JP2005276232A - Image processing service providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an advanced image processing service at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: According to an instruction received via the Internet by an image processing server 11 of an image processing service providing system 1, image processing is performed on specific image data, and an amount to be charged by a service of the image processing is determined. If image processing is performed to composite advertising image data stored on an advertising image database 12, advertising rates are discounted from the determined amount to be charged, and an advertiser side is charged therewith. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for providing image processing as a service.

  In recent years, with the development of computer technology, various image processing programs exist. Such image processing programs can be used only for writing image data, so that various image effects can be obtained by so-called photo retouching processing, and further, various image processing can be used for art. There are even those that can generate highly reliable image data.

  However, a program for performing such advanced image processing is expensive, and a color printing apparatus for outputting these processing results is generally very expensive.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a system that can provide an advanced image processing service at low cost.

  The present invention is an image processing service providing system, including an advertisement image database for storing advertisement images, and an image processing apparatus for performing image processing, wherein the image processing apparatus is an advertisement image to be combined with a user. Means for selecting data from an advertisement image database; means for acquiring the selected advertisement image data from the advertisement image database and combining it with image data to be subjected to image processing; and outputting the combined image data The advertisement image database includes means for managing information related to a selection state from a user of the terminal device for each advertisement image data, and the information related to the selection state is provided to a predetermined process for the advertiser. It is characterized by that. Thereby, evaluation information for the advertisement can be fed back to the advertiser. Here, the information regarding the selection state is, for example, private information such as the user's age and address that can be used by the advertiser for the marketing strategy.

  According to one aspect of the image processing service providing system according to the present invention, the advertisement image database manages an upper limit value of the number of synthesis and a selected number for each advertisement image data, and the selected number of times However, the advertisement image data exceeding the upper limit value is set to be unselectable. As a result, even when the advertising fee is calculated based on the number of advertisement images combined, the upper limit can be set in advance on the advertiser side.

  According to one aspect of the image processing service providing system according to the present invention, the output means provides image data after image processing to a predetermined destination based on an instruction from the user, and the image processing apparatus includes: The means for selecting the advertisement image data is the advertisement image data to be combined from the advertisement image data selected in advance according to the conditions related to the provision status among the advertisement image data stored in the advertisement image database. It is made to select. Here, as information related to provision conditions, there is information relating to provision time, provision location, and provision amount.

  According to one aspect of the image processing service providing system according to the present invention, the image processing apparatus receives an instruction from the user regarding the layout of the advertisement image data to be combined, and the advertisement image data It is characterized by comprising means for performing synthesis.

  According to the present invention, an advertisement image database for storing advertisement images, an image processing apparatus that receives an instruction from a terminal device via a telecommunication network, and performs image processing based on the instruction, and an image processing apparatus Providing an image processing service, wherein the image processing device acquires predetermined advertisement image data from the advertisement image database and synthesizes the image data to be subjected to image processing. Since it is a system, it is possible to provide an advanced image processing service at a low cost.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing service providing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention basically includes an image processing server 11, an advertisement image database 12, and a gateway 13. local area network). The image processing service providing system 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to the Internet as a telecommunications network via a gateway 13, and is connected between the advertiser-side terminal 2, the terminal device 3, and the output center 4 on the Internet. Communicate with each other.

  The image processing server 11 processes the installed program, receives an image processing instruction via the Internet, and performs image processing on the image data specified by the user according to the instruction. In addition, the image processing server 11 processes a charging process program and performs a charging process. That is, the image processing server 11 corresponds to the image processing apparatus and the billing apparatus of the present invention. Further, the image processing server 11 receives a post-processing instruction for the image data after the image processing from the user, and post-processes the image data after the image processing according to the instruction. Details of specific processing of the image processing server 11 will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the advertisement image database 12 stores information (A) for specifying an advertiser, information (B) about selection criteria, and advertisement image data or reference information (C) for the information in association with each other. ing. Here, the information on the selection criteria is information in the field of the advertisement image data (“food field”, “interior field”, etc.) and type (simple advertisement or advertisement with a discount privilege (that is, coupon). For example) and information related to the advertisement target person (age, address, current position, sex, hobby, occupation, etc. of the target person) and information on the expiration date of the advertisement image data. Specifically, the valid period information may include not only information related to the end of the valid period but also information such as “Christmas time” and “July”. Further, the advertisement image database 12 may periodically check the stored advertisement image data, detect advertisement image data whose expiration date has passed, and delete the advertisement image data. In this case, it is also preferable to notify the advertiser who has provided the advertisement image data of the deletion by e-mail or the like.

  The gateway 13 receives data addressed to the image processing server 11 from the Internet and transmits it to the image processing server 11. In addition, data transmitted from the image processing server 11 to the advertiser side terminal 2, the terminal device 3, and the output center 4 is transmitted via the Internet. Further, the gateway 13 receives an access request to the advertisement image database 12 from the advertiser side terminal 2 and mediates access to the advertisement image database 12.

  The advertiser side terminal 2 is a general personal computer, receives data from the image processing server 11 via the Internet, and accesses the advertisement image database 12. Further, the advertiser side terminal 2 receives data related to the usage status of the advertisement image data from the image processing server 11 and provides the advertiser with information related to the usage status.

  The terminal device 3 is a general personal computer and is connected to the Internet. Further, the terminal device 3 transmits an instruction regarding image processing input from the user to the image processing server 11 via the Internet.

  The output center 4 is a facility in which a server that provides various services such as a filing service, a printing service, a delivery service, and an e-mail delivery service is installed. Various services are provided based on data received from the image processing server 11 via the Internet. I will provide a.

[Image processing]
Here, specific processing of the image processing server 11 will be described. The image processing server 11 records in advance an identifier (user name) of the user of the terminal device 3, private information such as the user's age and address, and a password. Authenticate the user by requesting a password. Then, an image processing instruction is received together with information specifying image data to be processed from the authenticated user, image processing is performed on the specified image data, and a charge amount for the image processing service is calculated. To do. Upon receiving this image processing instruction, the image processing server 11 provides an executable image processing menu to the terminal device 3 in the form of a list as shown in FIG. The user of the terminal device 3 selects an image processing instruction to be performed from this menu and transmits it to the image processing server 11. What is characteristic in the present embodiment is that an instruction (P) for synthesizing an advertisement image and a button (Q) for requesting detailed information on the billing amount are arranged in this image processing menu. Also included are a “reset” menu for canceling image processing from the image data that was previously confirmed, and a “confirmation” menu for confirming image processing and completing the processing so far (R). ).

  That is, the image processing server 11 according to the present embodiment holds the original image data and the contents of the processing for the image data, and can perform so-called undo processing. However, since the image processing server 11 is used for public use via the Internet, the storage capacity may be insufficient if all processing contents are held. Therefore, in order to provide convenience to the user and to solve the shortage of storage capacity, image processing up to a predetermined stage is determined by a voluntary instruction from the user, and the contents of the image processing up to that point are discarded. Thus, the image data at that time is held again as the original image data to save the storage capacity.

[Composition of advertisement image data]
When the user instructs to synthesize advertisement image data, the image processing server 11 provides the terminal device 3 with an interface for the image processing server 11 to lay out the composition position of the advertisement image data (FIG. 4). Here, the user instructs how to lay out the advertisement image data for the image data to be processed. This instruction is performed by selecting from layout examples prepared in advance. What is characteristic in the present embodiment is that the advertisement image data on the back side of the printing paper can also be laid out. Further, upon receiving an instruction to select advertisement image data to be synthesized at each advertisement composition position included in the selected layout (such as clicking on the position), the advertisement image database 12 is referred to, and the shape information of the composition position The advertisement image data to be presented is preliminarily selected based on the user's private information and the information on the selection criteria, and a list of the advertisement image data to be presented is provided to the terminal device 3. Here, preliminary selection of advertisement image data to be provided to the user according to the user's private information is performed, but when the user instructs to send the processed image data by e-mail or the like Alternatively, preliminary selection may be performed based on information related to the person to whom the e-mail is sent. In this case, the user is required to input the private information of the person who is the destination of the e-mail, the delivery date and time to the designated destination, and the like.

  Regardless of the presence or absence of such preliminary selection, the image processing server 11 classifies the advertisement image data on the basis of the field information and the type information, and arranges them so that they can be browsed for each field. It is also preferable to provide on the 3 side. It is also preferable to perform processing such as searching only for items including discount benefits based on the type information. Since such processing can be realized by a method widely known in providing services on the Web, detailed description is omitted.

[Billing process]
Further, when an instruction to synthesize advertisement image data is selected, the image processing server 11 calculates a burden amount for the advertiser of the advertisement image data in the billing process, and calculates the burden amount from the billing amount for the user. Deduct. When the detailed information of the billing amount is requested by pressing the button (Q), the image processing server 11 breaks down the billing amount into a fee for the image processing service, a fee for data communication, and a burden on the advertiser. They are presented separately as shown in FIG.

  In this way, the image processing server 11 performs image processing on the specified image data in accordance with the instruction received from the terminal device 3, calculates a charge amount for the image data, and synthesizes and lays out the advertisement image data for charging. Calculate and deduct the discount amount based on the advertising fee from the amount. The billing amount calculated in this way may be settled by communication with a bank or a credit sales company (not shown) based on account information or credit card information registered in advance by the user. Further, the advertiser-paid amount corresponding to the discount amount may be similarly paid to the provider (advertiser) of the selected advertisement image data.

  In this case, even if the advertisement image data does not match the shape of the layout position, the advertisement image data can be presented and selected if the shape can be adapted by enlargement / reduction image processing. It may be. In this case, information on the limit of the enlargement / reduction rate is acquired from the advertiser in advance, and is stored in the advertisement image database 12 in association with each advertisement image data, and enlargement / reduction exceeding the limit is performed. If necessary, it is preferable that the advertisement image data is removed and provided to the terminal device 3 side at the preliminary selection stage. In addition, when the processed image data is different from the printing time and the actual use time, such as New Year's card, for example, the advertisement image data effective at the actual use time is reserved according to the user's designation. It is preferable to select them automatically.

[post process]
The image processing server 11 receives an instruction (post processing) for printing or distributing image data after image processing to the predetermined destination from the terminal device 3 via the Internet, and outputs image data of the image processing according to the instruction. The data is transmitted to the center 4 to be printed or distributed. In this processing, the image processing server 11 provides the terminal device 3 with a list of output centers 4 having predetermined conditions in response to a request from the terminal device 3. In response to the designation of the output center 4 from this list, the processed image data is transmitted to the output center 4. In this case, it is preferable that the image processing server 11 generates a preview image and provides it to the terminal device 3 before transmitting it to the output center 4 according to an instruction from the terminal device 3.

  That is, the image processing server 11 stores a database (not shown) that associates and stores the name and location of each output center 4 and information related to processing (for example, “color printing”, “mail”, etc.) that can be executed by the output center 4. In response to a request from the terminal device 3, for example, the output center 4 located in the vicinity of a predetermined area is searched. Thereby, for example, an output center 4 near the user's address and capable of color printing is searched, and the user designates the output center 4 and causes the image processing server 11 to print the processed image data. become able to.

  Although only the case where printing is performed as post-processing has been described here, it is also conceivable that image data after image processing is attached to an e-mail and transmitted to a predetermined destination. In this case, the output center 4 having an electronic mail server is selected. Furthermore, for example, if a delivery service or a post office can be selected as the output center 4, it can also be used as a service for delivering and delivering a printed product to a predetermined destination address.

  Furthermore, the image processing server 11 not only transmits the image data after the image processing to the output center 4 but also performs post processing such as uploading to a predetermined Web server or uploading to a file server. Is also suitable.

  When printing is performed at a predetermined output center 4, the image processing server 11 transmits a password separately received from the user together with the image data, and until the user inputs this password on the output center 4 side, It is also preferable not to print image data. As a result, even if the output center 4 is an extremely busy place such as a convenience store, it is possible to prevent the image data print result from being illegally acquired.

[Processing for advertisers]
What is characteristic in the present embodiment is that the image processing server 11 further accumulates, as statistical information, the status of the synthesis instruction for the advertisement image data received from the terminal device 3 side. That is, when the user of the terminal device 3 designates the synthesis of specific advertisement image data, the usage information of the advertisement image data, information on the user's age, sex, occupation, etc., information on the use date and time, and the like are statistical information. Are stored in the advertisement image database 12 in association with the advertisement image data. Then, in accordance with an instruction input from the advertiser side terminal 2, the statistical information stored in association with the advertisement image data provided by the advertiser is read from the advertisement image database 12 and provided.

  Thereby, the advertiser can know how much and how much the advertisement provided by the advertiser has been used by what kind of person, and can easily plan a marketing strategy.

[Operation]
Next, the operation of the image processing service providing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, a case where the user of the terminal device 3 processes image data owned by the user of the terminal device 3 and prints it as a postcard will be described. A user of the terminal device 3 accesses the image processing server 11 using Web browser software. The image processing server 11 prompts the user to input a user name and password. Here, the user performs authentication by inputting a user name and password set in advance.

  Then, the image processing server 11 presents a Web page describing a menu for each process as shown in FIG. 6 and prompts the user to select. Here, the user specifies the location where the image data to be processed is stored, and further specifies post-processing regarding how to handle the image data after image processing from the menu. Specifically, in FIG. 6, “image processing only” is performed without post processing, “image processing and printing” is performed, “image processing and filing” is performed, and “image processing and mail” are performed. ”Is designated, and image data after image processing is sent by e-mail. Here, in order to specify the image data to be processed, a network address may be used in addition to the URL, or the image data may be uploaded to the image processing server 11 for processing.

  The image processing server 11 which has received the user information, the processing target image data, and the post-processing designation provides the terminal device 3 with an image processing service menu as shown in FIG. Here, the user instructs image processing. At this time, the image processing server 11 may be configured to preview the image data being processed on another screen of the Web browser in response to a user request.

  When performing a plurality of image processing, the user sometimes clicks the “confirm” button to delete the processing history up to that point, thereby reducing the load on the image processing server 11.

  The user who wants to save the billing amount associated with the image processing and post-processing selects the “Advertising Image Composition” menu here to display a layout setting screen as shown in FIG. Here, the user browses the layout candidates, selects a layout that is considered appropriate, clicks an advertisement composition position in the layout, and transmits an instruction to select advertisement image data to be combined at that position to the image processing server 11. To do. Then, the image processing server 11 preliminarily selects the advertisement image data by referring to the information related to the selection criteria of the advertisement image database 12 using the user's private information and the shape of the advertisement composition position set in advance as the search key, A list of the selected advertisement image data is provided to the terminal device 3. The user selects advertisement image data from this list. Then, the image processing server 11 acquires the advertisement image data from the advertisement image database 12, and synthesizes the image data subjected to image processing according to the layout.

  On the other hand, the charge amount is calculated by the image processing server 11 according to the content of the image processing, the amount of data communication, and the like. This billing amount includes a discount fee to be borne by each advertiser by combining the advertisement image data. The user can know the current billing amount on the screen shown in FIG. 3, and more detailed information can be obtained by clicking the “detail” button (Q).

  Further, when the user completes the image processing, the image processing server 11 starts the post processing instructed on the menu screen, and first selects an output center 4 for the post processing, so that preliminary processing is performed based on the user's private information. A list of the selected output centers 4 is provided to the user. The user selects and indicates the output center 4 from this list or by searching based on the location and the functions that can be provided. The image processing server 11 transmits the image data after the image processing to the selected output center 4 and causes the output center 4 to perform predetermined processing. Here, since the user is supposed to perform postcard printing, in order to perform so-called front writing, the user selects an output center 4 having a printing function in the vicinity of his / her address provided in the list. Become.

  If the billing amount for the advertiser is increased or decreased depending on the number of prints designated by the user, information on the limit amount or limit number is acquired from the advertiser side terminal 2 in advance and associated with the corresponding advertisement image data. Accumulated in the advertisement image database 12, when designated by the user, the advertisement fee is calculated by referring to the number of prints designated by the user as post processing, and accumulated in the past advertisement fee. If this exceeds the limit, a message indicating that the advertisement image data cannot be used is displayed on the user side. In addition, when a limit number is set, if the accumulated value such as the number of prints exceeds the limit number, a message that the advertisement image data cannot be used is displayed on the user side so as not to be combined. To do.

  In the advertisement image database 12, it is also preferable that the advertisement image data is provided for printing and display, respectively, used for display when provided to the terminal device 3, and used for printing when transmitted to the output center 4. Thereby, data suitable for display and printing is used.

1 is a configuration block diagram of an image processing service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the content of the advertisement image database. It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the screen which the image processing server 11 provides. It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the screen which the image processing server 11 provides. It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the screen which the image processing server 11 provides. It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the screen which the image processing server 11 provides.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing service provision system, 2 advertiser side terminal, 3 terminal device, 4 output center, 11 image processing server, 12 advertisement image database, 13 gateway.

Claims (8)

An advertisement image database for storing advertisement images, and an image processing device for performing image processing,
The image processing device is a means for allowing a user to select advertisement image data to be synthesized from an advertisement image database, and an image that has been subjected to image processing by acquiring the selected advertisement image data from the advertisement image database. Means for combining with data, and means for outputting the combined image data,
The advertisement image database includes means for managing information on a selection state from a user of the terminal device for each advertisement image data,
An image processing service providing system, wherein information relating to the selection state is provided to a predetermined process for an advertiser. The system of claim 1, wherein
The image processing service providing system, wherein the information related to the selection state is private information of the user. The system according to claim 1 or 2,
The advertisement image database manages the upper limit of the number of times of composition for each advertisement image data and the selected number of times,
The image processing service providing system, wherein the advertisement image data for which the number of times of selection exceeds the upper limit value is set to be unselectable. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The means for outputting provides image data after image processing to a predetermined destination based on an instruction from the user,
The means for selecting the advertisement image data of the image processing device is a target to be synthesized from the advertisement image data selected in advance according to the conditions related to the provision status among the advertisement image data stored in the advertisement image database. An image processing service providing system that causes advertisement image data to be selected to be selected. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The image processing service providing system comprising: means for receiving an instruction relating to a layout of advertisement image data to be combined from the user, and combining the advertisement image data according to the instruction. A step in which the image processing apparatus performs image processing based on an instruction from the user;
A step in which the image processing device receives information related to selection by the user of the advertisement image data from the advertisement image database;
Obtaining the selected advertisement image data from the advertisement image database and synthesizing the selected advertisement image data with the image data subjected to image processing;
Outputting the synthesized image data;
The advertisement image database managing information related to a selection state of advertisement image data by the user;
A method for providing an image processing service.   Image data obtained by performing image processing based on an instruction received from a terminal device via a telecommunication network, combining predetermined advertisement image data with image data of the processing result, and combining the advertisement image data The image processing apparatus that calculates the charge amount for image processing is used to acquire and manage the advertisement image data to be subjected to the composition processing from the advertiser, and this advertisement image data is sent to the instructor of the image processing. A method for providing an image processing service, characterized in that the information is presented so as to be selectable, and information regarding the selection status from the instructor for each advertisement image data is provided to the advertiser side.   Image data obtained by performing image processing based on an instruction received from a terminal device via a telecommunication network, combining predetermined advertisement image data with image data of the processing result, and combining the advertisement image data The image processing apparatus that calculates the charge amount for image processing is used to acquire and manage the advertisement image data to be subjected to the composition processing from the advertiser, and this advertisement image data is sent to the instructor of the image processing. A program for causing a computer to present information on the selection status from the instructor for each advertisement image data to the advertiser side so as to be selectable.

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