JP2006126911A - Data transmitting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transmitting system for enabling a receiver to select whether to actually download a data file from a server by viewing a thumbnail attached to a mail in transmitting/receiving a data file, and for making it unnecessary for a transmitter to erase the data file from the server by automatically erasing the data file from the server when all the receivers have accessed the server. <P>SOLUTION: This data file storage server is provided with an identification information generating means for generating different addresses for each data file receiving device, a first recording means for recording whether or not each data file receiving device has accessed the data file storage server, a judging means for judging whether or not all the data receiving devices have accessed the data file storage server and a first erasing means for erasing the data file when it is judged that all the data file receiving devices have accessed the data file storage server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a data transmission system that transmits data files such as still images, moving images, and audio, a control method thereof, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  In recent years, devices that record digital image data of moving images and still images, such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, and mobile phones with built-in cameras, have been spreading. Some of these devices can record audio (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is a user request to transmit a data file such as a moving image, a still image, or a moving image recorded in this way to one or a plurality of recipients. Depending on the data recording device, the device has a built-in communication function, and the recorded data file can be transmitted. For other devices, the recorded data file is temporarily copied to a PC or the like, and the data file is sent to another PC or the like using the communication function of the PC.

  Now, several means can be considered for the data file transmission method. As a first means, a data file is attached to an e-mail and sent. The second means is that the sender once uploads the data file to a server such as FTP or HTTP, sends the address on the network to the receiver, the receiver uses the address to access the server, and the data file It is a method of downloading. A third means is a method of directly transmitting a data file to a recipient using a protocol such as FTP.

When a data file is transmitted by a camera-equipped mobile phone or when the number of recipients is small, the first means is often used. If the number of recipients is large, the second means may be used.
JP 2004-120160 A

  However, each of the above transmission methods has problems. First, the data file such as a moving image is generally large in size, and depending on the mail server, transmission of mail may be rejected because the transmission data is too large. In addition, processing a large amount of data on the mail server leads to an increase in the burden on the mail server, which may adversely affect the network.

  In the case of the second means, since the sender must inform each receiver of the address of the data file uploaded to the server, it takes a lot of trouble if the number of receivers is large. Also, because the server capacity is not infinite, the sender should ask the receiver if all the recipients have downloaded the data file, confirm that everyone has downloaded, and then delete the data file on the server There is. These efforts are considerably troublesome for the sender.

  In the case of the third means, there is a limitation that both the transmitting device of the sender and the receiving device of the receiver must be connected to the network while transmitting the data file. In addition, both the sender side and the receiver side must have software for directly transmitting and receiving files.

  There may also be a case where the recipient wants to be able to select whether or not to receive the data file. In that case, a method of sending a thumbnail to the recipient before sending the data file can be considered so as to be a criterion for selection. Thumbnails reduce the amount of data in a data file and reduce the load on the network during transmission. For still images, the image is reduced or reduced, and for movies, the frame rate is reduced. Each thumbnail can be created by reducing the sampling frequency. The recipient first receives a thumbnail having a small data size, and can select whether to receive the data file body based on the thumbnail.

  However, in the case of the first and third means, it is necessary for the sender to create a thumbnail, which is troublesome. Also, after sending thumbnails, the receiver must ask the receiver whether or not to request a data file, which is very troublesome.

  In the case of the second means, there already exists a system in which a server automatically creates a thumbnail when a sender uploads a data file to the server. When data is transmitted using such a server, the effort of the sender is reduced, but there is a problem that the receiver has to access the server to check the thumbnail.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points. When a data file is transmitted / received, whether or not the recipient actually downloads the data file from the server after viewing the thumbnail attached to the mail. Data transmission system that can be selected, and when all the recipients access the server, the data file is automatically deleted from the server, so that the sender does not have to delete the data file from the server. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problem, in the present invention, in a data transmission system including a data file transmission device, a data file storage server, and one or more data file reception devices, the data file storage server includes the data Identification information generating means for generating different addresses for the file receiving apparatus, first recording means for recording whether or not each data file receiving apparatus has accessed the data file storage server, and the first recording means The determination means for determining whether all the data file receiving devices have accessed the data file storage server, and the determination means that all the data file receiving devices have accessed the data file storage server. When judged, delete the data file. To be characterized as having a first deleting means, said data file receiving device is characterized in that it has a download notification device for notifying whether to download the data file to the data file storage server.

  According to the present invention, when a data file is transmitted / received, the recipient can receive an e-mail with a thumbnail attached, and can select whether to actually receive the data file after viewing the thumbnail.

  Also, since the thumbnail size is smaller than the actual data file, the mail with the thumbnail attached can be made smaller than the mail with the data file attached. Therefore, the load on the mail server can be greatly reduced compared to the method of sending the data file attached to the mail.

  The data file itself is once uploaded to the server, but when all the recipients access the server, the data file is deleted from the server, so that there is an advantage that the recording area of the server can be used effectively. Further, since the server is used, there is no restriction that the sender / recipient's PC must be connected to the network when transmitting the data file.

  Furthermore, in the configuration according to the second embodiment, when there is a recipient who does not access the server by the second deletion unit that automatically deletes the data file from the server when a certain time has elapsed after uploading the data file to the server. In addition, it is possible to reduce the trouble that the sender has to delete the data file from the server.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the sender captures a data file (either a still image or a moving image) photographed with a digital camera into a PC via USB, and transmits the data file to the receiver using the PC. .

  101 is a sender's PC and 102 is a digital camera. Assume that 101 and 102 are connected by a USB cable. Reference numeral 103 denotes a mail server accessed by the sender's PC.

  Reference numerals 104, 105, and 106 denote PCs of respective recipients. In this embodiment, it is assumed that there are three recipients, but in practice there may be any number of recipients. Reference numerals 107, 108, and 109 denote mail servers to which the recipient's PCs 104, 105, and 106 are connected, respectively. In this embodiment, each recipient accesses a different mail server, but in reality, a plurality of recipients may access a single mail server.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a data file storage server. The sender accesses the data file storage server 110 using the PC 101 and uploads the data file. The data file storage server has a built-in large-capacity storage device, which is divided and assigned to a plurality of users. Therefore, one user of the data file storage server 110 has a data storage area (for example, 10 megabytes) having a finite capacity in advance.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sender's PC 101. A communication apparatus 201 is connected to a network and transmits / receives data to / from another computer. In practice, a modem, a network card, a TA, and the like correspond to this. Reference numeral 202 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Reference numeral 203 denotes a recording device for recording data files, which actually corresponds to a hard disk or the like. Reference numeral 204 denotes a USB input / output device. The PC 101 is connected to the digital camera 102 via the USB input / output device 204, and receives data files such as still images and moving images captured by the digital camera. Reference numeral 205 denotes an input device that accepts input from the user, such as a keyboard and a mouse. Reference numeral 206 denotes a memory. Reference numeral 207 denotes a display device for displaying a GUI (graphical user interface), an image, and the like to the user, and a monitor or the like corresponds to this. An audio output device 208 outputs audio data, such as a speaker. Reference numeral 209 denotes a bus used when 201 to 208 exchange data.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the recipient's PC 104. A communication apparatus 301 is connected to a network and transmits / receives data to / from another computer. In practice, a modem, a network card, a TA, and the like correspond to this. Reference numeral 302 denotes a CPU (central processing unit). Reference numeral 303 denotes a recording device for recording a data file, which actually corresponds to a hard disk or the like. Reference numeral 304 denotes an input device that accepts input from a user, such as a keyboard and a mouse. Reference numeral 305 denotes a memory. Reference numeral 306 denotes a display device for displaying a GUI (graphical user interface), an image, and the like to the user, and a monitor or the like corresponds to this. Reference numeral 307 denotes an audio output device that outputs audio data, such as a speaker. Reference numeral 308 denotes a bus used when 301 to 307 exchange data. Since the PCs 105 and 106 have the same configuration as the PC 104, description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the data file storage server 110. Reference numeral 401 denotes a communication device that is connected to a network and transmits / receives data to / from another computer. Reference numeral 402 denotes a CPU (central processing unit). Reference numeral 403 denotes a recording device for recording a data file, which actually corresponds to a hard disk or the like. Reference numeral 404 denotes an input device that accepts input from the user, such as a keyboard and a mouse. Reference numeral 405 denotes a memory. Reference numeral 406 denotes a display device for displaying a GUI (graphical user interface), an image, and the like to the user, and a monitor or the like corresponds to this. Reference numeral 407 denotes an audio output device that outputs audio data, such as a speaker. Reference numeral 408 denotes a bus used when 401 to 407 exchange data.

  Here, the operation of the present system will be briefly described. The sender connects the digital camera 102 to the PC 101 with a USB cable, and records a data file such as a still image or a moving image captured by the digital camera 102 in the recording device 103 of the PC 101. Then, the PC 101 uploads the data file to the data file storage server 110. At this time, the mail address of the data file recipient is also transmitted to the data file storage server 110 at the same time. This data file recipient may be one person or plural, but in this embodiment, a case where there are three recipients as described above will be described.

  The data file storage server 110 stores the uploaded data file in a storage area allocated for the sender. Also, a thumbnail of the data file is created by the thumbnail generation means. The thumbnail is a picture in which the original picture is roughly understood while reducing the data size of the original data file. For example, thumbnails of still images are created by reducing the image size or the number of colors. In addition, a thumbnail of a moving image is created by reducing the frame rate. The thumbnail generating means is actually configured by the CPU 402 of the data file storage server 110, the memory 405, and the like.

  Further, the data file storage server 110 creates a table 501 as shown in FIG. 5 for each uploaded data file. In the table 501, 502 is the mail address of each recipient. Reference numeral 503 denotes an address of a data file to be notified to each recipient. At this time, a different address is generated for each receiver by the identification information generating means, so that the data file storage server 110 can determine which receiver has accessed to download the data file. Of course, the uploaded data file can be accessed using any generated address. In 503, two addresses are assigned to each recipient. One of the addresses is an address that the recipient accesses when downloading the data file, and the other recipient does not download the data file. Sometimes, it is used as an address when accessing to notify the data file storage server 110 of that. This is the download notification means. Reference numeral 504 denotes a flag indicating whether or not the recipient has accessed the data file storage server 110, and this is the first recording means. The table 501 is created by the CPU 402 or the memory 405 of the data file storage server 110, and is created on the memory 405 or the external storage 403.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of addresses generated by the identification information generating means of the data file storage server 110 of this system. In this example, the portion 1001 indicates the address where the data file is actually placed, and the portion 1002 is used to distinguish each recipient. Reference numeral 1003 denotes a part used as download notification means for notifying the data file storage server 110 whether or not the receiver downloads the data file from the data file storage server 110. If such an address is generated, the data file storage server 110 can identify which data file is designated by which recipient by the address, and determine whether the recipient wants to download the data file. Is possible.

  Then, the data file storage server 110 creates an email in which the address of the data file generated for the recipient is described for each recipient, and transmits the email with the thumbnail created earlier. The transmitted mail reaches the recipient's PCs 104, 105, and 106 via the mail servers 107, 108, and 109.

  The recipient plays the thumbnail of the received mail and selects whether to download the data file. In accordance with the selection, the recipient selects which of the addresses described in the mail is to be accessed and accesses the data file storage server 110.

  When there is an access from the recipient, the data file storage server 110 determines which recipient is accessing from the address. If the recipient has selected to download the data file, the data file is transmitted to the recipient. Thereafter, the flag 504 corresponding to the recipient in the table 501 created earlier is set.

  Then, the data file storage server 110 determines whether or not the flags 504 have been set for all recipients by the determination unit. The determining means is actually constituted by the CPU 402 and the memory 405 of the data file storage server 110. If the determination unit determines that all recipients have accessed the data file storage server 110, the data file storage server 110 deletes the data file by the first deletion unit. This first deleting means is composed of the CPU and memory of the data file storage server 110. Then, a mail for notifying that all the receivers have downloaded the data file is sent to the data file sender. This mail reaches the sender's PC 101 via the mail server 103.

  Next, the operation of the sender's PC 101 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. First, when a sender instructs to upload a data file to the data file storage server 110 by the input device 205, the data file and the mail address of each recipient are transmitted to the data file storage server 110 using the communication device 201 in S601. . In step S602, the data file storage server 110 determines whether the data file upload has been notified. If the upload fails due to a lack of capacity of the data file storage server 110, the process proceeds to S603, an error is displayed to the sender using the display device 207, and the operation is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S602 that the data file has been uploaded to the data file storage server 110, the display device 207 is used to indicate to the sender that the upload has been successful, and the operation is terminated.

  Next, the operation of the data file storage server 110 when uploading a data file will be described using the flowchart of FIG. When the data file and the mail address of each recipient are received from the sender in S701, it is checked in S702 whether the data file can be recorded in the storage area allocated to the sender. If the data file cannot be recorded because it is too large, the process advances to step S703 to notify the sender's PC 101 of an error, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S702 that the data file can be recorded, the data file is recorded in the area assigned to the sender in S704. In step S705, a thumbnail creation unit is used to create a thumbnail of the recorded data file. In step S706, an identification information generating unit is used to create a different address for each recipient for accessing the recorded data file. In step S707, a table as indicated by reference numeral 501 in FIG. 5 is created. In this table, the mail address 502 of each recipient and the address 503 to the data file created for each recipient are recorded. In addition, a flag 504 indicating whether or not the receiver has downloaded the data file, which is the first recording means, is set to off (a state in which the data file has not yet been downloaded).

  In step S708, for one of the recipients, an e-mail describing the address to the data file created for the recipient is created. In this email, the usage of this system may be described, or a message received from the sender in advance may be described. In addition, the thumbnail created in S705 is attached to this mail. In step S709, the mail created in step S708 is transmitted to the recipient. In step S710, it is determined whether or not mail has been transmitted to all recipients. If there is a recipient who has not yet sent mail, the process returns to S708. If the mail has been sent to all recipients, the process is terminated.

  Next, the operation of the recipient's PC will be described using the PC 104 as an example with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in S801, when the PC 104 receives the mail sent from the data file storage server 110 in S709, the process proceeds to S802, and when the user instructs to display the mail using the input device 304, the display device 306 is used. Display email text and attached thumbnails. In step S803, it is determined whether the user has instructed downloading of the data file. If the download of the data file is not instructed, the process proceeds to S804, where the data file storage server 110 is accessed to an address indicating that the data file is not downloaded, and the data file storage server 110 is not downloaded. To terminate the process.

  On the other hand, if the download is instructed, the process proceeds to S805. Here, the PC 104 accesses the data file storage server 110 using the communication device 301 according to the address for downloading the data file described in the mail. In step S806, it is determined whether the accessed address is valid. If it is not a valid address, an error is displayed on the display device 306 in S807, and the process is terminated. If the address is valid, the process proceeds to S808, where the data file is downloaded and recorded in the recording device 303, and the operation ends.

  Next, the operation when the recipient accesses the data file storage server 110 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. First, in S901, if there is an access to a data file from the recipient's PC (103, 104, 105, etc.), it is checked in S902 whether it is a valid address (address issued to the recipient). If it is not a valid address, the process proceeds to S903, an error is notified to the recipient's PC, and the process ends. If it is a valid address, the process proceeds to S904, and it is determined whether or not the receiver downloads the data file from the accessed address (this becomes the download notification means). If not downloaded, the process proceeds to S908, and the flag 504 corresponding to the recipient in the table 501 is turned on.

  On the other hand, in the case of downloading, the process proceeds to S905, and the data file is transmitted to the recipient's PC. In step S906, it is determined whether the transmission is successful. If unsuccessful, the process proceeds to S907, an error is transmitted to the recipient's PC, and the operation is terminated.

  If the transmission of the data file is successful, the process proceeds to S908, and the flag 504 corresponding to the recipient in the table 501 is turned on. In step S909, the determination unit determines whether the flags 504 of all recipients are turned on. If there is a flag that has not been turned on, the operation is terminated. On the other hand, if the flags of all recipients are turned on, it is considered that all recipients have downloaded the data file, and the process proceeds to S910 to delete the data file and the table 501. In step S911, an e-mail is transmitted to inform the sender that all the recipients have downloaded the data file.

  In the case of this embodiment, if the data file downloaded by the recipient is accidentally deleted, the data file storage server can be re-used any number of times before the data file is deleted from the data file storage server 110. A data file can be downloaded from 110. In this case, the data file storage server 110 only needs to transmit the data file to the recipient, and does not need to operate the flag 504 of the table 501 or the like. In addition, even if the recipient changes his mind after selecting not to download the data file, the data file can be downloaded from the data file storage server 110 at that time. Even in this case, the data file storage server 110 only needs to transmit the data file to the recipient, and it is not necessary to operate the flag 504 of the table 501 or the like.

  In this embodiment, when the sender uploads the data file to the data file storage server 110, the data file storage server 110 is configured to send an email to each recipient. When the data file is uploaded, the data file storage server 110 returns an email including an address corresponding to each recipient to the sender, and the sender responds to each recipient. A configuration is also possible in which an e-mail describing the address is sent.

  In this embodiment, when all the recipients have downloaded the data file, the data file is automatically deleted from the data file storage server 110. However, other configurations are also possible. It is done. For example, in this embodiment, when all the recipients have accessed the data file storage server 110, the data file storage server 110 notifies the sender to that effect by e-mail, and the data file itself is stored in the data file. A configuration in which the information is recorded in the server 110 is conceivable. In this case, after receiving the mail, the sender issues a command to manually delete the data file from the data file storage server 110. For this reason, there is an advantage that data to be recorded on the data file storage server 110 is not erased without permission.

  With the above configuration, when sending and receiving data files, the recipient can receive an email with a thumbnail attached and look at the thumbnail to determine whether to actually receive the data file. it can.

  Also, since the thumbnail size is smaller than the actual data file, the mail with the thumbnail attached can be made smaller than the mail with the data file attached. Therefore, the load on the mail server can be reduced as compared with the method of sending the data file attached to the mail.

  In addition, the existing method of uploading data files to the server has a limited storage area on the server, so the sender must delete the data file from the server after the receiver has downloaded the data file. However, since this operation is automatically performed in the present invention, there is an advantage that the trouble of the sender is reduced.

  In addition, since a server is used in the present invention, there is no restriction that both the sender's and receiver's PCs must be connected to the network when transmitting data files.

  In the first embodiment, when all the recipients have accessed the data file storage server 110, the data file storage server 110 deletes the data file. Therefore, when there is a recipient who does not access the data file storage server 110, the data file remains on the data file storage server 110.

  In order to solve this problem, a method in which the sender deletes the data file on the data file storage server 110 at an appropriate timing can be considered, but this causes the sender to perform extra work, which is troublesome. It is.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the time when the data file is uploaded to the data file storage server 110 is recorded, and after a certain time has elapsed, even if there is a receiver who has not downloaded the data file, the second A configuration is conceivable in which the data file and the table 501 are automatically deleted by the deleting means and the sender is notified by email. The second deleting means includes a CPU of the data file storage server 110, a memory, a recording area on the recording device for recording the time when the data file was uploaded, and a clock for acquiring the current time. The time until the data file is automatically deleted may be determined by the data file storage server 110 itself, or may be specified by the sender when uploading the data file. good. Of course, also in this embodiment, if all the recipients access the data file storage server 110 before a predetermined time elapses, the data file storage server 110 deletes the data file by the first deletion means, and the server To effectively use the storage area.

Schematic diagram of a data transmission system in the first embodiment Block diagram of the sender's PC 101 in the first embodiment Block diagram of recipient PC 104 in the first embodiment Block diagram of the data file storage server 110 in the first embodiment The figure which shows the example of the table which the data file storage server 110 produces in Example 1. FIG. The flowchart showing the operation of the PC 101 in the first embodiment. The flowchart showing operation | movement of the data file storage server 110 at the time of the upload of a data file in Example 1. FIG. The flowchart showing the operation of the PC 104 in the first embodiment. The flowchart showing operation | movement of the data file storage server 110 at the time of data file download in Example 1. Example of address of data file generated by identification information generating means in embodiment 1

Explanation of symbols

101 Sender's PC
102 digital camera 103 mail server 104 accessed by sender's PC 101 receiver's PC
105 Recipient's PC
106 Recipient's PC
107 Mail server 108 accessed by recipient's PC 104 Mail server 109 accessed by recipient's PC 105 Mail server 110 accessed by recipient's PC 106 Data file storage server

Claims (4)

In a data transmission system comprising a data file transmission device, a data file storage server, and one or more data file reception devices,
The data file storage server includes identification information generating means for generating different addresses for the data file receiving devices;
First recording means for recording whether each of the data file receiving devices has accessed the data file storage server;
Determination means for determining whether all the data file receiving devices have accessed the data file storage server by the first recording means;
A data transmission system comprising first deletion means for deleting a data file when it is determined by the determination means that all the data file receiving devices have accessed the data file storage server.   2. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the data file storage server includes thumbnail creation means for creating a thumbnail of the data file.   3. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the data file receiving device includes a download notification device that notifies the data file storage server whether to download a data file.   The data transmission system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data file storage server includes a second deletion unit that deletes the data file when a certain amount of time has elapsed after the data file is stored.

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