several hundred yen.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of claim 1. This system includes a storage unit, a control unit, a display unit, and an input unit.

  The storage unit stores information such as input still images, moving images, characters, and voices. The general method of a personal computer is used for input to the storage unit.

  The control unit takes in information from the storage unit, converts the information into thumbnails, and displays the thumbnails and a clickable map sketch (for example, a map) in parallel on the display screen. FIG. 2 shows an example of the screen.

  Next, when one thumbnail and a point on the corresponding background are selected by operating the input unit, they are automatically linked by the operation of the control unit.

  As an example of a specific operation, when a cursor is placed on a thumbnail, the thumbnail is first selected. Next, if you bring a thumbnail to an arbitrary point on the sketch by dragging and dropping, the thumbnail is linked to that point. And the mark which shows that it is a link point generate | occur | produces in the link point. When the mark is clicked, information such as a still image, a moving image, text, and audio corresponding to the linked thumbnail is displayed as a screen having a sufficient size. This is shown in FIG. Here, the drag and drop operation is used as the operation method, but a method of automatically linking by simply selecting a thumbnail with a cursor and then selecting a link point is also possible.

  The following method is also conceivable. Clicking on the “mark selection button” set on the screen, and then clicking on any point on the background, the mark is first linked to that point. Next, if a thumbnail is selected and brought to the mark point by drag and drop operation, the thumbnail is linked to the mark point. Since the mark can be represented by an image much smaller than the thumbnail, this method is more convenient when you want to select the exact point on the sketch.

  If you click the link point mark after linking, information such as still images linked to the mark is reproduced on the full screen. When a plurality of pieces of information are linked to one mark, the information is reproduced one after another by repeating (or automatically) clicking. However, when a mark is selected and clicked, all the linked information thumbnails are listed in the vicinity of the mark, and the information to be viewed is selected from the list (ie, the information thumbnail to be viewed is selected). It is practical and convenient to display the corresponding image in full screen by clicking. This is the invention of claim 2 and FIG. 4 explains this.

  The invention of claim 3 will be described. The content of the label is, for example, a place name. When a photo is linked to a point on the background corresponding to the place where the photo was taken, information such as an image can be specified by specifying a label (place name) instead of selecting a mark. Therefore, if a list of place names is displayed on the screen and an arbitrary place name in the list is selected by manual operation of the input section, it is selected from a plurality of marks corresponding to a plurality of link points on the background. The mark corresponding to the place name is displayed differentiating from other marks. FIG. 5 explains this. This is useful when you know the place name but do not know the location on the map.

  The display can be differentiated by methods such as mark shape, color change, size change, and mark blinking.

  In addition to selecting link points and viewing information such as photos one after another, there are times when you want to view information such as photos one after another regardless of the background. Therefore, a slide show display function is required. When a slide show is displayed, it is necessary to specify the order of all information linked on the sketch to the control unit. The purpose of the invention of claim 4 is to select link points (marks) by manual operation of the input unit and to set the selection order as the slide show display order (in link point units) as a method of specifying the order. It is.

  In that case, when multiple pieces of information are linked to one link point, the order of information within one link point is determined at random without specifying it, or, for example, a thumbnail displayed near the mark is displayed in the previous section. It is also possible to further rank each piece of information by such a method as described above.

  As a method of ranking link points, it is also possible to rank link points in the order in which lines are drawn by drawing a line in a single stroke on the background by operating the input unit. It is done. If you select each link point in order and rank it, you may inadvertently miss the selection, but this method only draws a line, all link points will be somewhere in the line Since there is always near, there is no possibility of omission of selection. This is an excellent point of this method.

  FIG. 6 explains claim 5. When the edited data is stored on a recording medium such as a CD-R, it is burned onto the CD-R using writing software. This work is performed in accordance with the procedure of the writing software being used, but it usually takes several steps. Therefore, by having the original writing software, that is, the burning module, in the control unit of this system, the burning operation is completed simply by clicking the corresponding button on the screen.

  A major feature of the present invention is that a user can easily edit a photo album by linking information such as images taken by the user on a clickable map sketch. Normally, all information necessary after editing is recorded and stored in a write-once recording medium such as a CD-R. In that case, there is a limit to the storage capacity of the storage medium. That is, the amount and number of information such as images edited by the user are limited. Knowing how much information or how many photos can be input later is important for editing. The purpose of claim 6 is to display the amount of information (remaining storage amount).

  The display in that case may be always displayed in parallel with the clickable map sketch on the screen, or may be displayed in parallel only when the “display button” is clicked. Various display designs such as bar graphs and pie charts are possible.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is a storage medium storing the control unit of the first to sixth aspects. When this CD is set in the computer, the user can edit the album using each album clickable map editing system.

  Editing results can be viewed on a PC. Also, it can be viewed on another personal computer or a DVD player by copying to a storage medium such as a CD-R. Each image can also be printed out as a still image. Thus, the display means can select various methods.

  FIG. 7 explains the invention of claim 8. The difference from claim 1 is that it has two storage units. The storage unit according to claim 1 is a storage unit that stores information such as a still image, a moving image, a character, and a sound that the user intends to edit. The second storage unit in claim 8 corresponds to this.

  9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a first storage unit. The first storage unit also stores information such as still images, moving images, characters, voices, etc., but these are protected in advance by the control unit so that they cannot be changed. It cannot be changed.

  For example, assume that a product according to the present invention is sold as a CD at a tourist spot. General information (photos, videos, explanations, etc.) that is posted on photobooks and postcards among information on photographs and videos in tourist spots is imprinted in advance on the CD by the product producer. Leave in. Users who have purchased it can see their photos, for example, in preparation for sightseeing. Then, after taking a trip, the photograph or video taken by himself / herself can be edited as information in the second storage unit to be completed as an album. The information in the first storage unit is set to be unchangeable so that it is not accidentally deleted during editing.

  Regarding the link point, the link point of the information stored in the first storage unit that is set in advance may be the link point of the information stored in the second storage unit. May link to a new link point.

  When a link point is selected, all information thumbnails linked to the link point are displayed in a list in the vicinity of the link point. By selecting one of the thumbnails, the corresponding information is sufficiently large. The method of being displayed as is easier to use and practical. This is the object of the invention of claim 9.

  For this purpose, first, it is necessary to make the information in the first storage unit into a thumbnail and link the information to the corresponding link point. The information in the second storage unit is originally based on a mechanism in which thumbnails are formed and linked to link points. Next, when an arbitrary link point is selected by the operation of the input unit, all thumbnails corresponding to all information in the linked first and second storage units are displayed in a list near the link point, Next, information corresponding to a thumbnail selected from the input unit is displayed as a sufficiently large screen. Here, the information in the first storage unit and the information in the second storage unit are treated equally with respect to processing such as selection and display of information after editing.

  The inventions of claims 10 to 13 are basically the same as the inventions of claims 3 to 6. The inventions of claims 10 to 13 are different from the inventions of claims 3 to 6 in that there are two storage units. However, regarding the selection and display of information after editing, the information in the two storage units is equal in handling.

  A fourteenth aspect is a storage medium storing the information of the first storage unit and the control unit of the eighth to thirteenth aspects. When this CD is set in the computer, the user can edit the album using each album clickable map editing system.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the invention of claim 15. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to burn the information after editing into the recordable recording medium such as a CD-R by using the product of the present invention. It is more rational and economical than burning to another CD-R, and the operation is very simple.

  When the object to be burned is itself, the amount of information to be burned is only the information added in the editing work. When recognizing that it is oneself by having an authentication system, the amount of information to be burned is limited to the added information. As a result, the information in the first storage unit and the control unit are not stored twice, and can be effectively utilized without wasting the capacity of the limited recording medium. When the target to be burned is another CD-R, naturally, it is necessary to burn all of the first storage unit, the control unit, and the added information.

  An object to be authenticated in the authentication system may be any part of hardware and software related to “write-once recording medium recording this system”.

  As described above, it can be said that the album editing system according to the present invention allows the user not only to obtain a so-called “photo book” but also to complete a travel album by adding his / her photos etc. to the postcard. . Editing an album using commercially available photo editing software is quite annoying even if the editing operation is simple. On the other hand, the advantage of the present invention is that the album can be easily and effectively created by using a clickable map on a map, taking pictures taken by professionals, etc., for the purpose of traveling to a specific area, etc. is there. As a suitable field of the present invention, in addition to travel, “memories album” such as theme parks and zoos can be considered.

  The product according to the present invention will be sold in the form of a packaged CD for the time being at tourist stations and various shops. They can also be purchased from travel agencies and sold at theme parks and zoo shops. The user plays back the recording medium (CD, CD-R, etc.) on which the system is recorded on a personal computer at home, and adds the photograph information taken at the travel destination etc. to the clickable map. The information to be added may be information obtained by taking an analog photo with a scanner, in addition to information taken by a digital camera or the like, video, audio, and text information. When the information is added, it is burned onto the recording medium with a single touch. Through the above operations, the user can create a memory album.

  Also, by providing the Internet connection function to the recording medium, you can link the data of shops and products and products handled on the clickable map, and promote the products and products on the Internet. It becomes possible.

The block diagram which shows embodiment of invention of Claim 1 Display screen of the invention of claim 1 Display screen of the invention of claim 1 Display screen of the invention of claim 2 The display screen of the invention of claim 3 A block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention of claim 5 The block diagram which shows embodiment of invention of Claim 8 A flowchart relating to the invention of claim 15

Claims (15)

A computer-based album editing system,
(A) a storage unit that stores information such as still images, moving images, characters, and voices;
(I) Clickable map system,
A data management unit for inputting / outputting information to / from the storage unit;
A control unit composed of a display control unit that converts information into display information as needed,
(C) a display unit for displaying the display information;
(D) an input unit for performing operations related to the clickable map;
With
The control unit
Information taken from the storage unit is converted into thumbnails, and the thumbnails and clickable map sketches are displayed in parallel on the display screen of the display unit.
By selecting at least one thumbnail among the thumbnails and a corresponding point on the background image by operating the input unit, information corresponding to the selected thumbnail is set to the selected point on the background image. Link,
A screen having a sufficient size for information such as still images, moving images, characters, and audio corresponding to the thumbnail linked to the link point by selecting a linked point, that is, a link point by operating the input unit. Display as,
Clickable map editing system for albums. The control unit
By selecting a link point on the background by operating the input unit, thumbnails of all still images, videos, text, audio, and other information linked to the link point are displayed in the vicinity of the link point. And
Next, by selecting one of the thumbnails by operating the input unit, information such as a still image, a moving image, text, and sound corresponding to the thumbnail is displayed as a sufficiently large screen.
The clickable map editing system for albums according to claim 1. The control unit
It has a means to set a label at the link point on the sketch linked with information such as a still image, video, text, audio, etc.
By selecting an arbitrary label from the list display by operating the input unit, the link point to which the information corresponding to the selected label is linked is visually differentiated from other link points and displayed. ,
The clickable map editing system for albums according to claim 1, wherein: The control unit
By sequentially selecting the link points on the background picture by operating the input unit, the link points are ranked in the order of selection,
According to the order, the information linked to those link points is displayed as a slide show sequentially.
The album clickable map editing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The control unit
Has a burning module for burning to recording media,
The album clickable map editing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control unit
The difference between the maximum storage amount of the recording medium on which all the information after editing is burned and the total storage amount of the control unit and the storage unit already used is displayed as the remaining storage amount.
6. The clickable map editing system for albums according to claim 1 characterized by the above.   The recording medium which memorize | stored the program of the control part of Claims 1-6. A computer-based album editing system,
(A) a first storage unit that stores information such as still images, moving images, characters, and voices that are protected from change;
(A) a second storage unit storing information such as still images, moving images, characters, and voices;
(C) Clickable map system,
A data management unit that inputs and outputs information between the first and second storage units;
A control unit composed of a display control unit that converts information into display information as needed,
(D) a display unit for displaying the display information;
(E) an input unit for performing operations related to the clickable map;
With
The control unit
The information in the first storage unit is linked in advance to the corresponding point on the clickable map, that is, the link point, so that it cannot be changed in advance, and the link point is linked by selecting the link point by operating the input unit. Display information such as still images, movies, text, audio, etc. as a sufficiently large screen,
Information taken from the second storage unit is converted into thumbnails, and the thumbnails and the background image are displayed in parallel on the display screen of the display unit. At least one thumbnail of the thumbnails and a corresponding point on the background image, that is, a link Each point is selected by operating the input unit to link the information corresponding to the selected thumbnail to the selected link point, and the link point is selected by operating the input unit. Display information such as still images, videos, text, and audio corresponding to the thumbnail linked to the point as a sufficiently large screen.
Clickable map editing system for albums. The control unit
The information in the first storage unit is converted into a thumbnail, and the information corresponding to the thumbnail is linked to the corresponding point on the clickable map, that is, the link point in an unchangeable manner,
Next, by selecting a link point by operating the input unit, all the thumbnails corresponding to the information in the first storage unit and the second storage unit linked to the link point are displayed in the vicinity of the link point. ,
Next, by selecting one of the displayed thumbnails by operating the input unit, information such as still images, moving images, characters, and audio corresponding to the thumbnail is displayed as a sufficiently large screen. To display
9. The clickable map editing system for albums according to claim 8, The control unit
There is a means to set a label at the link point on the background picture to which the information is linked, and to display the list of labels.
By selecting an arbitrary label from the list display by operating the input unit, the link point to which the information corresponding to the selected label is linked is visually differentiated from other link points and displayed. ,
10. The clickable map editing system for albums according to claim 8-9. The control unit
By sequentially selecting the link points on the background picture by operating the input unit, the link points are ranked in the order of selection,
According to the order, the information linked to those link points is displayed as a slide show sequentially.
The clickable map editing system for albums according to claim 8-10. Has a burning module for burning to recording media,
12. The clickable map editing system for albums according to claim 8-11. The control unit
Displaying the difference between the maximum storage amount of the recording medium onto which all the edited information is burned and the total storage amount of the already used control unit, the first storage unit, and the second storage unit as the remaining storage amount;
13. The clickable map editing system for albums according to claim 8-12.   The recording medium which memorize | stored the information of the 1st memory | storage part of Claims 8-13, and the program of the control part. The recording medium is limited to a write-once recording medium,
The control unit has an authentication system, has a means for determining whether the recording medium to be burned is itself or another new recording medium, and changing the information to be burned in accordance therewith,
15. The recording medium according to claim 7 or 14, characterized by the above.

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