JP2005115963A - Electronic photographic information browsing method and electronic photographic information browsing server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow electronic photographic information photographed by a digital camera to be browsed on a terminal in which a particular browsing software is not installed, by uploading the information into an electronic photographic information browsing server regardless of its file format. <P>SOLUTION: The server receives the electronic photographic information photographed by the digital camera from a terminal through a network, recognizes the file format of the photographic information, converts the information into a JPEG format being able to be displayed by a Web browser, and saves the converted information into a given URL address, whereby the converted electronic photographic information can be browsed through the Internet or an intranet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic photo browsing system, an electronic photo information browsing method, and an electronic photo information browsing server. More specifically, a file format used when a digital camera user outputs electrophotographic information from the digital camera is described. Even if the electrophotographic information is uploaded to the electrophotographic information conversion server, the user of the digital camera may browse the electrophotographic information from the Internet or an intranet using the user's Web terminal device. The present invention relates to an electronic photo browsing system, an electronic photo information browsing method, and an electronic photo information browsing server.

  With the widespread use of personal computers and the Internet (intranet) or intranet (intranet), documents that were output and exchanged on paper media such as various guides and data were created as electronic data files using word processing software, The file can be exchanged as electronic photo information of an electronic mail.

  In addition, the information sender transmits the electronic data file to the content storage server using the POST function of the web browser, so that the information receiver can access the web address of the storage location of the content storage server. Thus, the electronic data transmitted by the information sender can be downloaded from the Web page and viewed on his / her personal computer (PC).

In addition, it has become possible to upload electrophotographic information taken with a digital camera to a storage server on the Internet or an intranet, access the storage server from a PC, and display the electrophotographic information on the PC.
JP 2001-217860 A

  However, all the conventional methods for displaying electronic files made up of electronic data such as text data and image data require that display software for displaying the electronic files be installed on the terminal device on the display side. Currently, many types of display software must be installed in the terminal device in order to display these electronic files, which is unrealistic due to the capabilities of the terminal device. It was. This problem is particularly serious in portable terminal devices having a small memory capacity and processing capacity such as PDA (personal digital assistance), and portable telephones that have recently become widespread. Further, in the case of a mobile phone, when an electronic mail with an electronic file attached is received, the electronic file is deleted, and even the electronic file itself cannot be received.

  Also, with the widespread use of digital cameras, if you can upload your own electronic photo information to a storage server on the Internet or an intranet at your travel destination, you can conveniently take photos without worrying about the remaining memory of the digital camera. However, the fact that uploaded photos cannot be viewed on mobile phones due to display software problems. Furthermore, there are many cases where travel destinations do not bring a PC on which display software is installed, and even if the photos can be uploaded, the photos cannot be seen.

  Moreover, it is expected that the same problem will occur even when a disposable digital camera or a rental digital camera is used at a travel destination.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to convert electrophotographic information photographed with a digital camera into an electronic file in an original file format of the photographed electrophotographic information such as a mobile phone or a PDA. By providing an electronic photo information browsing system, an electronic photo information browsing method, and a conversion server used therefor, which can browse the electrophotographic information on a terminal device in which special display software for displaying a file is not installed is there.

  The electrophotographic information browsing server inputs electronic information received via a communication line, and recognizes the file format of the electronic information based on the file format recognition means and the file format recognized by the file format recognition means, Image detection and analysis means for detecting and analyzing image information in the file; image conversion means for converting the image information into electrophotographic information in a file format that can be displayed on a Web browser by conversion according to the analysis result; and An electronic photograph information storage and browsing means for storing the converted electronic photograph information so that it can be browsed via a communication line, and a storage address of the electronic photograph information stored so as to be browseable should be added to an email to view the electronic photograph information. Storage location notifying means for notifying the other party;

  The electrophotographic information browsing method of the present invention inputs electronic information received via a communication line, recognizes the file format of the electronic information, detects and analyzes image information in the file, and Performs image conversion according to the analysis result, converts it into electrophotographic information in a file format that can be displayed on a web browser, stores the converted electrophotographic information so that it can be viewed via a communication line, and stores the storage address by e-mail It is notified to the other party that should be browsed.

  According to the invention, even if the user of the digital camera uploads the electrophotographic information to the electrophotographic information browsing server without worrying about the file format when outputting the electrophotographic information from the digital camera, The electrophotographic information can be browsed from the user's Web terminal device.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated. An outline of an electronic photo information browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The electronic photo information browsing system is a system centered on an electrophotographic information translation server 20 that also serves as a Web server and is installed on a network 30 including an intranet such as an accommodation facility such as the Internet or a hotel or an entertainment facility such as a theme park. The electronic photographic information translation server 20 reads an electronic file composed of the electrophotographic information of the digital cameras 1, 2, 3,... And transmits the electronic file to the electrophotographic information translation server 20 also serving as the Web server. A portable web of a digital camera user such as a PDA or a cellular phone in which the photo information readers 10, 11, and 12, the access points 60 and 61 to the network 30 and the web browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, etc.) are installed. Terminal devices 50 to 54... And access points to the network 30 And cement 40 and 90 are connected through a network 30.

  The digital cameras 1, 2, and 3 are provided with output terminals for outputting an electronic file composed of photographed electrophotographic information to the outside by wire or wirelessly. The digital cameras 1, 2, 3,... May be in the form of disposable or rental.

  The electrophotographic information readers 10, 11, and 12 are installed in places where people gather, such as camera stores, convenience stores, accommodation facilities, entertainment facilities, stations, and shops, and the digital cameras 1, 2, 3, ..With a function of reading an electronic file composed of electrophotographic information from or a function of receiving an electronic file composed of electrophotographic information output from a digital camera, and an electronic file composed of the read or received electrophotographic information A function of transmitting to the photograph information translation server 20 is provided. The electrophotographic information readers 10, 11, and 12 may be user-owned PCs.

  Furthermore, the electrophotographic information readers 10, 11, and 12 have a function of printing out the electrophotographic information of the user at the request of the user.

  The electrophotographic information readers 10, 11, 12 use an electronic file composed of electrophotographic information of the digital cameras 1, 2, 3,... Using a POST function, an FTP (file transfer protocol) function, etc. of the Web browser. Then, the data is transmitted to the electrophotographic information translation server 20 also serving as a Web server via the access points 60 to 61 and the network 30.

  Then, the electrophotographic information translation server 20 converts the received electronic file composed of the electrophotographic information into a file (in this embodiment, a JPEG file) that can be displayed on the user's portable web terminal devices 50 to 54. At the same time, it is created from two types of original images with different resolutions as thumbnail images (cumulative mobile phone images (about 100 × 100 pixels)) and display images (cumulative PDA images (approximately 300 × 300 pixels)). And a predetermined address (URL (uniform resource locator)).

  Note that audio data can be transmitted together with the electrophotographic information. In this case, the electrophotographic information translation server 20 converts the electronic file containing the audio data into a VXML (VoiceXML) file and stores it.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image when an electronic file made up of electrophotographic information is uploaded from the electrophotographic information readers 10, 11, and 12 to the electrophotographic information translation server 20.

  In the figure, “Ushida Photo Folder” is a folder secured on the electrophotographic information translation server 20 for the user, and several folders are created at the request of the user. These folders can be accessed from the electrophotographic information reading device or the user's Web terminal device. If the user is within the scope of his license, a plurality of folders can be created with desired names as desired. be able to.

  In the figure, folders named “first day”, “second day”, “third day”, and “fourth day” are further provided in the “Hokkaido Travel” folder.

  To upload an electronic file made up of electrophotographic information, first specify a destination folder (in the figure, a “fourth day” folder) in the “file upload form”. In addition, the name of the file to be uploaded (in the figure, “Hokkaido Travel Day 4”), remarks, keywords, publication expiration date (in the figure, 0 days (no expiration date)), presence of email notification, destination of email notification, and After setting the mail content, click “Place file in folder”. The e-mail notification is a function for notifying a desired address by e-mail of the URL where the uploaded electro photographic information (converted electro photographic information) is stored. If you write a document, the document written in the email content (in the figure, "Dad, mother, photo of Hokkaido trip (day 4) uploaded to the following address, please see.") And after conversion The storage URL address of the electrophotographic information is transmitted to the designated destination.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display image of the mail 301 of uploaded electrophotographic information (converted electrophotographic information) transmitted from the electrophotographic information translation server 20. In the figure, a notification mail 301 is a mail text 302, a document entered in the mail content at the time of upload, and a storage address 303 of the converted electrophotographic information below the mail text 302 (in the figure, “photo. server / usida / hokaido / date4.html ”) is added in the electrophotographic information translation server 20 and transmitted to the designated notification destination.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display image displayed when the storage destination address 303 notified by the e-mail is accessed. As shown in the figure, first, only thumbnail images are displayed as in an album list, and display images are displayed by clicking thumbnail images 401, 401. When displaying an original image, an original image button 403 on the upper right is clicked.

  In order to perform such functions, the electrophotographic information translation server 20 also serving as a Web server includes a transmission / reception server 201, a file format conversion server 202 also serving as a resolution change, a conversion file storage server 203 that stores converted files, A user database 204. In FIG. 1, the transmission / reception server 201, the file format conversion server 202, and the conversion file storage server 203 are described as one independent server, but these functions can be combined into one server if the server has sufficient capacity. It is also possible to adopt a configuration realized by

  The transmission / reception server 201 receives and receives the electronic file 70 including the electrophotographic information transmitted using the POST function of the Web browser installed in the electrophotographic information readers 10, 11, and 12 via the network 30. The electronic file 70 composed of electrophotographic information is transferred to the file format conversion server 202 that also serves as a resolution change. In addition, when the transmission / reception server 201 receives a notification of the storage destination address (URL) of the converted electronic file 70, the transmission / reception server 201 creates a notification mail in accordance with the registered mail notification setting, and sends the notification mail to the designated destination. Send.

  The resolution change combined file format conversion server 202 determines the type of the electronic file 70 composed of the electrophotographic information received by a method to be described later, and a format in which the electronic file 70 can be displayed on the Web terminal device based on the determination result ( JPEG or GIF) and other two types with different resolutions (thumbnail image and display image) are created, and the converted electronic file (thumbnail image, display image, original image) is stored as a file Transfer to server 203.

  The conversion file storage server 203 stores the converted electrophotographic information at a predetermined position, and transfers a storage address (URL) indicating the storage position to the transmission / reception server 201. Further, when the conversion file storage server 203 receives a search instruction for the storage address (URL) from the user's portable Web terminal devices 50 to 54, the conversion file storage server 203 searches the storage address (URL) and records it in the storage address (URL). The converted electrophotographic information is read, and the read converted electrophotographic information is transmitted to the portable web terminal devices 50 to 54 via the network 30.

  With reference to the functional block diagram of the file format conversion server shown in FIG. 5, a conversion method when the file format conversion server 202 converts the electronic file 70 composed of electrophotographic information into converted electrophotographic information will be described.

  The file format conversion server 202 includes an input file selection engine 2021, a file type determination engine 2022, a translation engine 2023 including a translation engine 2023, and a database 2025. The input file selection engine 2021, the file type determination engine 2022, and the translation engine 2023 are functional blocks that represent functions for converting the electronic file 70 composed of electrophotographic information into converted electrophotographic information.

  The input file selection engine 2021 selects the electronic file 70 that is the received input file, and temporarily stores the input file in the database 2025.

  The file type determination engine 2022 reads the electronic file 70 composed of electrophotographic information from the database 2025 and detects the file extension of the electronic file 70. That is, the file type determination engine 2022 performs “doc”, “xls”, “zip”, “mime”, “ppt”, “pdf”, “cam”, “included” in the file name of the electronic photo information electronic file 70. An extension indicating the file type such as “j6i”, “tif”, “bmp” is detected.

  “Doc” indicates that an electronic file 70 composed of electrophotographic information is created as a word, and “xls” indicates that the electronic file 70 composed of electrophotographic information is created in Excel (excel, execl is a trademark or registered trademark). “Zip” indicates that the electronic file 70 composed of the electrophotographic information is compressed data, and “mime” indicates a file format in which the electronic file 70 composed of the electrophotographic information is used for e-mail. “Ppt” indicates that the electronic file 70 made up of electrophotographic information was created by PowerPoint (PowerPoint, PowerPoint is a trademark or registered trademark), and “pdf” indicates Acrobat (Acrobat, Acrobat is a trademark). Or "registered trademark", and "cam" “Casio” (Casio is a trademark or registered trademark) digital camera of the QV series is used, “j6i” is a Ricoh (Ricoh is a trademark or registered trademark) digital camera (DC-2 system) This is a format called DSC format used in, and indicates a unique format based on JPEG, and “tif” (an abbreviation of Tagged Image File Format) indicates an image file format developed by Aldas.

  Therefore, when the file type determination engine 2022 detects “cam”, the file type determination engine 2022 recognizes that the electronic file 70 composed of the electrophotographic information is taken by the digital camera QV series, and the electronic file 70 composed of the electrophotographic information. In FIG. 5, the FIB (File Information Block) indicating the position where the image data is described is viewed. Then, the file type determination engine 2022 detects image data based on the FIB, and analyzes the data structure of the detected image data. Then, the file type determination engine 2022 temporarily stores in the database 2025 the analysis result of the file format of the electronic file 70 including the detected electrophotographic information and the data structure of the image data.

  The translation engine 2023 translates the electronic file 70 composed of electrophotographic information. The HTLM translation engine 2023 reads the file format stored in the database 2025 and the analysis result of the data structure of the image data, and based on the read file format and the result of the structure analysis, converts the electronic file 70 composed of the electrophotographic information into a JPEG format. The file is converted into a file format file that can be displayed by a Web browser such as a format or GIF format, and the resolution is changed to create a thumbnail image and a display image.

  The translation engine 2023 stores the converted electrophotographic information after conversion in the conversion file storage server 203, notifies the transmission / reception server of a storage address indicating the storage position as a link destination of the converted electrophotographic information, and a user address. Store in database 204. That is, the storage address of “photo.server / usida / hokaido / date4.html” shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the user address database 204. Then, when the transmission / reception server 201 receives the notification of the storage address, if the mail notification is specified, the transmission / reception server 201 sends the notification to the portable Web terminal device 50 of the specified notification destination (in this embodiment, parents, dad and mother). On the other hand, the storage address “photo.server / usida / hokaido / date4.html” of the converted electrophotographic information is added to the mail content and an electronic mail is created and transmitted.

  The portable Web terminal device 50 receives the notification e-mail and displays the e-mail on the display unit (see FIG. 3). The users of the portable web terminal devices 50 to 54 look at the displayed e-mail and store the storage address of the converted electrophotographic information attached to the e-mail (link address, in this embodiment, “photo.server /usida/hokaido/date4.html ") and search instruction (click URL). As a result, the storage destination address is transmitted to the file format conversion server 202. As a result, the file type determination engine 2022 of the file format conversion server 202 searches the conversion file storage server 203 based on the link destination (URL) received from the portable web terminal devices 50 to 54, and sets the link destination (URL). The stored converted electrophotographic information is read out. Then, the transmission / reception server 201 transmits the read converted electrophotographic information to the portable web terminal devices 50 to 54. Thus, the user or the person who has received the notification can browse the electrophotographic information photographed by the user using the portable web terminal devices 50 to 54 (see FIG. 4).

  The flow from uploading electrophotographic information to a Web server and browsing it on the Web terminal devices 50 to 54 using the electronic photo information browsing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  After the user takes an electronic photograph with the digital cameras 1, 2, 3,..., The user brings the digital camera to a convenience store or the like, and reads the electrophotographic information into the installed electrophotographic information readers 10, 11 and 12 (Step S1). Then, in the electrophotographic information reading apparatus 10, after the setting shown in FIG. 2 is performed, the electronic file 70 composed of the read electrophotographic information is browsed using the POST function of the Web browser. To the server 20 (step S2). The Web server / electrophotographic information translation server 20 is preferably realized by an ISP Open SHark server.

  The electrophotographic information translation server 20 also serving as a Web server receives an electronic file 70 composed of electrophotographic information, converts the electronic file 70 into a file in a format that can be displayed on a Web browser such as a JPEG format by the above-described method, Further, thumbnail images and display images having different resolutions are created, and the converted electrophotographic information is stored in a predetermined storage address. If the mail notification is set, the storage destination address is transmitted by e-mail to the designated destination (step S3).

  Then, the notification e-mail is transmitted via the network 30 or the access point 90 including the Internet or an intranet (step S4). The destination portable Web terminal devices 50 to 54 receive and display the notification e-mail (see FIG. 3) (step S5). Then, a search instruction for the storage address (URL, “photo.server / usida / hokaido / date4.html” in this embodiment) of the converted electrophotographic information attached to the e-mail is transmitted to the electrophotographic information translation server 20. (Step S6). In addition, even if there is no notification of the storage address, if the user of the portable Web terminal device 50,... Can access the address, for example, if it can be accessed from the user's home page, a notification mail is sent. There is no need.

  The electrophotographic information translation server 20 receives the search instruction for the storage address (URL) of the converted electrophotographic information, searches the storage address (URL), and uses the converted electrophotographic information stored in the storage address (URL). The search instruction is transmitted to the portable web terminal devices 50 to 54 (step S7). Then, the retrieved converted electrophotographic information is transmitted to the portable Web terminal device of the information receiver via the network 30 and the access point 90 (step S8). The transmitted converted electrophotographic information is displayed on the portable web terminal devices 50 to 54 (step S9). In this case, the display examples shown in FIG. 4 are displayed on the Web terminal devices 50 to 54.

  The electrophotographic information translation server 20 charges the server usage fee to the user (step S10), and the user pays the server usage fee (step S11). The usage fee is paid at a convenience store where the electrophotographic information reading device 10 or the like is installed, or later based on a request from the operator of the electrophotographic information translation server 20. The usage fee is not limited to cash, but may be settled using a credit card. In this case, the terminal device of the credit company or bank issues a bill for the usage fee to the customer, withdraws the usage fee from the user's account, and issues a usage statement to the user.

  The portable web terminal device 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is a terminal device having an Internet or intranet browser function, and preferably the main body is about B5 size in consideration of portability. Is formed. The display unit is an input display unit (display unit, data input unit) such as an LCD that also serves as a touch panel. In consideration of ease of viewing the homepage screen of the Internet or Intranet, operability and durability on the screen, A color liquid crystal panel integrated with a touch panel of about 7.8 inches is preferably used. In addition, it has a home button for returning to the home screen, an Internet or intranet button for returning to the start screen or the last displayed screen of the browser, and a mail button for moving to the mail inbox. Designed for operability.

  It should be noted that the above invention can be effectively used in a wedding hall. That is, at the wedding hall, a group photo and a picture of the bride and groom are taken. When this is transmitted to the electrophotographic information conversion server 20, attendees and receptions of the reception are used as notification destinations of the storage address of the electrophotographic information. By specifying a friend / acquaintance who could not attend the event, and entering the marriage greeting or address of the new residence as the email content, the marriage greeting text created for the specified partner will be sent via email, In addition, since the URL address where the marriage photo is stored is notified, many people can be contacted in a timely manner, and a system with high industrial utility value can be obtained. Furthermore, it is convenient to send a greeting at the honeymoon destination as well.

  The electronic photo information conversion server 20 is provided with a virus check function and a virus deletion function to check whether or not the electronic file 70 composed of uploaded electronic photo information is infected with a virus. It is also possible to configure to perform file conversion after taking measures against viruses.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of claims for patent and all modifications within the scope.

It is the schematic for demonstrating notionally the electronic photo information browsing system by embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image when transferring electrophotographic information from the electrophotographic information readers 10, 11, and 12 to the electrophotographic information translation server 20. It is the figure which showed the display image of the mail which notifies the storage place URL of the electrophotographic information transmitted from the electronic information translation server. It is the figure which showed the display image displayed when accessing the storage place address 303 notified by the electronic mail from the electronic information translation server. It is a functional block diagram of the file format conversion server shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the creation and transmission method of an electronic file in the electronic file browsing system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10, 11, 12 Terminal device 20 Electrophotographic information translation server also serving as a Web server 30 Network 40 Access point 50-54 Portable Web terminal device 60, 61, 40, 9-Access point 70 Electronic file made up of electrophotographic information 201 Transmission / reception Server 202 File format conversion server 203 Conversion file storage server 204 User database 2021 Input file selection engine 2022 File type determination engine 2023 Translation engine 2025 Database

Claims (2)

File format recognition means for inputting electronic information received via a communication line and recognizing the file format of the electronic information;
Image detection analysis means for detecting and analyzing image information in the file based on the file format recognized by the file format recognition means;
Image conversion means for converting the image information into electrophotographic information in a file format that can be displayed on a web browser by conversion according to the analysis result;
An electrophotographic information storage browsing means for storing the converted electrophotographic information so as to be browseable via a communication line;
An electrophotographic information browsing server comprising storage location notifying means for notifying an electronic mail information to be browsed by adding a storage address of the electrophotographic information stored so as to be browsed to an electronic mail. . Inputs the electronic information received via the communication line, recognizes the file format of the electronic information, detects and analyzes the image information in the file, performs image conversion according to the analysis result, and Web browser The file is converted into electronic photo information in a file format that can be displayed, and the converted electronic photo information is stored so that it can be viewed via a communication line, and the storage address is added to an e-mail and notified to the other party to be viewed. How to browse electronic photo information.