JP2008004074A - Center server and image network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a center server capable of setting a storage capacity and a storage period for an image appropriate for a user without placing a burden on the user with importance placed on operational efficiency of an image network system, which is used for network print service etc. for receiving an order for printing etc. by using a communication network such as the Internet, and to provide the image network system including the center server. <P>SOLUTION: Regarding settings for a system album allocated to each member, a plurality of courses each composed of a combination of a maximum storage capacity and a storage period for the album are displayed on an order entry channel 14, and a member is allowed to select an arbitrary course therefrom. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a center server for ordering photo prints using a communication network such as the Internet, and an image network system including the center server.

In recent years, digital cameras have rapidly become popular. Communication networks such as the Internet are also widely used.
Since an image taken with a digital camera is handled as digital image data, it can be transmitted using a communication network, and various services have been proposed / developed using this.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a network photo in which an image (image data) possessed by a user (user) of a service is stored in a server connected using a communication network such as the Internet and the image is disclosed to a third party. In the service, the amount of image data is counted for each customer, and the service contents such as the expiration date and storage amount are changed according to the usage status of the user, so that there is no distinction between unordered images and ordered images. When the maximum storage amount exceeds the maximum storage amount, an error message is transmitted to prohibit further image transfer / storage, thereby disclosing a system that reduces the burden on the service operator.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when an image storage period is set at the time of uploading an image and the storage period is exceeded, the storage period is periodically exceeded using a preset system timer in the server or the like. An information processing system is disclosed in which an image is deleted at a predetermined cycle by searching for an image and deleting the corresponding image. In this system, the user can set a condition for an image storage period by setting a starting point of a predetermined storage period, and can efficiently delete an image.

JP 2005-49933 A JP 2003-330763 A

In such a conventional network print service, when an image is stored in a server, the storage period and storage capacity of the image in the server are uniquely set by the system, and the user has no choice. In Patent Document 2, the user can set the starting point of the storage period, but cannot set the length of the storage period, the storage capacity, and the like.
In addition, there is a service that makes it possible to extend the storage period and increase the storage capacity by paying an additional fee, but in this case, a financial burden is generated on the user.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and is a center server used for a net print service or the like that accepts an order or the like using a communication network such as the Internet. An image network system center server capable of setting a storage capacity and a storage period appropriate for the user, and an image network system including the center server.

  To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an image network center server that receives image data from an order receiving channel via a communication network and stores image data supplied from the order receiving channel. The image storage function block stores image data stored using a storage count that counts storing one predetermined amount of image data in the image storage function block for a predetermined period as one count. A center server is provided that stores the image data based on a combination of a capacity and a storage period.

  In such a center server, the image archiving function block is specified by the customer with the same archiving count number, conditions with large storage capacity and short storage period, conditions with small storage capacity and long storage period, and It is preferable that the image data has one or more conditions for storing it longer than the normal storage period as image data storage conditions.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the image storage function block can change the setting of the storage capacity and the storage period within the range of the storage count number held by the customer.

  The center server of the present invention is given according to an order receiving function block for receiving and managing an order of image data supplied from the order receiving channel for each customer, and according to a customer order made by the order receiving function block. A point management function block for managing points for each customer, and the image storage function block converts points held by the customer managed by the point management function block into the storage count. It is preferable that the image data can be stored in exchange for the converted storage count.

  Furthermore, it has an extended storage image selection function block for setting image data designated by a customer as extended storage image data, and the image storage function block is the extended storage image data set by the extended storage image selection function block The corresponding customer points are converted into the storage count and exchanged with the converted storage count, and the extended storage period calculated from the number of storage counts and the storage capacity of the extended storage image data is normally set. The storage period added to the storage period is preferably set as the storage period of the extended storage image data.

  Alternatively, the image storage function block may store a predetermined number of the storage counts when the total number of points accumulated by the customer managed by the point management function block during a predetermined period reaches a predetermined value. It is preferable that the storage condition is reset and the storage condition is reset, and further, some of the storage counts of the predetermined number of storage counts assigned by the image storage function block are stored in the extended storage image selection function. A count setting function block for setting an extended storage count, which is a storage count for storage in the extension period of the extended storage image data set by the block, and the image storage function block is related to the extended storage image data, The storage period of the image data after the predetermined storage period is exceeded, the count setting function block. It is preferably set using the extended storage count set by the click.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the image storage function block can convert the storage count held by the customer into points of the customer.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an order receiving channel for receiving an order from a customer and transmitting the order information and the customer information, and any one of the above-described center servers. Provide a network system.

According to the center server of the present invention having the above-described configuration and the image network system including the center server, when storing the image in the center server, the center server can be selected from a plurality of options including combinations of storage capacity and storage period. By selecting the setting related to storage in, the image can be stored in accordance with the user's intention.
Preferably, the option is set so that the product of the storage capacity and the storage period is substantially constant, so that regardless of the setting selected by the user, the load on the center server is constant and the image network system is stable. Can be supplied.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the user can store the storage capacity and the storage in a range in which the product of the storage capacity and the storage period does not exceed the upper limit set in the center server according to the capacity of the image stored by the user. By making the period changeable, it is possible to store the image according to the user's intention according to the storage status of the image.
In addition, when the user's order record is regarded as the user's reliability, when storing new images on the center server, more setting options for storage are displayed according to the user's reliability. Accordingly, a thicker service can be provided to a highly reliable user, and intentional monopolization of server capacity by a customer with low reliability can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, the center server of the present invention and an image network system including the center server will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 conceptually shows the system configuration of an image network system of the present invention using the center server of the present invention.
The image network system 10 in the illustrated example (hereinafter referred to as the network system 10) receives an order such as a (photo) print from a customer using a communication network such as the Internet, and creates a print according to the order. In addition to developing a so-called net print service (on-line print service), a so-called electronic album service that stores and manages images (image data) transferred from customers and enables browsing is also developed.

Such a net system 10 of the present invention basically includes the center server of the present invention, a net center 12 that supervises / manages the net system 10, an order receiving channel 14 for a customer to order prints, and the like. A lab system 16 possessed by a printing company (hereinafter referred to as a lab) and a retailer system 18 serving as a mediator between the customer and the lab are configured.
In the illustrated network system 10, the network center 12, the order receiving channel 14, the laboratory system 16, and the retailer system 18 are connected to each other via a communication network such as the Internet. In the network system 10, the network center 12, the order receiving channel 14, and the retailer system 18 are connected to each other by a public communication network such as the Internet, but only the laboratory system 16 has the order receiving channel 14 and the retailer. Instead of being connected to the system 18, it may be connected to the network center 12 through a dedicated communication line.

In the illustrated example, only one order receiving channel 14, lab system 16, and retailer system 18 are shown in order to simplify the drawing and clearly show the configuration of the network system 10. The invention is not limited to this.
Accordingly, a plurality of laboratory systems 16 may exist in the network system 10, and usually a plurality of retailer systems 18 exist. In the present invention, the retailer system 18 is not essential.

The order receiving channel 14 is a user terminal for a customer to place an order or transfer an image to the network center 12 (uploading an image).
In the network system 10 in the illustrated example, customers include members registered in the network system 10 and non-members who are not registered. In the illustrated network system 10, members basically belong to any retailer system 18.

The order receiving channel 14 basically uses a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) that can be connected to the communication network of a customer, an order terminal installed at an order reception store, and connected to the communication network. Configured.
As an example of such an order receiving channel 14, the network center 12 (published on the communication network managed by the network center 12 using a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer ^TM ) is used. Ordering functions installed in PC operating systems such as “OPW (Online Printing Wizard)”, which is an order channel for accessing (connecting to) web sites), Microsoft's Windows XP ^TM , and Fuji Photo Film Ordering functions of general-purpose applications such as “FinePix viewer” and ordering functions set on web sites published on communication networks such as “MSN (Europe)”, a web site managed and operated by Microsoft Order channel and network system For example, an order receiving channel using order software which is a dedicated application (software) for ordering a product in the system 10 is exemplified.
Of course, one order channel 14 may correspond to one of these, or may correspond to two or more.

  The retailer system 18 is a system that serves as an intermediary between a customer and a lab, and includes, for example, a PC, a workstation (WS), a server device, and the like.

In the European photo print industry, there is an intermediary called a retailer that mediates between customers and laboratories. The retailer contracts with the lab, asks a retail store such as a cosmetics store or a drugstore to establish an order reception desk, accepts orders from customers, delivers the received orders to the lab, and if necessary The finished print is received from the lab and sent to a store such as an instructed reception desk or sent to the customer's home. The lab is typically affiliated with a number of retailers who receive customer orders from the retailers and produce prints.
In other words, in this order / preparation / receipt distribution system, the lab is a child who is not conscious of the customer, and the customer orders only the retailer and prints the finished print. receive.

The retailer system 18 plays the role of this retailer in the network system 10, and is, for example, possessed by the retailer, which is the aforementioned broker.
As described above, the retailer system 18 is connected to the network center 12, the order receiving channel 14, and the laboratory system 16 through a communication network such as the Internet. The retailer system 18 also publishes a web screen for the order receiving channel 14 to access the network center 12 on the communication network (on the web).
The order receiving channel 14 may access the net center 12 via a web screen disclosed by the retailer, or may directly access the net center 12 without going through this. In addition, for each type of the order channel 14 and each retailer, it may be set whether or not the retailer's web screen is used.
By using the retailer system 18, even in the network system 10, the customer can place an order for prints and the like in the sense of placing an order with the retailer without being aware of the network center 12 and the laboratory (lab system 16). it can.
In the network system 10, the retailer system 18 and the lab system 16 described later may be configured as a single system.

The network center 12 supervises the network system 10 and, as an example, is configured by combining a PC, WS, network device, server device, storage device, and the like.
The network center 12 stores / manages images and various information such as images sent from customers, order information such as member information, prints, and information for managing and operating the network system 10. It has a file server (DB / FS) 12a.

As conceptually shown in FIG. 1, the net center 12 includes a front end 12b (hereinafter referred to as a front end) and a back end 12c (hereinafter referred to as a back end).
The front end is a site for receiving customer orders and can be accessed through the order receiving channel 14. That is, the front end provides a function such as a user interface for a customer to order a print, upload an image, and the like.

  On the other hand, the back end is a site for managing the network system 10 and the network center 12. Therefore, only the system that manages / operates the network system 10, such as the management system 24 that manages the network center 12, the retailer system 18, and the laboratory system 16, can access the back end, and cannot be accessed by the order receiving channel 14.

In the net center 12, the front end includes a member registration / authentication block 30a, an album function block 30b, a share box function block 30c, and an order web block 30d.
The customer can access the front end of the network center 12 using the order receiving channel 14 and use the following functions.

The member registration / authentication block 30a (hereinafter referred to as member registration / authentication) provides functions such as member registration, change of registered member information, and member authentication (sign-in). In the illustrated network center 12, sign-in is performed using a member ID (identification information, for example, an identification number) and a password set for each member. Member information is managed by back-end member management described later.
The retailer system 18 may also have member registration / member management / sign-in functions according to this, and when the order receiving channel 14 accesses the network center 12 via the retailer system 18, When signing in with the tailor system 18, the member does not sign in at the front end.

The album function block 30b (hereinafter referred to as the album function) has a function of uploading images through the order receiving channel 14, a function of storing images as albums (electronic albums) for each member (image storage function block), and members using the order receiving channel 14. A function of displaying an album image (a function of browsing an album by a member), a function of rotating an image of the displayed album, a slide show, and the like are provided. That is, the album function provides a function of an electronic album by a communication network.
Albums include system albums and my albums. The system album stores images uploaded by members. The system album is an album that is automatically created by the network center 12 for each member at the initial stage (at the time of membership registration or the like). All images uploaded by the members are stored in the system album.
On the other hand, “My Album” is an album arbitrarily created by a member and arbitrarily stores uploaded images.
In each album, an image display period and a storage period are set by album management, which will be described later. An image that has passed the display period is stopped, and an image that has passed the storage period is deleted from the album. Note that the display period and the storage period may be the same or different.

  In the present invention, the storage capacity and storage period of the album are converted into “storage count”, and the storage capacity and storage period of the image are set using this. The storage count is a storage count for storing a predetermined amount of data for a predetermined period, that is, the capacity and the period are calculated by replacing the product of the data amount and the period with the count. By using such a storage count, it is possible to change the storage capacity and storage period under predetermined conditions according to customer preference, and to provide a more detailed service.

Here, in the network system 10 in the illustrated example, for example, when a system album is created or when there is a request from a member thereafter, the maximum storage capacity that becomes the upper limit of the storage capacity of the system album and images are stored in the system. The storage period for the album can be selected / set. At this time, by setting each option to have the same storage count number, members can select the system album setting of their choice according to their usage without worrying about the disadvantages of selecting each option. can do. In addition, after the initial selection of the system album is selected, the member can appropriately change the storage capacity and storage period within a range not exceeding the assigned storage count according to the storage status of the image. it can.
Also, the points given according to the member's order performance are converted into storage counts, exchanged with the converted storage counts, and used to set the system album storage period and maximum storage capacity. In addition, it is possible to provide services such as extending the storage period and maximum storage capacity setting of system albums by assigning storage counts according to the creditworthiness of members and using this storage count. it can. As a service using such a storage count, for example, a service such as a storage period of a system album or an expansion of a maximum storage capacity, and an extended storage period longer than usual for a specific image is performed.
These points will be described in detail later.

  The image uploaded by the order receiving channel 14 is related to an image code for specifying the image, a member ID, a retailer ID, a file format type, a storage file size, a storage file name, an upload date, a latest order date, and premium storage described later. It is managed by image information including information such as a premium storage flag for determining whether the image is a premium storage image and a premium storage start date. The network center 12 has a table (image information table) as shown in FIG. 2 for managing such image information. This will be described in detail later.

In the network system 10 of the illustrated example, the member can perform various album operations and album image editing by the album function.
As an example of the album operation, a new album can be created, the name of the album can be set / changed, the album list can be displayed, and the album can be deleted. System albums cannot be deleted by members.
On the other hand, as the album image editing, as an example, a slide show display of all the images of the album, thumbnail display of images, enlarged display of images, rotation display of images, addition of images, change of image display order, change of image names, Copy and move images to different albums (multiple selection and batch selection are possible), delete images (multiple deletion and batch deletion are possible), order products such as prints using images stored in albums, etc. .

  The share box function block 30c (hereinafter referred to as “share box function”) provides a function for a member to release an image of his / her album to a third party. Using this share box function, a member can select any number of images from the album and create a share box (or multiple images) for sharing the images with third parties. By providing a URL for browsing an image in the box to an acquaintance or the like, it can be disclosed to a third party.

  The image stored in the share box can be displayed (viewed) only for a predetermined period, and the image storage in the share box is also a predetermined period.

  In addition to the album and the share box, the front end of the network center 12 also has a photo storage that provides a function of storing images uploaded by non-members for ordering prints for a predetermined period. The image stored in the photo storage can be displayed during the ordering operation, but cannot be displayed after the order is completed.

The order web block 30d (hereinafter referred to as order web) provides an order receiving function (order acceptance function block) for goods such as prints, goods such as mugs and T-shirts that record images, and CDs that record images.
In the order channel 14 described above, this order web is accessed to select a product (print, goods, CD, etc.), to select an image for ordering the product, and to input a print size, number of copies, etc. Instruct. In addition, input / instructions such as a recipient (recipient) of goods, a delivery destination, a payment method, and the like are also made by this order web as necessary.

In the network system 10 in the illustrated example, an order by a member using an order web (selection of an image for ordering a product) includes an album method and a menu method.
The album method is a method for selecting an image to order from the images stored in the album. On the other hand, the menu method is a method of selecting an image to order from images uploaded through the order receiving channel 14. Regardless of whether there is an order or not, images uploaded by members are stored in the system album. That is, the order web also provides an image upload function.
Orders by non-members using the order web are only in the same manner as the menu method, and uploaded images are stored in the photo storage as described above.
Further, in the network system 10, it is possible to select an image from the images stored in the share box and order a product through the order receiving channel 14.

  On the other hand, in the network center 12, the back end is a site for managing the network system 10 and the network center 12, as described above, and is a member management block 40a, album management block 40b, basic information management block 40c, It has a material management block 40d, a site management block 40e, an order management block 40f, a workflow block 40g, a point management block 40h, a lab order receiving server 42, and a settlement block 44.

The member management block 40a (hereinafter referred to as member management) has member information management functions such as management of member information (including registration of new members, change / addition / update of various information, etc.), and search of member information. provide.
Examples of member information include member ID, password, e-mail address, ID (selected store ID) of a merchandise receiving store 26 (hereinafter referred to as a receiving store), name, address, telephone number, delivery address, etc. Is done.
The search for member information provides the retailer system 18 with a function of searching for members that meet certain arbitrary conditions.

The album management block 40b (hereinafter referred to as album management) includes a management function (storage condition management function) such as the maximum storage capacity and storage period of the above-described album, share box, photo storage, etc., and premium image setting described later. Functions (extended storage image selection function block) and count setting function (count setting function block) are provided.
In accordance with a request from the retailer system 18 or the lab system 16, the album management is performed for each retailer system 18 or lab system 16, with the maximum storage capacity of the system album per member, the storage period of the image, and the image storage period. Set the display period. The storage period and maximum storage capacity are set when a system album is created (member registration) or when a request is received from a member. Further, for a specific image selected by the member, a storage period different from other images is set as a premium storage image. This point will be described in detail later.

The maximum storage capacity and storage period of the system album, and the options of the storage capacity and storage period can be set by the retailer system 18 or the lab system 16 (that is, the retailer or lab).
In addition, the album management stops displaying images that have passed the display period, stops displaying images that have passed the storage period, and then deletes them at a predetermined timing. Further, the expiration date of the storage period may be notified to the member by e-mail or the like.
Furthermore, album management periodically deletes my albums, photo storages, and share boxes that do not store images. Furthermore, the album management forcibly stops sharing the share box that stores images that are offensive to public order and morals.

In the present invention, as described above, in the album management, the storage capacity and storage period of the album are converted into “storage count”, and the storage capacity and storage period of the image are set using this.
Here, in the network system 10 in the illustrated example, as described above, for example, the maximum storage capacity that is the upper limit of the storage capacity of the system album and the selection / setting of the storage period for storing images in the system album are stored. This can be done by selecting from choices having the same count number. In addition, the member shall change the storage capacity and storage period as appropriate within the range that does not exceed the member's storage count given at the initial setting of the system album according to the storage status of the images. Can do.
Also, the points given according to the member's order performance are converted into storage counts, which can be used in exchange for the converted storage counts, and further, storage counts are given according to member creditworthiness. By using this storage count, it is possible to provide a service such as extending the storage period and maximum storage capacity of the system album. As such a service, for example, a service such as a storage period of a system album or an extension of a maximum storage capacity and a longer extended storage period than usual for a specific image are performed.
These points will be described in detail later.

The basic information management block 40c (hereinafter referred to as basic information management) provides a management function for each basic information of the lab system 16, the retailer system 18, and the receiving store.
In the basic information management, a retailer system 18 (retailer having the retailer system 18) affiliated with each lab system 16 (lab having the lab system 16) and a receiving store affiliated with each retailer system 18 Are registered / managed in association with each other, manage basic information of each laboratory system 16, retailer system 18, and receiving store, and change / update basic information as required or necessary. To do.

The merchandise management block 40d (hereinafter referred to as merchandise management) provides a management function for a lab having the lab system 16, a retailer having the retailer system 18, and a product handled by the receiving store.
In the network system 10 shown in the drawing, as an example, a (photo) print that reproduces an image received from a member or a non-member, a CD that stores the image, and goods that reproduce the image (for example, a mug or a T-shirt) Etc.) to customers. The merchandise management provides functions such as setting of merchandise (merchandise) handled by each retailer system 18 and lab system 16, setting of price of merchandise, display of merchandise in the order web, and the like. In addition, in the product management, order setting information (image, type of product, print size, number, etc.), which is information related to the order, in accordance with the order of the product by the customer (order input instruction) using the order receiving channel 14 It also provides the ability to generate
The products to be handled and the prices of the products can be applied / set for each retailer system 18 or each lab system 16 by a product management function. In other words, retailers and laboratories can set the products handled and the prices of the products.

  The site management block 40e (hereinafter referred to as site management) is a management function for retailer administrators, such as information to notify customers, statistical information, application download information, etc., for lab managers. In the network system 10, a management function for a center administrator (operator) serving as a contact point with a laboratory operator is provided.

The order management block 40f (hereinafter referred to as order management) provides an order management function (order reception function block) such as order information generation, search and display.
In order management, when the order is confirmed by the customer, the customer selects the method for receiving the goods and the settlement method, and the order is completed (order confirmed), the order setting information etc. is used to calculate the fee. Calculation is performed to generate predetermined information, order information is generated, and the generated order information is sent to the laboratory order receiving server.

The workflow block 40g (hereinafter referred to as “workflow”) provides a workflow function for changing a setting of a price, a product, and the like when the network system 10 is operated and managed.
The workflow is appropriate when the retailer system 18 or the lab system 16 makes an application for a change of retailer or lab information (basic information or detailed information), a change of charge, or a change of information on the receiving store. It is determined whether or not to approve or reject, and in the case of approval, the requested change is confirmed and the contents of the change are applied to the network system 10.

Here, in the network system 10, a system that gives points to members (customers who have registered as members) according to the order results for each member is adopted. As a result, when points over a certain value are accumulated, members can receive various services according to the number of points. Note that the number of points given is set in advance for each product by the network system 10, the retailer system 18, the laboratory system 16, or the like.
The point management block 40h (hereinafter referred to as point management) is for managing this point system, and is given according to the member's order performance and used as a consideration for the service by the member's selection. Provide a function (point management function block) to manage each member.

In the point management, three data of “total points”, “remaining points”, and “rank” are managed for each member.
“Total points” is the total value of all points given so far after a certain customer has registered as a member. A member with more total points has a higher order record. That is, the total points can be regarded as the member's previous order performance, that is, the creditworthiness of the member in the image network system. The total points are only added according to the order results and are not subtracted.
The “remaining points” are points obtained by subtracting the points used for the service from the total points, that is, points that can be used by the current member. The remaining points are added according to the order results, and when receiving a service using the points, the number of points corresponding to the service is subtracted from the remaining points.
“Rank” is a rank for each member determined by the total points. In this embodiment, as an example, three ranks A to C are set. Members can receive different services for each rank. Of course, a higher-ranked member (having a larger total number of points) can receive a thicker service.

When a member places an order for a product such as a print using the ordering web channel 14 through the order receiving channel 14, points corresponding to the order are added to the total points and the remaining points. When the total points are added, the point management sets the rank based on the total points of the members. The rank is determined based on whether the total number of points is greater than a certain threshold.
Thus, in the present invention, the rank is determined as an index for measuring the trustworthiness of each member based on the total points, and the contents of the service are changed accordingly when setting the maximum storage capacity and storage period of the system album. To do. This will be described in detail later.

The lab order server 42 (hereinafter referred to as a lab order server) provides an order receiving function for ordering in the lab system 16 such as order information and image transmission to the lab system 16 via an order receiving module 16a described later. .
As described above, the order information is sent to the lab order receiving server, and the image data corresponding to the order information is also sent to the lab order receiving server (hereinafter, one order information and the corresponding image data are collected. Order job). In response to a request from the lab system 16, the lab order receiving server transfers order list information to the lab system 16, and transfers an order job for one order requested from the lab system 16 to the lab system 16. To do.

The payment block 44 (hereinafter referred to as payment) provides a function of obtaining a payment authorization (credit) from the payment site 20 when the payment method is credit payment or debit payment.
The payment site 20 is a web site for performing a known online payment connected to the network center 12 via a communication network. The net center 12 only obtains an authorization for this settlement site.

The lab system 16 is a system installed in a lab (printer) composed of a PC, WS, server device, etc., and is connected to a digital photographic printer, a printing device for various goods, or the like (or , These are configured integrally).
The lab system 16 is installed with order receiving software which is an application for taking in product orders from the network center 12.
The lab system 16 acquires a list of order information using the order receiving module 16a for acquiring an order job from the network center 12 (lab order receiving server) included in the order receiving software, and acquires an order job corresponding to itself. Request and get a transfer. In the lab (lab system 16), a product corresponding to the order job is produced, and the product is delivered to a delivery destination or a receiving store corresponding to the order information. Further, the lab system 16 determines credit settlement confirmation / cancellation and debit settlement cancellation according to the authorization information added to the order information, and sends the result to the settlement site 20.

As described above, the member can access the network center 12 (front end) through the order receiving channel 14 and upload an image to the system album. Similarly, the member accesses the network center and selects an arbitrary image from the images stored in the album (album method), or uploads an image and selects an image from the image ( Menu method), products can be ordered. Images uploaded by the member using the menu method are stored in a system album.
Further, non-members can also access the network center through the order receiving channel 14 and order products by a method according to the menu method. Images uploaded by non-members are stored in the photo storage as described above.

In the net center 12, order setting information is generated by merchandise management in response to an order from the order receiving channel 14, and when the order is confirmed, the order management generates order information and an order job (order information and corresponding image data). ) To the lab order server.
The lab system 16 uses the order receiving module 16a to browse a list of order information in the lab order receiving server, requests transfer of an order job related to itself, and prints according to the order information of the transferred order job. Create and deliver a product.

Accordingly, since the network system 10 uses a communication network such as the Internet, it is possible to order products from anywhere without worrying about business hours. Furthermore, it provides electronic album services and offers to third parties. A public album service can also be provided.
In addition, what can be shared by retailers and laboratories is shared, and the interface function for customers and the management function of the network system 10 are consolidated in the network center 12, so the collection and delivery operations, customer management, and payment processing are simplified. In addition, the system operation can be simplified and the operation cost can be reduced. Moreover, in many cases, troubles and version upgrades of the network system 10 can be dealt with intensively by the network center 12, so that operation can be stabilized and trouble shooting can be speeded up.

Here, in the image network system of the present invention having the center server of the present invention, image management by album function and point management will be described in detail.
As described above, the album function of the network center 12 provides a function of storing images in the system album for each member. A basic storage capacity and storage period are determined in advance in the system album, and members can freely upload images to the network center 12 within the range of the maximum storage capacity and storage period. The storage of images in the system album is a service provided only to members.
Management of images stored in the album is performed by album management. In album management, settings such as the maximum storage capacity and storage period in an album are managed by using storage counts.

In other words, the storage capacity and storage period are set by converting the album storage capacity and storage period into “storage count” in album management and setting options so that this storage count becomes a constant value. .
The storage count is a storage count for storing a predetermined amount of data for a predetermined period, that is, the capacity and the period are calculated by replacing the product of the data amount and the period with the count. By using such a storage count, it is possible to change the storage capacity and storage period under predetermined conditions according to customer preference, and to provide a more detailed service.
In the illustrated example, as an example, storing a 1-Mbyte image for one day is referred to as one storage count (hereinafter referred to as one count).

  By using such a storage count, various services can be provided in the album. As an example, there is a method of preparing a plurality of fair storage condition options in setting an album, and a member selecting a desired setting from them.

When a customer newly registers a member in the network center 12 through the order receiving channel 14, a system album is automatically created for each member in the album function as described above.
At this time, the album management causes the order receiving channel 14 to display an album setting screen for initial setting of the maximum storage capacity and storage period of the system album.
In the album setting screen, multiple courses are displayed as options so that members can set the maximum storage capacity and storage period according to their album usage. Encourage members to make choices.

The album setting screen may be, for example, the screen shown in FIG.
In FIG. 3, in the album management, when customer membership registration is performed, the initial setting of the system album is “capacity emphasizing course (50 Mbytes / 10 days)” and “period emphasizing course (10 Mbytes / 50 days)”. Then, three options of “premium storage course (5 Mbyte / standard 50 days / premium 150 days)” are displayed on the order receiving channel 14.

  Here, the “capacity-oriented course” sets the maximum storage capacity in the album function larger, but the storage period is set shorter than the “period-oriented course”, while the “period-oriented course” Compared with “Critical Course”, the maximum storage capacity of the album function is not large, but the storage period is set long.

In the above two courses, the same storage period is set for all the images stored in the album. However, among images stored in albums by members, there may be images that are desired to be stored for a long period of time and images that are not. Therefore, the album count can be used more efficiently by separating each image into an image that is normally stored and an image that is stored longer than usual. For this reason, in the present invention, a “premium storage course” is further presented as the third option.
In the “Premium Storage Course”, the album images are separated into “normal images” and “premium storage images (hereinafter referred to as premium images)”, and the maximum storage capacity of the album is set to be smaller than the “period-oriented course”. Instead, only for premium images, the storage period can be set longer than the “period-oriented course”.

  Here, the premium image is an image stored longer than a normal image. The member who has selected the premium storage course may request the display of a screen for selecting a premium image from the order receiving channel 14 at the time of uploading the image through the order receiving channel 14 or optionally after that. The image stored as a premium image is selected from among the images. The selected image is a premium image, and the storage period is set to 150 days. On the other hand, all images not selected by the member are normal images, and the storage period is set to 50 days. In this embodiment, a premium image can be selected up to a maximum capacity of 2.5 Mbytes.

Note that when the album setting in the “capacity-oriented course” is converted into counts, 50 MB × 10 days = 500 counts, while on the other hand, when the album setting in the “period-oriented courses” is converted into counts, 10 M Byte × 50 days = 500 counts. Also, when converting the album settings in the “Premium Storage Course” into counts, when a premium image with a data amount of 2.5 Mbytes is selected, 2.5 Mbytes × 150 days = 375 counts, 2.5 Mbytes × 50 days = 125 counts added, resulting in 500 counts.
As described above, in these three courses, all the storage counts are set to 500 counts, that is, these courses all have the same storage count number. Thereby, the member can select the setting of a favorite system album according to his / her usage method without worrying about the profit and loss due to the selection of each course. Moreover, in the net center 12, even if any course is selected, it can be considered that the load of the server is the same, so that the member can select the course without unfairness.

According to the present invention, a member who wants to order a large number of images at a time should select the “capacity-oriented course”, and the image capacity is not large, but there is a possibility of ordering many times. Members who want to place an order after uploading an image to the system album should select the “Course Focused Course”, and they want to place an order only for a specific image In this case, the member can select a favorite course according to the use of the network system 10 and images, such as selecting “premium storage course”.
In addition, as described above, in these three courses, since the storage count is set to 500 counts, the member does not have to worry about the profits and losses by selecting each course. You can select your preferred system album settings according to your usage. Moreover, in the network center 12, even if any course is selected, since it can be considered that the load of a server is the same, a stable center server can be provided.
Here, in this embodiment, as an initial setting of the system album, an option using a storage count for 500 counts is presented. If the storage count numbers at the initial setting are all equal in the options, the retailer system And the lab system side can set it freely.

  The course setting of these system albums is performed by the member pressing the predetermined album setting change button after signing in, for example, when signing in or browsing the album, so that the member can select the album by the order receiving channel 14 or the like. Even when a setting change request is made to the management, the album setting screen of FIG. 3 may be displayed so that the change can be performed.

In addition, the member can appropriately change the storage capacity and the storage period in a range not exceeding the assigned storage count according to the storage status of the images in the system album.
In other words, in this embodiment, the member selects an album setting for 500 counts from the presented options in the initial setting of the system album. As a result, the member is given and holds 500 counts as a storage count that he can use. After that, members can freely change the system album storage capacity and storage period settings in accordance with the increase or decrease in the capacity of images stored in the system album, as long as the number of counts held is not exceeded. it can.
For example, when there is a small amount of images stored in the system album, the setting can be changed to reduce the storage capacity and extend the storage period accordingly, or when there are a large number of images to be stored. For example, the storage period may be shortened and the storage capacity may be expanded accordingly.

For example, if the member is given 500 counts, in addition to the above-mentioned options, the setting can be changed to 5 Mbytes × 100 days = 500 counts, 100 Mbytes × 5 days = 500 counts, or the like.
Further, it is not always necessary to set the album setting to use all the assigned counts, and the setting may be changed to a setting such as 10 MB × 30 days = 300 counts. That is, the member can change the album setting by using a necessary count number among the given counts.
In this way, the member can appropriately change the setting of the system album in accordance with the amount of image data actually stored in the system album.
In addition, after setting the album using the necessary count, if the count remains, the member converts the remaining count held to points, exchanges the converted points for points, You may make it receive various services to be used. For example, in the above-mentioned example, 200 counts (500 counts-300 counts) can be allocated to services using points. The conversion of points to points, exchange, and services that use points will be described in detail later.

  By the way, in the network system 10, as described above, in the point management, the points given to and held by each member according to the order results are managed. In album management, image storage conditions are managed based on storage counts. In the present invention, using this, the remaining points managed by the point management are converted into storage counts, exchanged with the converted storage counts, and used for album services. Good. As an example, regardless of the course selected by the member on the album setting screen in FIG. 3, a specific image is selected as a premium image, and in point management, the remaining points of the member are converted into storage counts for image management in the album. The premium image may be stored for a long period of time according to the count number by exchanging with the converted storage count.

In this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that one point in point management corresponds to 12 counts of storage counts.
In this embodiment, among the images of the album, images that are desired to be stored for a long time are set as premium images, and after these images have exceeded their normal storage period, It shall be extended and stored in the album for a predetermined period.

  Similar to the above-described example, when a member uploads an image to an album or after that, when the image is stored in the album, the member presses a button displayed on the order receiving channel 14 or the like. When prompted to display an image selection screen, the network center 12 causes the order receiving channel 14 to display thumbnail images of album images. When the member selects an image to be set for premium storage from these images, the selected image is set as a premium image in the album function.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for selecting a premium image. In the following explanation, the premium storage course on the album setting screen in FIG. 3 described above and the extension of the premium image using the storage count that is automatically given to the member when the member rank is increased, which will be described later. It can also be used for storage.
When uploading a new image to an album or during a period when the image is stored in the album, the member displays a premium image selection screen by pressing a button displayed on the order receiving channel 14 or the like. The network center 12 displays a thumbnail image of the album image on the order receiving channel 14 (S110). When the member selects an image to be set for premium storage from the displayed images (S120), the image information of the selected image recorded in the image information table is updated and set as a premium image. (S130).

An example of the image information table is shown in FIG. This table is table information provided for each image uploaded by a member.
The image information is managed by various information starting from the image code. In this table, a storage file indicates a file for storing an uploaded image file. A thumbnail indicates an image file used when displaying a list of thumbnail images. The view image file refers to an image file when performing a slide show. As described above, storing information in an optimal format according to the purpose of use enables quick display of a list and smooth playback of a slide show, thereby improving the operability of members.

  In addition, the image information table has a storage file size and a premium storage flag for each image as described above. In the album function (capacity management function), 1 is input to the premium storage flag of the image information corresponding to the image selected in S120. Thereby, it is determined that the selected premium image is a premium image.

Subsequently, the network center 12 displays a comment input screen on the order receiving channel for the image selected as the premium image, and prompts the member to input a comment (S140). This comment can record characters so that the contents of each image can be understood, such as “family trip in summer of H15”, and can be input by the member as needed.
Further, the network center 12 can cause the member to reset the upper limit of the storage period within the range set in the album management as required (S150). In other words, in this embodiment, the premium image storage period is set to 150 days, but for an image that is known in advance not to be stored until this period, the member can arbitrarily set the storage period, for example, It can be reset to 100 days. Thereby, it is possible to avoid occupying the capacity of the album unnecessarily and consuming the remaining points of the members.

  When the steps from S130 to S150 are completed, the image is set as a premium image. Here, when the premium image is continuously selected (No in S160), the process returns to S120, the premium image is selected, and the above-described processing is repeated.

  When the selection of the premium image is completed (Yes in S160), the album management calculates the image data amount for each file format for the premium image (S170). This is because when uploading a new image to the album, if the upload cannot be performed due to the capacity being exceeded, the file format of the image data stored in the album is converted to reduce the data amount of the album. This is a process for preparing to secure the free space.

  In other words, according to this processing, when uploading a new image in the future, in order to make up for the lack of album capacity, an empty space that can be secured when converting the file format of the image data when converting the file format of the image data. The capacity can be calculated quickly. Further, by reducing the data amount of the premium image in this way, the number of remaining points and the number of counts that the member spends for extended storage of the premium image can be reduced. As for the file format conversion, conversion from RAW to TIFF is most effective for securing free capacity.

The capacity calculation method for each premium image file format will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the selection of the premium image is completed (Yes in S160 of FIG. 4), in album management, the image information of the premium image is searched from the image information table, and the file format type is read (S210).
When the file format type is “JPEG” (Yes in S220), the storage file size of this premium image is read from the image information table and added as the total JPEG capacity (S230).
If the file format type is “TIFF” (No in S220, Yes in S240), the storage file size of this premium image is read from the image information table and added as the total TIFF capacity (S250).
Further, when the file format type is “RAW” (No in S240, Yes in S260), the storage file size of this premium image is read from the image information table and added as the total RAW capacity (S270).
If the file format type does not correspond to any of the above three types (No in S260), the storage file size of this premium image is read from the image information table and added as the total capacity of other images (S280). ).
In this way, this process is repeated for all premium images (S290).

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, when the file format-specific capacity calculation (S170) ends, the album management calculates the extended storage period for the premium image (S180). This is a process for predicting the remaining points of members and future consumption of storage counts from the extended storage period of premium images.

The method for calculating the extended storage period of premium images will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the capacity calculation for each premium image file format is completed (S170 in FIG. 4), the album management reads the upload date from the image information of the premium image in the image information table (S310).
Next, the premium storage start date is recorded in the image information of the premium image. In this embodiment, since the normal image storage period is 50 days, the premium image extended storage period starts from the 51st day starting from the upload date. The date of the 51st day is recorded in the image information table as a premium storage start date (S320).
In this way, this process is repeated for all premium images (S330).

  By reading the data in the image information table, the date when extended storage of premium images is started and the storage file size can be calculated in advance, and the remaining points used by the album and the future consumption of the storage count Can be predicted.

  As described above, when the processing up to S180 shown in FIG. 4 is completed, the setting of the premium image for the image selected by the member is completed.

Here, in this embodiment, as an example, in an album in which the maximum storage capacity is 50 Mbytes and the storage period is set to 30 days, 30 Mbyte images are stored in the album, of which 20 Mbytes are stored. Assume that the image is set as a premium image.
Premium images are stored in the album for 30 days, which is the normal storage period, unless the member deletes them, and they are stored in the same album as other images. Stored for a period of time.

In this album, it is assumed that a 10 Mbyte image is uploaded to the album as a standard image, and a 20 Mbyte image is uploaded as a premium image five days later. Here, FIG. 7A shows the state of the album when 25 days have passed since the 10 Mbyte standard image was uploaded.
At the time of FIG. 7A, the standard image I ₁ and the premium image I ₂ are both in the maximum storage capacity and storage period (C ₁ ) and are stored in the album.
Next, FIG. 7B shows the state of the album 11 days after the time shown in FIG. At this point, the standard image I ₁ has already been deleted from the album because it has exceeded the storage period. On the other hand, the premium image I ₂ has ended the normal storage period at the time point 10 days after FIG. 7A, and therefore the extended storage period with the remaining points is started from the time point of FIG. 7B. The

In the present invention, the remaining points are converted into counts in units of 50 points, and the premium image storage period is extended as compared with normal use by replacing the converted points with the converted storage counts.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the premium image upload date exceeds 30 days, the remaining points of the member are confirmed in the point management. If the remaining points are 50 points or more, in point management, 50 points are subtracted from the remaining points of the member, and the count number for 50 points, that is, 50 × 12 = 600 counts, is applied to the extension of the premium image.
In this embodiment, since the premium image is 20 Mbytes, if this is stored for one day, 20 Mbytes × 1 day = 20 counts. In other words, if 600 counts are assigned to the extension of the premium image storage period, 600/20 = 30 days, and after the normal storage period is exceeded, the premium image can be stored in an album for another 30 days.
If the remaining point exceeds 50 days when the extension period exceeds 30 days, the remaining storage period is further extended by using 50 points again.
At the end of the normal storage period or at the end of the storage period extended by the remaining points, the decision on whether to use the remaining points for further extended storage may be determined by the member's choice or point management If there are more than 50 remaining points, the extended storage may be automatically performed.

  In this way, by extending the premium image storage period by using the remaining points of the members, it is possible to provide a thicker service to members with many orders.

Further, preferably, the member can freely increase or decrease the count number held by the member according to the storage status of the image, and can use it for a desired service.
For example, a member may be able to further expand his system album by purchasing a storage count. As a result, it is possible to meet the demands of members who want to store more images for a long period of time.
On the other hand, because there are few images to be stored and long-term storage is not performed, there may be members who cannot use the storage capacity and storage period of the system album according to the number of counts that are granted and retained. It is done. For such members, reserve the number of counts corresponding to the storage capacity and storage period required for image storage, convert the remaining counts to points, and exchange them for converted points. , Various services using points may be received. Examples of services that use points include discounts on print charges and point exchange with products. As a result, even a member who has few images to store and does not store for a long time can use the assigned storage count without waste.

By the way, in such a network system 10, in order to keep many images longer and stored in the center server, a plurality of members are registered with different names while being the same person, and album areas for a plurality of people are created. There may be customers who want to secure. If such a member uses a service for long-term image storage in the system album, a large-capacity image is stored for a long period of time, which is not preferable.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a thicker service by using the storage count and regarding the points given by the member's order record as the creditworthiness of the member, and giving the storage count only to members with high creditworthiness.

In other words, as a service that uses the storage count, in addition to the method of using the remaining points, when the rank of the member is upgraded, the album count is automatically increased, and this is used for expanding the album. It may also be used for extended storage of premium images. These services can be performed regardless of the course selected by the member on the album setting screen of FIG.
In other words, the total points managed in the point management are regarded as the reliability of the member, and for members whose total points are a predetermined number or more, a specific image can be stored as a premium image for a long time in the system album. Also good.

In this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that the initial setting of a member's album is a maximum storage capacity of 50 Mbytes and a storage period of 30 days. In this album, it is assumed that 20 Mbytes of images are stored as premium images. Further, it is assumed that the rank of this member is C.
At this time, the case where the member has placed an order and accumulated the total points and the rank becomes B will be described.

8, as shown in C _1, the current album setting for this member, the maximum storage capacity is at 50M bytes, the storage period is 30 days, a setting of using the 1500 count (50M bytes × 30 days) ing.
Here, the member who ranks C accumulates the total points by placing an order, and when the rank reaches B, the album management adds an album count, for example, 900 counts, Increase from 1500 counts to 2400 counts.
Then, the storage capacity and storage period corresponding to the count number are calculated, and the album is expanded according to the increased count number. For example, as shown by C ₂ in FIG. 8, the upper limit of the storage capacity is extended to 10 Mbytes to 60 Mbytes, and the storage period is extended to 10 days to 40 days. At this time, the product of the number of M bytes and the number of days is 2400 (60 M bytes × 40 days), that is, the album setting is 2400 counts.
The member can arbitrarily set the expansion of the album using the count. For example, in addition to the above example, any setting may be used as long as the album count is 2400 counts, such as 40 Mbytes × 60 days or 80 Mbytes × 30 days.

In this embodiment, the 900 counts (the hatched portion E in FIG. 8) added by the rank increase may be used for extended storage of premium images according to the desire of the member.
In other words, in the album as described above, when the rank of a member having a premium image is increased, the count corresponding to the free capacity that is not used for image storage among the counts added by the rank increase (in the case of this embodiment, the maximum) 900 count) can be used for the premium image storage period.

In this embodiment, since the premium image I ₃ is 20 Mbytes, the maximum period is 900 counts / 20 Mbytes = 45 days by using the free capacity count for extended storage of premium images. . Therefore, in this case, the premium image is stored in the album for another 45 days after exceeding a predetermined storage period of 30 days.

  Further, the member may arbitrarily determine how to use the count for the free capacity. For example, if there are 900 counts corresponding to the free space, 300 counts among them are used for extended storage of premium images to obtain an extension period of 300 counts / 20 MB = 15 days, and the remaining 600 counts are In order to expand the maximum storage capacity of the album, the maximum storage capacity can be expanded by 20 Mbytes (20 Mbytes × 30 days = 600 counts). it can.

  In this way, by extending the storage period of premium images using the storage count given at the time of the rank increase of members, a thicker service is provided to high-ranking members, that is, members who have a track record of ordering can do.

  As in these examples, the images stored in the album are divided into normal images and premium images, and the extended storage using the remaining points or the count given by rank up is applied only to the premium images. By doing so, points or counts can be applied only to images that the member wants to store for a long period of time, so it is possible to provide a thick service while minimizing the use of points or counts possessed by the member it can.

In addition, by providing a premium storage service that further extends the storage period using points given according to the order performance of members and storage counts given according to the reliability of members, Capacity can be provided for a long period of time to members with a higher order performance, i.e., more reliable members.
Furthermore, a customer who performs a plurality of member registrations and illegally secures a large amount of album capacity has a low order record, so the rank does not increase or the remaining points do not reach a predetermined number. Accordingly, the premium storage course service is not provided to such customers, and it is possible to prevent a specific customer from monopolizing the capacity of the center server.

As is clear from the above description, in the image network system of the present invention using the center server of the present invention, when the member sets the maximum storage capacity and storage period of the system album, the storage count becomes constant. By displaying a plurality of courses as options on the order receiving channel 14 and allowing members to select a desired course, a stable center server that is easy to manage can be provided without placing a burden on the center server. In addition, since the member can select a course that suits the purpose without considering loss in setting the system album, the convenience of the album is improved.
Furthermore, by providing a service that enables extended storage for specific images according to the order performance and reliability of the member, it is possible to provide more album areas to members with a high order performance. At the same time, it is possible to prevent a customer who wants to obtain an album capacity illegally by performing membership registration multiple times to monopolize the capacity more than necessary.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the center server is configured to be provided in the net center, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration other than the net center such as a retailer system or a laboratory system has the center server. Also good.

  The center server of the present invention and the image network system including the center server have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, you may do this.

It is a figure which shows notionally the system configuration | structure of the image network system of this invention using the center server of this invention. It is an example of the image information table for managing image information in the image network system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the album setting screen displayed on an order receipt channel at the time of album setting. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of selecting a premium image. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the capacity | capacitance calculation process according to image format at the time of selecting a premium image. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a calculation process of the premium storage start date at the time of selecting a premium image. (A) is a graph showing an example of the state of an album when a premium image is extended and stored using the remaining points, and (b) is a graph when the premium image is extended and stored using the remaining points. It is a graph which shows another example of the state of an album. It is a graph which shows an example of the state of an album at the time of extending and storing a premium image using a storage count.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image network system (net system)
12 Net Center 12a Database / File Server (DB / FS)
12b Front end 12c Back end 14 Order receiving channel 16 Lab system 16a Order receiving module 18 Retailer system 20 Settlement site 24 Management system 26 Receiving store 30a Member registration / authentication block 30b Album function block 30c Share box function block 30d Order Web block 40a Member management Block 40b Album management block 40c Basic information management block 40d Merchandise management block 40e Site management block 40f Order management block 40g Workflow block 40h Point management block 42 Lab order receiving server 44 Payment block

Claims (10)

An image network center server that receives image data from an order receiving channel via a communication network,
An image storage function block for storing image data supplied from the order receiving channel;
The image storage function block stores a storage amount and a storage period of stored image data by using a storage count that considers storing a predetermined amount of image data in the image storage function block for a predetermined period as one count. A center server for storing the image data from a combination thereof.   The image storage function block has the same storage count number, the condition that the storage capacity is large and the storage period is short, the condition that the storage capacity is small and the storage period is long, and the image data specified by the customer. The center server according to claim 1, wherein the center server has one or more of the conditions for storing the image data extended as a storage condition for image data.   The center server according to claim 2, wherein the image storage function block is capable of changing settings of the storage capacity and the storage period within a range of the storage count number held by a customer. Furthermore, an order receiving function block for receiving and managing orders of image data supplied from the order receiving channel for each customer;
The center server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a point management function block that manages, for each customer, points given according to customer orders made by the order reception function block.   The image storage function block can convert the points held by the customer managed by the point management function block into the storage count, and store the image data by exchanging with the converted storage count. Item 5. The center server according to item 4. Furthermore, it has an extended storage image selection function block for setting the image data designated by the customer as the extended storage image data,
The image storage function block converts the corresponding customer points into the storage count for the extended storage image data set by the extended storage image selection function block, and exchanges the converted customer count with the converted storage count. 6. The storage period obtained by adding an extended storage period calculated from the number of storage counts and the storage capacity of the extended storage image data to a normal storage period is set as the storage period of the extended storage image data. The center server described.   The image storage function block gives a predetermined number of the storage count to the customer when the total points accumulated by the customer managed by the point management function block in a predetermined period reach a predetermined value, The center server according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the storage condition is reset according to this. Further, some storage counts among the predetermined number of storage counts assigned by the image storage function block are:
A count setting function block that is set as an extended storage count that is a storage count for storage in the extended period of the extended storage image data set by the extended storage image selection function block;
The image storage function block sets, with respect to the extended storage image data, a storage period of image data after a predetermined storage period is exceeded using the extended storage count set by the count setting function block. Item 8. The center server according to item 7.   The center server according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the image storage function block can convert the storage count held by the customer into points of the customer. An order channel that accepts orders from customers and sends their order and customer information;
An image network system comprising the center server according to claim 1.

Images