JP2006253890A - Image server, image provision system equipped with it, image input method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for displaying an image appearing at the display section of a terminal connected through a network together with information useful for a user. <P>SOLUTION: The image server (18) is connected with terminals (12, 14, 16) through a network. The image server (18) receives image data, i. e. the digital data of an image, and incidental information related to that image, calculates additional information based on the incidental information, and creates screen creation information for displaying the image and the additional information on the display screen of the terminal (12, 14, 16). The image server (18) transmits the screen creation information in response to a download request from the terminal (12, 14, 16). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image server for providing an image providing service for displaying an image on a display screen of a terminal device connected via a network and selling the image, and an image providing system including the image server.

In recent years, the number of subscribers who exchange information via a network such as the Internet or an intranet has increased rapidly, and various information exchanges and electronic commerce are performed on the network as well as electronic mail exchanges.
In the field of electronic commerce, not only sales of electronic equipment and books, but also the Internet is used for sales of cars and real estate, and a dramatic expansion is expected in the next few years.
In addition to mere intermediary electronic commerce, a business of distributing copyrighted images, music, and the like as electronic information has also been conducted, and many techniques for realizing it have been proposed.

  Among these, if an image file is registered in the storage device on the Web server side, the data retrieval request from the client is analyzed, and it is determined that the information is image information, the image file is referred to A technique for creating display data and displaying image information on a Web browser of a client has been proposed.

However, as described above, services that provide images are handled in the same way even though the values that the images will have are different, and objectively determine the values that the provided images will have. I could not do it.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides a technique capable of displaying an image posted on a display unit of a terminal device connected via a network together with information useful for a user. For the purpose.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention is an image server connected to a terminal device via a network, the image data being digital data of the image, and accompanying information related to the image, Receiving means, calculating means for calculating additional information based on the accompanying information, processing means for generating screen generation information for displaying the image and the additional information on a display screen of the terminal device, An image server is provided that includes transmission means for transmitting the screen generation information in response to a distribution request from the terminal device.
The additional information is preferably information including an image evaluation value or an image rank. The accompanying information includes information on at least one item of resolution, image processing history, camera model, and photographer name, and the calculation means includes each item included in the accompanying information and a weight corresponding to the item. It is preferable to calculate the evaluation value of the image based on a correspondence table that associates constants.

  The image server of the present invention further includes a determination unit that determines an acquisition method of the image based on acquisition information regarding the acquisition method of the image selected from the images displayed on the display screen of the terminal device. Preferably, the receiving means receives the acquisition information, and if the determining means determines that the obtaining method is provision by image data, the transmitting means preferably transmits the image data of the selected image. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image providing system in which an image server, an information provider terminal, and a terminal device are connected via a network, and image data that is digital data of an image and associated data related to the image. An information provider terminal that transmits information to the image server, a transmission unit that transmits a distribution request for image generation information for displaying predetermined information at a predetermined position on the display screen, and a transmission request transmitted from the image server. A terminal device having receiving means for receiving screen generation information, receiving means for receiving the image data and the accompanying information, computing means for calculating additional information based on the accompanying information, the image, and the image Processing means for generating screen generation information for displaying additional information on the display screen of the terminal device, and transmission means for transmitting the screen generation information in response to the distribution request And an image providing system for receiving the image generation information transmitted from the image server in response to the distribution request and displaying the image and the additional information on a display screen. To do.
The additional information is preferably information including an image evaluation value or an image rank. The accompanying information includes information on at least one item of resolution, image processing history, camera model, and photographer name, and the calculation means includes each item included in the accompanying information and a weight corresponding to the item. It is preferable to calculate the evaluation value of the image based on a correspondence table that associates constants.
The terminal device preferably transmits acquisition information regarding an acquisition method for an image selected from the images displayed on the display screen to the image server.

  The image providing system of the present invention further includes an image purchaser terminal that transmits acquisition information regarding an acquisition method for an image selected from the images displayed on the display screen to the image server, Further includes a determination unit that determines an image acquisition method based on the acquisition information. When the determination unit determines that the acquisition method is provided by image data, the image server selects It is preferable to transmit the image data of the image thus obtained to the image purchaser terminal.

  The third aspect of the present invention includes a step of receiving image data which is digital data of an image and accompanying information related to the image, a step of calculating additional information based on the accompanying information, the image and the image There is provided an image providing method including a step of generating screen generation information for displaying additional information on a display screen of a terminal device, and a step of transmitting the screen generation information in response to a distribution request from the terminal device.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is a program executed by an image server connected to a terminal device via a network, and receives image data which is digital data of an image and accompanying information related to the image. A step of calculating additional information based on the accompanying information, a step of generating screen generation information for displaying the image and the additional information on a display screen of the terminal device, and distribution from the terminal device A program for causing a computer to execute the step of transmitting the screen generation information in response to a request is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the image published on the display part of the terminal device connected via the network can be displayed with a useful information for a user.

  An image server and an image providing system including the image server according to the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of an image providing system according to the present invention.
The image providing system 10 is configured by connecting terminal devices 12, 14, 16 and an image server 18 via a network 20.
The network 20 connects the image server 18 and the plurality of terminal devices 12, 14, and 16 to each other, and may be a wired connection such as a dedicated line or a public line, or a wireless connection via a communication satellite or the like. In addition, both wired and wireless connections may be used. Accordingly, the Internet is also included in the network.

In the present embodiment, among the terminal devices 12, 14, and 16 owned by the user, the image provider terminal 12 uses a terminal device used by an image provider who sells an image as content on a Web page distributed through the Internet. , 14, a terminal device used by an image purchaser who views an image posted on a Web page and intends to purchase an image is referred to as an image purchaser terminal 16.
In the following description, the term “terminal device” includes the image provider terminals 12 and 14 and the image purchaser terminal 16, but the entire electronic terminal device (not shown) that accesses the image server 18 via the network and browses Web pages. ) And used in a broad sense.
A Web page refers to hypertext information (hereinafter also simply referred to as information) that can be browsed using the WWW, which is a basic service of the Internet. The Web page is composed of a source file described in the HTML language and content data such as an image file and a text file associated therewith.

  The image server 18 includes a receiving unit that receives an image registration request, image data, and accompanying information transmitted from the image provider terminals 12 and 14, and a storage unit that converts the received image data and accompanying information and stores the converted image data. A calculation unit that reads the accompanying information from the storage unit and calculates additional information based on the accompanying information, and an image represented by the image data transmitted by the image provider terminals 12 and 14 and the additional information of the image A processing unit for generating screen generation information such as a sole file and content data for displaying the Web page on the display unit of the terminal device on the network, and generating a screen on the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device A transmission unit that transmits information.

When the image server 18 receives the image registration request transmitted from the image provider terminals 12 and 14, the image server 18 requests the image provider terminals 12 and 14 for information necessary for posting on the Web page, such as image data and accompanying information. When receiving image data and accompanying information from the image provider terminals 12 and 14, the image server 18 stores them in the storage unit. Further, the image server 18 calculates additional information based on the accompanying information, and creates screen generation information using the image data and the additional information as content data.
Thereafter, the image server 18 returns screen generation information in response to a request from the terminal device, and causes the display unit of the terminal device to display additional information along with the image.

The accompanying information transmitted from the image provider terminals 12 and 14 includes data described in the Exif tag of the image file, presence / absence of image processing, content of image processing (hereinafter also referred to as image processing history), bit depth of the image, This is information including the image size, the shooting location, the desired selling price (not limited to a fee, it may be free), the image provision form, the photographer's name, and the presence or absence of copyright.
Here, the data described in the Exif tag of the image file refers to the attached information recorded in the tag format related to the image file in the format according to the image file format standard (Exif) for digital cameras. Specifically, tag information (image width resolution, image height resolution) regarding image data configuration, tag information regarding image recording position, tag information regarding image data characteristics, and image title as other tag information There are a manufacturer name of the image input device, a model name of the image input device (camera model), a photographing copyright holder, an editing copyright holder, and the like.

Further, the additional information displayed on the display unit of the terminal device includes an image evaluation value and an image rank calculated based on the accompanying information transmitted by the image provider terminals 12 and 14. These image evaluation values and image ranks are calculated based on the accompanying information, and this calculation method will be described in detail later.
The evaluation value of an image is a numerical value representing an index for objectively determining the value that an image posted on a Web page as a part of content will have.
The rank of the image is information indicating the popularity of the image as to how much the posted image has been purchased in the past, and is an objective numerical value representing information that is of interest to the user viewing the image.
The additional information may include accompanying information transmitted from the image provider terminals 12 and 14 together with the image evaluation value and the image rank.

When the image providing system according to the present invention is employed, an image posted on a Web page as a part of content can be displayed together with additional information such as an evaluation value and rank of the image.
Therefore, a person who browses an image posted on a Web page as part of the content can determine whether or not to purchase the image with reference to the additional information. That is, the image providing system according to the present invention provides useful information to a person who wants to purchase an image by displaying the image together with additional information.

Information necessary for posting on a Web page includes received information in addition to image data and accompanying information.
Receiving information refers to information relating to a form when an image posted by an image provider is provided to a purchaser. Specifically, the mode of providing the image can be exemplified by providing the image by sending it to the image purchaser terminal 16 as image data or mailing it to the purchaser as a print image. .
That is, when the image provider does not want to process and use the sold image data, the received information is provided as a print image, so that the image can be provided as a print image.

The received information is posted on the Web page as part of the content together with the image, and the purchaser who wants to purchase the image purchases the image according to this mode.
Therefore, when the image providing system of the present invention is adopted, the image provider can provide images in a desired manner.

  Such an image server 18 includes a CPU having an arithmetic unit that realizes arithmetic operations and logical operations, and a control unit that extracts an instruction from a program stored in the storage device and sends an instruction corresponding to the content to each device; This is realized by including a program for executing various processes and a storage device for storing data. If necessary, the image server 18 controls an input device for inputting a command from a user or digitizing information, a representation that allows a human to recognize internally processed data, or other devices. And an output device that outputs to the outside in a form that can be performed.

The image provider terminals 12 and 14 are connected to the image server 18 via the network 20, and digital images captured by a digital camera, digital images captured by a scanner, or images obtained by performing image processing on these images are displayed. This is a terminal used by a person who sells a web page as part of the content.
In this embodiment, a personal computer is shown as the image provider terminal 12, a form in which image data is acquired from the digital camera 22 is shown, and a form in which image data is acquired from a lab system as the image provider terminal 14 is shown.

The image provider terminals 12 and 14 include at least an acquisition function for acquiring image data that is digital image data, a communication function for transmitting / receiving information including the image data to / from the image server 18, and a Web page. A browser function for displaying on the display screen of the terminal device and allowing the user to browse.
The browser function refers to a function realized by installing a web browser, which is application software for browsing hypertext, using the WWW, which is a basic Internet service, on a terminal device. Accordingly, since the image provider terminals 12 and 14 have a browser function, when the URL is designated by the user, the image provider terminal 12 and 14 accesses the image server 18 via the Internet, communicates according to HTTP, and obtains the source file of the Web page. Interpretation, content data can be acquired, and Web pages can be displayed.

  The images provided by the image provider terminals 12 and 14 are transmitted to the image server 18 together with necessary information such as image data via the network 20 and stored in the storage unit in the image server 18. By being associated with the source file, the web page can be browsed (hereinafter referred to as image registration).

  Such image provider terminals 12 and 14 include an arithmetic unit that realizes arithmetic operations and logical operations, and a control unit that takes out instructions from the program stored in the storage device and sends instructions according to the contents to the respective devices. CPU, storage device for storing programs and data for executing various processes, input device for inputting commands from users and digitizing information, and internally processed data for humans And an output device that outputs to the outside in a form that can control other devices.

Specifically, the image provider terminals 12 and 14 are electronic devices such as personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile phones that can transmit and receive information such as character information and image data to and from the image server 18. It is a terminal device.
When the image provider terminal 12 is a personal computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA), in order to provide image data via the network 20, it is connected to a digital camera, a scanner, etc. Any image data can be used as long as it can be taken in from the recording medium.
In addition, when the image provider terminal is a mobile phone, it is possible to capture image data with a digital camera function, or to receive image data by communication from other electronic devices and capture image data. That's fine.

By the way, a lab store is known as a place where a photographed image taken by a camera is printed in a type desired by a customer.
A lab store is a development center that provides a print service for printing images in a desired type by a customer, keeping a negative film or a reversal film in which photographed images are stored, or digital media in which image data is recorded. The lab store is equipped with a lab system that reads a film image, converts it into image data and prints it, and processes and prints a digital image.

Some of these lab systems are equipped with a communication function for transmitting and receiving information via the network 20 and can provide a print service to customers via the network 20.
Such a laboratory system includes an acquisition function for acquiring image data that is digital image data, and a communication function for transmitting and receiving information including the image data to and from the image server 18. Therefore, the lab system functions as the information provider terminal 14 by further having a browser function for displaying content on the display screen and allowing the user to browse the content.

In a lab store, if a customer who brings in film or digital media wants to place a printed image in the content, the image is registered in the image server 18 using the lab system (information provider terminal 14). can do.
Specifically, the lab system (information provider terminal 14) connects to the image server 18 according to the operator's instruction, and transmits an image registration request. Thereafter, the lab system (information provider terminal 14) transmits image data to the image server 18 together with information necessary for posting on the Web page as part of the content.

  Various images brought in by customers are stored as digital images in the lab store. Therefore, by registering an image in the image server 18 from a lab system (image provider terminal 14) provided in the lab store, it is possible to enrich the contents of the Web page, such as increasing the types of images to be posted on the Web page.

  The image purchaser terminal 16 is a terminal device used by a person who connects to the image server 18 via the network 20 and enjoys the image providing service provided by the image server 18.

The image purchaser terminal 16 has at least a communication function for transmitting / receiving information to / from the image server 18 and a browser function for displaying the web page on the display screen and allowing the user to browse, similar to the image provider terminal. .
The image purchaser terminal 16 displays a Web page distributed from the image server 18 on the display screen, and transmits an image acquisition request for purchasing an image posted as a part of the content on the Web page to the image server 18. The image purchaser can enjoy an image providing service such as purchasing an image.
Upon receiving the image acquisition request transmitted from the image purchaser terminal 16, the image server 18 requests the image purchaser terminal 16 for information necessary for purchasing the image.
The image purchaser terminal 16 transmits information necessary for purchasing an image to the image server 16.

Information necessary for purchasing an image includes an image desired to be purchased, payment information, and acquisition information.
The payment method is information on a payment method when the image purchaser purchases an image.
The acquisition information refers to information related to a form (hereinafter referred to as an acquisition method) when an image posted by an image purchaser is purchased. Specifically, the mode of purchasing an image can be exemplified by receiving the image data as image data at the image purchaser terminal 16 or mailing it as a print image and purchasing the image.
In other words, when the image purchaser does not have the printer 26 that prints image data, the image can be purchased as a print image by providing the acquisition request as a print image.
Therefore, when the image providing system of the present invention is adopted, an image purchaser can purchase an image by a desired method.

Such an image purchaser terminal 16 has a CPU having an arithmetic unit that realizes arithmetic operations and logical operations and a control unit that takes out instructions from a program stored in the storage device and sends instructions according to the contents to each device. And a storage device for storing programs and data for executing various processes, an input device for inputting a command from a user or digitizing information, and human-recognized data processed internally And an output device that outputs to the outside in a form that can control other devices.
Specifically, the image purchaser terminal 16 is an electronic terminal device such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a mobile phone that can transmit and receive information such as character information and image data to and from the image server 18. It is.

With reference to FIG. 2, a method of calculating the rank of the image and the evaluation value of the image as additional information will be described.
The rank of the image is calculated by extracting the rank for the image from the ranking calculated in the ranking point determination process 30. Ranking means ranking for each item included in an image or accompanying information.

The ranking point determination process 30 is a process for calculating an image ranking or the like.
In the ranking point determination process 30, every time an image requested to be purchased is provided as image data (hereinafter referred to as download) in response to an image acquisition request transmitted from the image purchaser terminal, the image is downloaded. The image ranking is calculated by counting and counting the number of times.

Further, by extracting the rank related to the image from the image ranking, the rank of the image is calculated, and is posted on the Web page as a part of the content together with the image as additional information.
Information about the popularity of images, such as how many images have been downloaded in the past, is of great interest to users, and providing useful information to users by posting the image rank along with the images Can do.

In the ranking point determination process 30, in addition to ranking the images, the camera model used for taking the image and the name of the photographer who took the image are also ranked.
That is, each time an image requested to be purchased is downloaded as image data in accordance with purchase information transmitted from the image purchaser terminal, points are added to each item included in the accompanying information of the image, and totalized. To rank. Hereinafter, the total number of points given each time an image is downloaded is referred to as a download point.

Specifically, in the case of a camera model, every time an image is downloaded, the download point of the camera model included in the accompanying information of the image is read from the storage unit, +1 is added to the download point, and the camera The download point of the model is overwritten and stored in the storage unit.
Further, the stored download points of each camera model are read out from the storage unit, and totaled and ranked.
By extracting the rank for the camera model from the ranking calculated in this way, the rank of the camera model is calculated.

  This rank is used in an image evaluation value calculation process to be described later, but may be posted on a Web page as a part of content together with an image as additional information. That is, when a camera model is listed as additional information, the rank of the camera model may be posted at the same time. By doing so, the rank of the camera model can be posted in addition to the rank of the image, and useful information can be provided to the user.

In the case of the photographer name, every time an image is downloaded, the download point of the photographer name included in the accompanying information of the image is read from the storage unit, and +1 is added to the download point. The name download point is overwritten and stored in the storage unit.
Further, the stored download points for each photographer's name are read from the storage unit and aggregated for ranking.
By extracting the rank for the photographer name from the rankings calculated in this way, the rank of the photographer name is calculated.

  Similar to the camera model rank, this rank is used in an image evaluation value calculation process to be described later. However, the rank may be posted on the Web page as part of the content as additional information. That is, when a photographer name is posted as additional information, the rank of the photographer name may be posted at the same time. By doing so, the rank of the photographer name can be posted in addition to the rank of the image, and useful information can be provided to the user.

Further, the image evaluation value calculation process 32 will be described with reference to FIG.
The image evaluation value calculation process 32 is a process for calculating an image evaluation value. The image evaluation value calculation process 32 includes an accompanying information point determination process 34 and an accompanying information point weighting process 36, and is performed using the result obtained by the ranking point determination process 30 and the accompanying information.

  In the incidental information point determination process 34, the processing result in the ranking point determination process 30, the resolution (number of pixels) of the image included in the incidental information, and the image processing history are referred to, and the image ranking, resolution, image processing history, camera Points for each item of the model and the photographer are calculated.

Specifically, the incidental information point determination process 34 refers to the processing result in the ranking point determination process 30 and calculates points based on the image according to the ranking in which the image has been downloaded. The points by this ranking can be calculated by using a point calculation formula for the ranking of images. Such a point calculation formula can be expressed by an increasing function.
Also, a rank is extracted from the ranking of the camera model, points are calculated according to the rank, a rank is extracted from the ranking of the photographer name, and points according to the photographer name are calculated according to the rank.

The image resolution (number of pixels) and the image processing history are read out from the accompanying information about the image, the points are calculated according to the resolution of the image, and the points based on the image processing history are calculated according to the image processing history included in the accompanying information. calculate.
Here, the point based on the resolution of the image can be calculated by using a point calculation formula for the resolution of the image. Such a point calculation formula can be expressed by an increasing function.

Also, for points based on image processing history, refer to the image processing and point correspondence table to which points are assigned to various image processing, find points for each image processing included in the image processing history, and total those points To calculate.
That is, the image processing history includes image processing applied to the transmitted image data, and points for the image processing are read from a correspondence table in which points are assigned to each image processing in advance, and are included in the image processing history. The points based on the image processing history are calculated by adding up the points for all image processing.

In this way, in the incidental information point determination process 34, it is possible to calculate a point based on image ranking, a point based on resolution, a point based on image processing history, a point based on a camera model, and a point based on a photographer.
Each point calculated in the accompanying information point determination process 34 is temporarily stored in the storage unit, and read out in the accompanying information point weighting process described later.

In the accompanying information point weighting process 36, the processing result in the accompanying information point determination process 34 is referred to, the points of each item are weighted, and the weighted points in each item are calculated.
The point after weighting in each item is obtained by multiplying the point of each item by a weighting constant corresponding to the item.

Specifically, in the case of a point based on image ranking, a weighting constant for the image ranking is read, and the constant is multiplied by the point based on the image ranking to calculate a weighted point based on the ranking.
In the case of points based on resolution, a weighting constant for the resolution is read, and the point based on the resolution is multiplied by the constant to calculate the weighted point based on the resolution.
In the case of points based on the image processing history, a weighting constant for the image processing history is read, and the constant is multiplied by the point based on the image processing history to calculate a weighted point based on the image processing history.
In the case of points based on the camera model, a weighting constant for the camera model is read out, and the point based on the camera model is calculated by multiplying the constant by the camera model.
Further, in the case of points by the photographer, a weighting constant for the photographer is read out, and the point after weighting by the photographer is calculated by multiplying the constant by the photographer.

The image evaluation value calculation processing 32 calculates the evaluation value of the image by adding the weighted points in each item, which is the processing result in the accompanying information point weighting processing 36.
The evaluation value of the image calculated in this way indicates a comprehensive evaluation of the image as an index, and is information that is helpful when the user purchases the image.
Therefore, it is possible to provide useful information to the user by posting the evaluation value of the image together with the image.

With reference to FIG. 3, the flow of information and various processes in the image providing system 10 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of information flow between the image server 18 and the plurality of terminal devices 12, 14, 16.
In FIG. 3, as described above, among the terminal devices 12, 14, and 16 owned by the user, the terminal device used by the image provider who sells an image as a content on a Web page distributed through the Internet is imaged. The terminal devices used by the image purchaser who browses the images posted on the Web page and purchases the images are referred to as the provider terminals 12 and 14 and are referred to as the image purchaser terminal 16.

The flow and processing of information when an image is registered in the image server 18 from the image provider terminal 12 owned by the image provider will be described.
When the image provider captures a digital image taken by a photographing device such as a camera or a mobile phone into the image provider terminal 12, and the image provider registers the image of the digital image in the image server 18, the image is displayed as an image. In order to register in the server 18, an operation (image registration operation) of the image provider terminal 12 is performed.
In this case, the image provider terminal 12 transmits information for requesting image registration (image registration request) to the image server 18 according to the operation of the image provider. Information necessary for posting on the Web page is transmitted to the image server 18.

  Here, registration of an image means that, as described above, the image is stored in the storage unit of the image server 18 and the image data is associated with the source file of the Web page, so that the image can be viewed on the Web page. .

Information necessary for posting on a Web page is information including image data, accompanying information, and receipt information.
Incidental information, whether data, image processing according to Exif tag of an image file, the contents of the images processed, the image of the bit depth, image size, shooting location, desired selling price, image presentation form, photographer name, and copyright Information including the presence or absence of rights.
Receiving information refers to information relating to a form when an image posted by an image provider is provided to a purchaser. Specifically, the form of providing the image is to provide the image by transmitting it as image data to the image purchaser terminal 16 or mailing it as a print image to the purchaser.
The mode when the image specified by the image provider is provided is posted on the Web page as part of the content together with the image, and the purchaser who wants to purchase the image purchases the image according to this mode.

The transmitted image data, accompanying information, and received information are stored in the storage unit of the image server 18.
Based on the accompanying information, the evaluation value of the image and the rank of the image are calculated and stored in the storage unit by the ranking point determination process and the image evaluation value calculation process.
The image, the evaluation value of the image, and the rank of the image are browsed on the browser of the terminal device in response to an image browsing request from the terminal device.

  In the above description, the operation of the image provider terminal 12 by the image provider to register the image in the image server 18 has been described as the image registration operation. However, since the image provider includes an operator of a lab store, it will be described later. An operation for registering an image performed by the operator of the laboratory is also referred to as an image registration operation.

The flow and processing of information when an image is registered in the image server 18 from the image provider terminal 12 provided in the lab store will be described.
In the lab store, when the customer desires that the image brought in by the customer is posted on the Web page as part of the content, the operator operates the image providing terminal 14 to register the image in the image server 18. .
In this case, the image provider terminal 14 is necessary for sending an image registration request to the image server 18 in accordance with the operation of the image provider and posting it on the Web page in response to a reply from the image server 18. Such information is transmitted to the image server 18.

The transmitted image data, accompanying information, and received information are stored in the storage unit of the image server 18.
Based on the accompanying information, the evaluation value of the image and the rank of the image are calculated and stored in the storage unit by the ranking point determination process and the image evaluation value calculation process.
The image, the evaluation value of the image, and the rank of the image can be browsed on the browser of the terminal device in response to an image browsing request from the terminal device.

  If the customer does not wish to register the digital image in the image server 18, the lab system prints the digital image print image, and the image is simply delivered to the customer as a print image. No registration operation is performed.

The flow and processing of information when purchasing an image posted on the image server 18 from the image purchaser terminal 16 will be described.
The image purchaser 16 activates a Web browser according to the operation of the image purchaser, and transmits an image browsing request for browsing a Web page to the image server 18.
When the image server 18 receives an image browsing request from the image purchaser terminal 16 via the network, the image server 18 reads out the corresponding image data and additional information together with the source file of the Web page from the storage unit and transmits it to the image purchaser terminal 16. To do.
The image purchaser terminal 16 interprets the source file transmitted from the image server 18 using the browser function, acquires image data and additional information, and displays the image and additional information on the display screen of the image purchaser terminal 16. To do. In this way, the image purchaser can browse the images posted on the Web page.

When an image purchaser intends to purchase an image from images posted on a Web page, an operation (image acquisition operation) of the image purchaser terminal 16 is performed in order to purchase the image.
In this case, the image purchaser terminal 16 transmits information for requesting to purchase an image (image acquisition information) to the image server 18 in accordance with the operation of the image purchaser.

  When the image server 18 receives information necessary for purchasing the image transmitted from the image purchaser terminal 16, the image server 18 refers to the storage unit based on the content of the information and searches for an image that the purchaser desires to purchase. The corresponding image data is extracted. Note that information necessary for purchasing an image includes an image desired to be purchased, payment information, and acquisition information.

The image server 18 determines whether the acquisition method is provision by image data based on the acquisition information.
If the image server 18 determines that the image acquisition method is provision by image data, the image server 18 transfers the image data to the image purchaser terminal 16 for download. The purchaser who acquired the image data can process the image data or print it using the printer 26.
On the other hand, if the image server 18 determines that the image acquisition method is not provision by image data, the image server 18 prints the image data and mails the print image to the purchaser.

  As described above, the image server and the image providing service including the image server according to the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various types of the server can be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Improvements and changes may be made.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of an image providing system according to the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation method of the evaluation value of an image, and the rank of an image. It is a figure which shows the outline of the flow of information between an image server and a some terminal device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image provision system 12, 14, 16 Terminal device 18 Image server 20 Network

Claims (11)

An image server connected to a terminal device via a network,
Receiving means for receiving image data which is digital data of the image and accompanying information related to the image;
Computing means for calculating additional information based on the accompanying information;
Processing means for generating screen generation information for displaying the image and the additional information on a display screen of the terminal device;
An image server comprising: transmission means for transmitting the screen generation information in response to a distribution request from the terminal device.   The image server according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is information including an image evaluation value or an image rank. The accompanying information includes information on at least one item of resolution, image processing history, camera model, photographer name,
The image server according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit calculates an evaluation value of the image based on a correspondence table that associates each item included in the accompanying information with a weighting constant corresponding to the item. Based on acquisition information related to an acquisition method for an image selected from the images displayed on the display screen of the terminal device, further comprising a determination unit that determines an acquisition method of the image;
The receiving unit receives the acquisition information, and the transmission unit transmits image data of the selected image when the determination unit determines that the acquisition method is provision by image data. 4. The image server according to any one of items 3. An image providing system in which an image server, an information provider terminal, and a terminal device are connected via a network,
An information provider terminal that transmits image data that is digital data of the image and accompanying information related to the image to the image server;
A terminal device having a transmission means for transmitting a distribution request for image generation information for displaying predetermined information at a predetermined position on a display screen to the image server, and a reception means for receiving screen generation information transmitted from the image server When,
Receiving means for receiving the image data and the accompanying information; computing means for calculating additional information based on the accompanying information; and screen generation information for displaying the image and the additional information on a display screen of the terminal device. An image server having processing means for generating, and transmission means for transmitting the screen generation information in response to the distribution request,
The image providing system in which the terminal device receives the image generation information transmitted from an image server in response to the distribution request, and displays the image and the additional information on a display screen.   The image providing system according to claim 5, wherein the additional information is information including an image evaluation value or an image rank. The accompanying information includes information on at least one item of resolution, image processing history, camera model, photographer name,
The image providing system according to claim 5, wherein the calculation unit calculates an evaluation value of the image based on a correspondence table associating each item included in the accompanying information with a weighting constant corresponding to the item.   The image providing system according to claim 5, wherein the terminal device transmits acquisition information regarding an acquisition method for an image selected from the images displayed on a display screen to an image server. An image purchaser terminal that transmits acquisition information regarding an acquisition method for an image selected from the images displayed on the display screen to an image server;
The image server further includes a determination unit that determines an image acquisition method based on the acquisition information. When the determination unit determines that the acquisition method is provided by image data, the image server The image providing system according to claim 8, wherein the image data of the selected image is transmitted to the image purchaser terminal. Receiving image data which is digital data of the image and accompanying information related to the image;
Calculating additional information based on the accompanying information;
Generating screen generation information for displaying the image and the additional information on a display screen of a terminal device;
Transmitting the screen generation information in response to a distribution request from the terminal device. A program executed on an image server connected to a terminal device via a network,
Receiving image data which is digital data of the image and accompanying information related to the image;
Calculating additional information based on the accompanying information;
Generating screen generation information for displaying the image and the additional information on a display screen of the terminal device;
A program for causing a computer to execute the step of transmitting the screen generation information in response to a distribution request from the terminal device.

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