JP2008197739A - Index print preparation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an index print preparation system for compounding and displaying a photographed image and a map of a photographed location. <P>SOLUTION: The index print preparation system comprises a means for acquiring a plurality of photographed image data correlated with position information indicating the photographed location, a means for acquiring map image data including a plurality of locations indicated by a plurality of position information correlated with the plurality of acquired photographed image data, a means for creating compound image data (first compound image data) between the plurality of acquired photographed image data and obtained map image data, a means for proposing the first compound image data to a user and making the user select a part of the plurality of photographed image data included in the first compound image data, a means for acquiring the map image data including all locations indicated by the position information correlated with the selected photographed image data, and a means for creating compound image data (second compound image data) between the selected photographed image data and acquired map image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for creating an index print in which a plurality of photographed images are displayed as a list.

In a photo print service for images taken with a digital camera, a mobile phone with a camera, etc., there is a service that provides an index print that displays a list of images for which print orders have been placed. Since this index print can be confirmed at a glance from the print order image, it is used when ordering a print again or organizing photos.
JP 2001-160058 A JP-A-2005-221809

  Some recent digital cameras and camera-equipped mobile phones are equipped with a GPS function, and position information indicating a location where an image is taken can be recorded as attribute information of the taken image. It is considered to provide an index print in which a photographed image and a map of a photographing place are combined and displayed when a photograph of an image photographed by such a digital camera equipped with a GPS function is printed. However, if the magnification of the displayed map is low, the shooting locations of the images overlap on the map, making it difficult to specify the shooting location. The overlapping shooting locations can be indicated by a single point, but depending on the magnification of the map, most shooting locations may overlap. On the other hand, if the magnification of the map is too high, only the vicinity of the place where the image was taken is displayed, making it difficult to determine which area.

  An index print creating system according to the present invention includes a unit (a) for acquiring a plurality of captured image data associated with position information indicating a shooting location, and a plurality of captured image data acquired by the unit (a). Means (b) for acquiring map image data including a plurality of points indicated by a plurality of associated positional information, a plurality of photographed image data acquired by said means (a), and said means (b) Means (c) for creating composite image data (first composite image data) with the map image data acquired in step (1), and presenting the first composite image data to the user; Means (d) for allowing the user to select a part of the plurality of captured image data included, and the ground indicated by the position information associated with the captured image data selected by the means (d) Means (e) for acquiring map image data including all of the above, combined image data (second image) of the captured image data selected by the means (d) and the map image data acquired by the means (e) Means (f) for generating (composite image data).

  Another index print creating system according to the present invention includes a means (a) for acquiring a plurality of photographed image data associated with position information indicating a photographing location, and a plurality of photographs obtained by the means (a). Means (b) for acquiring map image data including a plurality of points indicated by a plurality of position information associated with image data, a plurality of captured image data acquired by said means (a), and said means Means (c) for creating composite image data (first composite image data) with the map image data acquired in (b), and presenting the first composite image data to the user, and the first composite Means (d) for selecting a partial area of the map image data included in the image data, and the captured image data including position information in the area selected by the means (d); Means (e) for extracting map image data including all points indicated by position information associated with the extracted photographed image data, extracted from a plurality of photographed image data, and by the means (e) Means (f) for creating composite image data (second composite image data) of the extracted photographed image data and the map image data acquired by the means (e).

  The index print creation system further includes means (g) for creating album data ordered in the order of the second composite image data and the captured image data included in the second composite image data. Is preferable.

  According to the present invention, index images (first composite image data) for all photographed images that are desired to be ordered for photographic prints are first presented. Since an image can be selected or a map area for which an index print is desired can be selected, an index print can be ordered, for example, for each tourist spot in consideration of a bias in the shooting location of each captured image.

[Net Print System]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this system, a user is provided with a net print service for easily ordering photo prints on the Internet. Photo prints ordered on the net print service site can be printed at affiliated print specialty stores, and the resulting photo prints can be received at the nearest print specialty store or convenience store, or at home via courier or email.

  In this system, in addition to a normal photo print, an index print in which a list of images ordered for printing is displayed is provided to the user. In this system, in particular, for an image taken with a camera equipped with a GPS function, an index print is provided in which a map displaying a shooting location and a thumbnail list of the taken images are combined and displayed. In the following, the flow of the print service according to the present system will be described with a focus on index print creation processing for images taken with a camera equipped with a GPS function.

[Print Service]
FIG. 2 shows a rough flow of the print service by this system. Hereinafter, it demonstrates along the flowchart of FIG.

[ST210]
A user who wishes to order a photo print of an image taken with a camera equipped with a GPS function accesses the server 110 of the net print service site by a personal computer (PC), selects and uploads image data for which the print order is desired. Here, it is assumed that the image data 1 to 14 are uploaded as shown in FIG. Each of the image data 1 to 14 includes, as attribute information, GPS information (latitude / longitude information) indicating a place where the image is captured, and time information indicating the date and time when the image is captured. The server 110 of the net print service site manages the uploaded image data 1 to 14 as one order (here, “order A”).

[ST220]
The server 110 of the net print service site refers to the GPS information of the image data 1 to 14 of the order A, and acquires a map image having an appropriate size including all the points indicated by the GPS information from the map database 120. Next, the server 110 creates an index image 140 in which the acquired map image and thumbnails of the image data 1 to 14 of the order A are combined and displayed. As shown in FIG. 3, in the index image 140, a map image is arranged at the center, and thumbnails of the respective image data 1 to 14 are arranged around the map image. Each thumbnail displays the ID of the corresponding image data. Each thumbnail is arranged in time series based on the time information of each image data 1-14. In the map image, the shooting locations of the image data 1 to 14 are indicated by IDs and arrows. The index image 140 created in this way is displayed on the user's personal computer screen.

[ST230]
In most trips such as tour trips, it is often the case that a plurality of sightseeing spots are visited in order and a photograph is taken at each sightseeing spot. In the index image 140 for a print order of a photograph taken in such a trip, as shown in FIG. 3, there are many cases where photographing points are concentrated around each sightseeing spot. In the index image 140 of FIG. 3, an example in which shooting points are concentrated around Shirahama (images 1 to 4), Cape Shionohama (images 5 to 11), and Nachikatsuura (images 12 to 14), which are famous places in Wakayama Prefecture. Is shown.

  If each sightseeing spot where the shooting points are concentrated is far apart and spread over a wide area, the map magnification displayed in the index image will be low, and the shooting location of each image will overlap on the map, It becomes difficult to specify the shooting location. The overlapping shooting locations can be indicated by a single point, but depending on the magnification of the map, most shooting locations may overlap.

  In addition, in the case of ordering prints of images taken during a trip, it is considered that there are many users who desire an index image for each sightseeing spot visited.

  Furthermore, there are cases where an image taken at a certain trip and an image taken at a different occasion are ordered together, and in this case, it is considered that most users desire an index image separately.

  With such a background, in this system, the user can select an index print for all images for which a photo print order is desired and an index print for some desired images. For example, not only the index print shown in FIG. 3, but also an index print around Shirahama (a thumbnail of images 1 to 4 and a map around Shirahama including the shooting locations of images 1 to 4), an index print around Shionomisaki (image 5) -11 thumbnails, map of the area around Cape Cape including the shooting locations of images 5-11), index prints around Nachi Katsuura (the thumbnails of images 12-14, maps of the vicinity of Nachi Katsuura including the shooting locations of images 12-14) ) Etc. can be selected. If the user does not wish to select, only index prints (FIG. 3) are created for all images for which a photo print order is desired.

[ST240]
The user can refer to the index image for the entire print order image displayed on the personal computer screen, select a thumbnail for which index printing is desired, or can select a map area for which index printing is desired. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that thumbnails (1 to 4) are selected with reference to the index image 140 for the entire print order image (images 1 to 14).

[ST250]
In response to the user's selection instruction, the server 110 of the net print service site refers to the GPS information of the selected image data 1 to 4, and creates a map image of an appropriate size including all the points indicated by the GPS information. Obtained from the map database 120. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the server 110 creates an index image in which the acquired map image and the thumbnails of the selected image data 1 to 4 are combined and displayed. The index image created in this way is displayed on the user's personal computer screen.

[ST260]
Also, a confirmation as to whether or not this index print is desired is displayed on the user's personal computer screen. When the user selects hope, the index image and the image data 1 to 4 are associated with each other and registered in the album data 130 (see FIG. 1).

[ST270]
Next, a confirmation as to whether or not another index print is desired is displayed on the user's personal computer screen. When the user selects the desired one, the processes of ST240 to ST260 are repeated. At this time, the user can also select from the index image (FIG. 5) created immediately before. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to select from index images of image data 1 to 4. Here, it is assumed that the map area shown in FIG. 6 is selected. In this case, the processes in ST240 to ST260 are as follows. In response to the user's selection instruction, the server 110 of the net print service site refers to the GPS information of the image data 1 to 14 of the order A, and the image data 2 taken in the selected map area (FIG. 6). 4 is extracted. Further, the GPS information of the extracted image data 2 to 4 is referred to, and a map image having an appropriate size including all the points indicated by the GPS information is acquired from the map database 120. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the server 110 creates an index image in which the acquired map image and the thumbnails of the image data 2 to 4 are combined and displayed. The index image created in this way is displayed on the user's personal computer screen. If the range of the map displayed in the index image is narrow, it may become difficult to know where the map is. Therefore, in this system, as shown in FIG. 7, the map image acquired from the map database 120 includes at least one landmark. Note that the index image of FIG. 7 may be created so that deletion of the thumbnail 1 can be selected from the index image of FIG.

[ST280]
The index image created by the above processing and registered in the album data 130 can be confirmed on the user's personal computer screen. After confirmation, when the user gives an order for photo print, the index image-image data combination data (album A in FIG. 1) registered in the album data 130 is sent from the server 110 of the net print service site to the photo print specialty store. Sent to server 210. Data transmitted to the server 210 of the photo print specialty store is displayed in the index image (index image)-(index image) as follows: index 1-image 1-image 2 ...- index 2-image J-image K. The print processing is designated in the order of (image data). In accordance with this order, the photo processing device 220 performs print processing, and as shown in FIG. 1, (index print)-(that is, index 1-image 1-image 2 ...- index 2-image J-image K) Photo prints are completed in the order of thumbnail photo prints displayed in the index print).

[Other application examples]
In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a net print service has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to a storefront reception terminal installed at a store such as a convenience store. There are two types of store reception terminals: type A, which performs processing from print order reception processing to photo print processing, and type B, which performs only print order reception processing. Type A includes all the components of the system shown in FIG. 1, and Type B corresponds to the user PC shown in FIG.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful when applied to a service that provides an index print in which a photographed image and a map of a photographing location are combined and displayed when a photograph of an image photographed by a digital camera equipped with a GPS function is printed.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed by the printing system shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of creation of an index image. It is a figure which shows the example of selection of a specific thumbnail. It is a figure which shows the example of an index image about the selected thumbnail. It is a figure which shows the example of selection of the specific area | region on a map. It is a figure which shows the example of an index image about the selected area | region.

Explanation of symbols

110 Server 120 Map Database 130 Album Data 140 Index Image 210 Server 220 Photo Processing Device

Claims (3)

Means (a) for acquiring a plurality of photographed image data associated with position information indicating a photographing location;
Means (b) for acquiring map image data including a plurality of points indicated by a plurality of pieces of positional information associated with a plurality of photographed image data acquired by the means (a);
Means (c) for creating composite image data (first composite image data) of the plurality of photographed image data acquired by the means (a) and the map image data acquired by the means (b);
Means (d) for presenting the first composite image data to the user and allowing the user to select a part of the plurality of photographed image data included in the first composite image data;
Means (e) for acquiring map image data including all points indicated by position information associated with the photographed image data selected by the means (d);
Means (f) for creating composite image data (second composite image data) of the photographed image data selected by the means (d) and the map image data acquired by the means (e).
An index print creation system characterized by this. Means (a) for acquiring a plurality of photographed image data associated with position information indicating a photographing location;
Means (b) for acquiring map image data including a plurality of points indicated by a plurality of pieces of positional information associated with a plurality of photographed image data acquired by the means (a);
Means (c) for creating composite image data (first composite image data) of the plurality of photographed image data acquired by the means (a) and the map image data acquired by the means (b);
Means (d) for presenting the first composite image data to a user and selecting a partial region of the map image data included in the first composite image data;
Shooting image data whose position information is included in the area selected by the means (d) is extracted from the plurality of shooting image data, and the point indicated by the position information associated with the extracted shooting image data Means (e) for obtaining map image data including all of
Means (f) for creating composite image data (second composite image data) of the captured image data extracted by the means (e) and the map image data acquired by the means (e).
An index print creation system characterized by this. In claim 1 or 2,
Means (g) for creating album data ordered in the order of the second composite image data and the respective photographed image data included in the second composite image data;
An index print creation system characterized by this.