JP2009017199A - Image server device, control method of image server device, image server device control program, computer readable recording medium having the program recorded therein, image transmission system, control method of image transmission system, image transmission system control program, and computer readable recording medium having the program recorded therein - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image server device etc. for reducing dissatisfaction of a user on the occurrence of delay in reception of image data. <P>SOLUTION: A management server system 200 receives image information representing images and e-mail addresses corresponding to image information, from a plurality of image transmission devices through a communication line and stores them, and the management server system 200 includes a data acquisition part 211 for acquiring an e-mail address from an image transmission device before acquiring corresponding image information and a mail transmission server 206 for transmitting an e-mail showing an image acquisition state with the e-mail address acquired by the data acquisition part 211, as the transmission destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image server apparatus that transmits an e-mail indicating that the image is delayed to the user when reception of the image is delayed in the server apparatus that receives and stores the image from the image transmission apparatus. The present invention relates to an image server device that can refer to a captured image from a user terminal.

  Conventionally, in entertainment facilities such as game centers and amusement parks, a photo printing device has been installed in which a user takes a picture of himself, synthesizes a background image with the taken image, and outputs it as a sticker print. Has gained popularity.

  In this photographic printing apparatus, it is possible to display a photographed image on a display screen after taking a photograph, to perform an editing process such as graffiti with a pointing device such as a touch pen, and to output the edited image as a sticker print.

  In addition to outputting the edited image from the photographic printing apparatus, a service that can transmit the image data of the edited image to the user's mobile phone terminal or the like is also spreading (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). . Thereby, the user can also use the image data received by the mobile phone terminal by setting it on a standby screen or the like.

  Usually, the service is performed by transmitting the composite image data from a photo printing apparatus to a server on the Internet, storing the composite image data on the server, and allowing the user to access the server from a portable terminal. Then, the composite image data is transmitted from a plurality of photo printing apparatuses to one server. The service is particularly popular and has recently been used by most users.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing among a conventional photo print apparatus, a user, and a server. The photo printing apparatus that has received the selection of the mail address and the transmission image from the user transmits those data to the server (S1001).

Then, the server that has received the data transmits an e-mail indicating a page of the browsing site where the image can be viewed to the user (S1002). Then, the user accesses the browsing site indicated in the electronic mail, and browses and stores the image (S1003).
JP 2001-309108 A (published on November 2, 2001) JP 2001-313913 A (published on November 9, 2001)

  However, the conventional configuration causes the following problems. That is, since a plurality of photo printing apparatuses are compatible with one server, when image data of images taken by a plurality of photo printing apparatuses is transmitted to the server during the same time period, a large amount of image data is stored. The data is transmitted to the server, and the line capacity between the photo printing apparatus and the server is exceeded.

  In particular, there are many female junior and senior high school students in the photo printing apparatus, and many users are often inundated during a limited time period such as after school or when school is closed.

  When image data transmission concentrates in a specific time zone, problems such as delay or failure in image data transmission occur. Further, if the image data transmission delay or failure is left as it is, it will lead to user dissatisfaction, and the user may be lost in the future.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to realize an image server apparatus and the like that alleviate user dissatisfaction when a delay occurs in reception of image data.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image server device according to the present invention receives image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information from a plurality of image transmission devices via communication lines. An image server device for storing, wherein the e-mail address is acquired from the image transmitting device before the corresponding image information, and the e-mail address acquired by the address acquiring device is a transmission destination. And e-mail transmission means for transmitting an e-mail indicating the acquisition status of the image.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a method for controlling an image server apparatus according to the present invention provides image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information by connecting communication lines from a plurality of image transmission apparatuses. A method of controlling an image server apparatus that receives and stores the received e-mail address from the image transmitting apparatus before the corresponding image information is acquired, and acquired at the address acquiring step And a mail transmission step of transmitting an e-mail indicating the acquisition status of the image with the e-mail address as a transmission destination.

  According to the above configuration and method, the image server apparatus acquires an e-mail address before acquiring image information. Then, an e-mail indicating the image acquisition status is transmitted using the e-mail address as a transmission destination.

  Thereby, for example, it is possible to notify the recipient of the e-mail of the image acquisition status such that the image acquisition is completed or delayed. As a result, user convenience is improved and user dissatisfaction due to delay in image acquisition can be alleviated.

  In the image server device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the address acquisition unit acquires identification information for identifying image information corresponding to the electronic mail address together with the electronic mail address.

  According to said structure, the identification information which identifies the image information corresponding to this electronic mail address is acquired with an electronic mail address.

  Thus, when the image server device requests image information from the image transmission device, the image transmission device easily identifies the image information using the identification information by transmitting the identification information to the image transmission device. Can be transmitted to the image server device.

  The address acquisition means may acquire transmission device identification information for identifying an image transmission device that transmits image information together with the identification information. The transmitting device identification information may be included in the identification information.

  Thus, when the image server device requests image information from the image transmission device, the image transmission device that is the transmission source of the image information can be easily specified.

  In the image server device according to the present invention, when the address acquisition unit acquires an e-mail address, the determination unit determines whether to immediately acquire the image information corresponding to the e-mail address or to acquire the image information later. Based on the determination result of the means, the image acquisition means for acquiring the image information from the image transmission device, and when the image information is acquired later based on the determination result, the mail transmission means delays the acquisition of the image. It is preferable to send an e-mail to that effect.

  According to the above configuration, whether the image information corresponding to the acquired e-mail address is acquired immediately or later is determined by the determining means, and the e-mail address from which the image information is acquired later is set as a transmission destination. An e-mail indicating that image acquisition is delayed is transmitted.

  Thereby, the recipient of the e-mail address can recognize that the acquisition of the image corresponding to the e-mail address is delayed.

  Thus, for example, the user of the image transmitting apparatus inputs an e-mail address to the image transmitting apparatus and instructs the image server apparatus to transmit an image, but transmission of image information to the image server apparatus is delayed. Therefore, when an image is not stored in the image server device, the user can receive an e-mail indicating that the user is late. As a result, it is possible to alleviate anxiety that the user does not store the image in the image server device indefinitely and feels uneasy about whether or not the image transmission is performed correctly.

  Here, the timing at which the image information is acquired later may be several minutes to several hours after the e-mail address is acquired, or a time zone in which the communication line for acquiring the image information is available, for example, It may be acquired from midnight to dawn.

  In the image server device according to the present invention, the image acquisition unit includes a connection number measurement unit that simultaneously measures the number of connections from which the image information is acquired, and the determination unit includes the number of connections measured by the connection number measurement unit. However, it may be determined whether the image information corresponding to the e-mail address is acquired immediately or later depending on whether or not a predetermined value is exceeded.

  Here, the predetermined value is a value that causes a delay or failure in the acquisition of data such as image information when the number of connections exceeds the predetermined value, and depends on the processing capability of the image server apparatus.

  In the image server device according to the present invention, the image acquisition unit includes a data transfer amount measurement unit that measures a data transfer amount per unit time of a communication line for acquiring the image information, and the determination unit includes the data transfer amount. Even if it is determined whether the image information corresponding to the e-mail address is acquired immediately or later, depending on whether the data transfer amount measured by the measuring unit exceeds a predetermined value or not. Good.

  Here, the predetermined value is a value that causes a delay or failure in acquisition of data such as image information when the data transfer amount per unit time exceeds the predetermined value.

  The image server device according to the present invention includes a registered member storage unit that stores an e-mail address registered as a member, and the determination unit refers to the registered member storage unit, and in the case of a registered member, other conditions Regardless of the image information, the image information may be acquired immediately.

  According to the above configuration, the image information of the member is acquired immediately, but the possibility that the acquisition of the image information of the non-member is delayed increases. This makes it possible to differentiate between members and non-members.

  In the image server device according to the present invention, a page that allows viewing of the image indicated by the image information stored in the device itself from a communication terminal is created, and the page that allows viewing of the image from an external communication terminal is accessed via a communication medium. It is preferable that a communication processing means capable of being provided is provided.

  According to said structure, the image preserve | saved with the image server apparatus can be browsed from an external communication terminal via a communication medium.

  Thereby, the user of the image transmission apparatus can browse the image that he / she has instructed to transmit by accessing the image server apparatus from his / her communication terminal.

  Note that the image server apparatus having the above-described configuration and a plurality of image transmission apparatuses that transmit to the image server apparatus the e-mail address received by the apparatus first and subsequently transmit image information corresponding to the e-mail address. Even the image transmission system provided with the same effects as described above.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image transmission system according to the present invention is an image transmission system including the image server device and the plurality of image transmission devices, wherein the image transmission device includes the image information and An acquisition means for acquiring the e-mail address; and a determination means for determining whether transmission of the image information by the transmission unit is delayed when the acquisition means acquires the image information and the e-mail address; When the transmission of the image information is delayed by the determination result of the determination unit, the transmission control unit controls the transmission unit so that the transmission unit transmits the e-mail address before the image information. And the mail transmission means of the image server apparatus acquires the e-mail address when acquiring only the e-mail address from the image transmission apparatus. A scan as the destination, the acquisition of the image is characterized by sending e-mail to the effect that delay.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a control method for an image transmission system according to the present invention includes a method in which image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information are connected to a communication line from a plurality of image transmission devices. A method for controlling an image transmission system that is transmitted to and stored in an image server device, wherein the image transmission device acquires the image information and the e-mail address, and the image information in the acquisition step. When the e-mail address is acquired, the image transmitting device determines whether the transmission of the image information by the transmitting unit is delayed, and the image information is determined based on the determination result in the determining step. If the transmission of the image is delayed, the image transmission apparatus transmits the e-mail address before the image information. A transmission control step for controlling the transmission unit, and when the image server apparatus acquires only the e-mail address from the image transmission apparatus, the acquisition of an image is delayed with the e-mail address as a transmission destination. A mail sending step for sending the e-mail.

  According to the configuration and method described above, when the image transmission apparatus determines that the transmission of the image information is delayed, only the e-mail address is transmitted. When the image server apparatus receives only the e-mail address, the image server apparatus transmits an e-mail indicating that the image acquisition is delayed with the e-mail address as a transmission destination.

  As a result, the e-mail is sent to the e-mail address corresponding to the image information corresponding to the image information whose acquisition is delayed, so that the e-mail recipient can recognize that the acquisition of the image is delayed. .

  Thus, for example, the user of the image transmitting apparatus inputs an e-mail address to the image transmitting apparatus and instructs the image server apparatus to transmit an image, but transmission of image information to the image server apparatus is delayed. Therefore, when an image is not stored in the image server device, the user can receive an e-mail indicating that the user is late. As a result, it is possible to alleviate the concern that the user is unsure whether or not the image is transmitted correctly and the image is not stored in the server device indefinitely.

  The image transmission system according to the present invention includes a transmission failure number measuring unit that measures the number of transmission failures of image information per predetermined time, and the transmission failure number per predetermined time measured by the transmission failure number measuring unit is a predetermined number. If the value exceeds this value, the determination means may determine that transmission of the image information is delayed.

  According to the above configuration, when the number of transmission failures per predetermined time of the image information transmitted to the image server device exceeds a predetermined value, only the e-mail address is transmitted.

  As a result, the load on the communication line through which the server device acquires image information is reduced, and the number of transmission failures can be prevented from increasing any further.

  In the image transmission system according to the present invention, the image transmission apparatus provides a service for printing a composite image based on composite image information generated by performing an editing process on a captured image obtained by capturing a subject on a print medium. It is suitable for.

  The image server device and the image transmission system may be realized by a computer. In this case, an image server device that realizes the server device by a computer by causing the computer to operate as the respective means, and an image A transmission system control program and a computer-readable recording medium on which the control program is recorded also fall within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the image server apparatus according to the present invention receives and stores image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information from a plurality of image transmission apparatuses via communication lines. An address acquisition unit that acquires the e-mail address from the image transmission device prior to the corresponding image information; and the e-mail address acquired by the address acquisition unit as a transmission destination. And e-mail transmission means for transmitting an e-mail indicating the acquisition status.

  The image server device control method according to the present invention also includes an image that stores image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information received from a plurality of image transmission devices via communication lines. A method for controlling a server device, wherein the e-mail address is acquired from the image transmission device before the corresponding image information, and the e-mail address acquired in the address acquisition step is used as a transmission destination. And a mail transmission step of transmitting an e-mail indicating the acquisition status of the image.

  Thereby, for example, it is possible to notify the recipient of the e-mail of the image acquisition status such that the image acquisition is completed or delayed.

  An image transmission system according to the present invention is an image transmission system including the image server device and the plurality of image transmission devices, and the image transmission device acquires the image information and the e-mail address. When the acquisition unit acquires the image information and the e-mail address, the determination unit determines whether transmission of the image information by the transmission unit is delayed, and the determination result of the determination unit A transmission control means for controlling the transmission unit so that the transmission unit transmits the e-mail address before the image information when transmission of the image information is delayed, When the mail transmission means of the image server apparatus acquires only the e-mail address from the image transmission apparatus, the e-mail address is used as the transmission destination. Acquisition of is configured to send e-mail to the effect that the delay.

  In the image transmission system control method according to the present invention, image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information are transmitted from a plurality of image transmission apparatuses to an image server apparatus via communication lines. And storing the image information and the e-mail address in the acquisition step, and acquiring the image information and the e-mail address in the acquisition step. When the image transmitting apparatus determines whether or not the transmission of the image information by the transmitting unit is delayed, and the transmission of the image information is delayed due to the determination result at the determining step The image transmission device controls the transmission unit so that the transmission unit transmits the e-mail address before the image information. A communication control step, and when the image server apparatus acquires only the e-mail address from the image transmitting apparatus, the e-mail address is used as a transmission destination to transmit an e-mail indicating that the image acquisition is delayed. A method including a transmission step.

  As a result, the e-mail is sent to the e-mail address corresponding to the image information corresponding to the image information whose acquisition is delayed, so that the e-mail recipient can recognize that the acquisition of the image is delayed. .

[Embodiment 1]
The following describes one embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS.

(Overall system configuration)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the composite image communication system (image transmission system) 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the composite image communication system 100 includes a photography printing apparatus 1..., A management server system 200, and a mobile phone (communication terminal) 300.

  The photo-taking and printing apparatus 1 has a function of taking a user's photograph (photographing function), a function of allowing the user to edit graffiti etc. on the photographed picture (editing function), and a function of printing an edited image ( Print function). Note that all these functions are not essential. For example, a configuration in which the print function is omitted may be employed.

  And the photography printing apparatus 1 provides a user with the above functions by collecting a fee from the user. In addition, a time limit is provided for each function, and the user uses each function within this time limit.

  The management server system 200 includes composite image information that is an image obtained by performing editing processing on a photographed image from each photography printing apparatus 1, an e-mail address input from a user, information for specifying composite image information, and the like. In this server system, the additional information is received, and the composite image data is transmitted to the mobile phone 300 in response to an access from the mobile phone 300. The management server system 200 and each mobile phone 300 are connected for communication by a communication medium. Examples of the communication medium include a combination of a wireless telephone network and the Internet, but the communication form is not particularly limited.

  The mobile phone 300 has a telephone function using a mobile communication network such as a mobile phone network or a PHS (registered trademark: Personal Handyphone System) telephone network, and also has a data communication function and an information processing function using the mobile communication network. It is an information processing terminal. Note that the information processing terminal applied to the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone, can perform data communication with the management server system 200 regardless of wired radio, and can perform information processing. Any device may be used as long as it is an information processing terminal.

  In the present embodiment, the user inputs the e-mail address of the user's mobile phone 300. However, for example, the photo print device 1 may be provided so as to be directly readable from the mobile phone 300. Absent. In this case, it is assumed that the photographic printing apparatus 1 and the mobile phone 300 perform short-range wireless communication. These devices include wireless LAN (Local Area Network) modules, Bluetooth (registered trademark) modules compliant with IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11a, 11b, 11g, etc., or communication via infrared rays. It is possible to have a short-range communication unit including a module for performing short-range wireless communication. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the photographic printing apparatus 1 and the mobile phone 300 may be configured to be connected by a wired connection such as a USB cable. Alternatively, the short-range wireless communication may not be performed, and the connection may be made via the above-described wide area network that connects the management server system 200 and the photographic printing apparatus 1.

(Usage form of composite image communication system)
A usage form of the composite image communication system 100 will be schematically described. The user plays a game using the photo printing apparatus 1 installed in an amusement facility or the like. In this game, the user takes a photograph and performs a process of writing the edited image on the photographed image, such as a so-called graffiti, as an editing process for the photographed image on the photograph-taking and printing apparatus 1. As part of this editing process, the user writes a desired picture or character with a dedicated pen, or selects a stamp and synthesizes the stamp pattern with the photographed image. Note that the edited image includes a moving image.

  Then, the photographed print device 1 prints and outputs a composite image obtained by combining the edited image with the photographed image, so that the user can obtain the printed matter as a game result. In the composite image communication system 100, the user can transmit a composite image to the mobile phone 300. In this case, the user registers (inputs) the e-mail address of the mobile phone 300 in the photography / printing apparatus 1 so that the photography / printing apparatus 1 transmits the composite image information and the additional information to the management server system 200. To do. Here, it is assumed that the e-mail address of his / her mobile phone is registered as his / her identification information (ID) as the owner of the composite image and to receive information from the server. As described above, the user's game in the photo printing apparatus 1 is completed.

  The management server system 200 stores the composite image information and the additional information sent from the photography printing apparatus 1 in association with each other. Then, the management server system 200 transmits, to the user's e-mail address, an e-mail indicating the address information of the page from which the composite image can be acquired. The user uses his / her mobile phone 300 to access the page of the address indicated in the received mail and obtain the composite image to display the composite image on the mobile phone 300.

  In addition, when the photographic printing apparatus 1 transmits the composite image information and the additional information to the management server system 200, it is preferable that the transmission data includes association information that enables these associations. The association information may be transmitted by being included in the data of each information, or may be transmitted separately from the data of each information.

(Appearance of photo printing device)
Next, the external configuration of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are perspective views of the photographic printing apparatus 1. The photography printing apparatus 1 includes a photographing unit 2 that photographs a user's photograph, an editing unit 3 that allows a user to edit graffiti and the like on a photograph (photographed image), and a photograph that the user has edited. And a printing unit 4 that outputs (edited image) to a print sheet. 3A shows an appearance from the photographing unit 2 side in the photographic printing apparatus 1, and FIG. 3B shows an appearance from the editing unit 3 and the printing unit 4 side.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the editing unit 3a. The configuration of the editing unit 3b is the same as that of the editing unit 3a, and is not shown here. The editing unit 3b is provided facing the editing unit 3a. Hereinafter, the editing unit 3 will be collectively described.

  The editing unit 3 is for executing an editing process such as graffiti on a captured image after the user finishes the shooting process by the shooting unit 2. The touch panel unit 31, the touch pen 32, and the voice output unit 33 are used for the editing unit 3. Etc. Each unit of the editing unit 3 is controlled by the control unit 10. Details of the above-described units will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a front view of the printing unit 4. In the present embodiment, the printing unit 4 is provided on the side surfaces of the editing unit 3 a and the editing unit 3 b, and thus FIG. 5 shows the side surface of the editing unit 3. The printing unit 4 prints an edited image after the user has finished the editing process by the editing unit 3 on sticker paper, and discharges the printed sticker paper. In the present embodiment, print discharge ports 44a and 44b are provided on the side surface of the editing unit 3, and the sticker sheet of the edited image edited by the editing unit 3a is discharged from the print discharge port 44a. The sticker sheet of the edited image that has been edited in 3b is discharged from the print discharge port 44b.

  In the photographic printing apparatus 1 configured as described above, the user first enters the photographic space provided with the photographic unit 2 and executes the photographic process, and then the editing unit 3 (the editing unit 3a or the editing unit 3b). The editing process is carried out by moving to the editing space provided, and a series of processes of the game are enjoyed in such a flow that the printing unit 4 receives the photographed image or the sticker sheet on which the edited image is printed in the printing space.

  As described above, in the photographic printing apparatus 1, the photographing unit 2 and the editing unit 3 are provided in different spaces. Therefore, even when a set of users is performing editing processing in the editing unit 3, other users can start shooting processing. Thereby, it is possible to improve a rotation rate.

  The editing process in the editing unit 3 is basically provided with a time limit. On the other hand, the editing process time may be unlimited until another user enters the shooting process, and the time limit may be set for the editing process from the time when another user starts the shooting process.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the photography printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a structure including two editing units 3, and includes a first editing unit 3a and a second editing unit 3a. The editing unit 3b is installed on the opposite side. As described above, by providing more editing units 3 than photographing units 2, it is possible to disperse the processing time related to the editing process that is a bottleneck and improve the rotation rate. However, the photography printing apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration. The installation position of the editing unit 3 is not particularly limited, and the number of installations may be one editing unit 3 or three or more editing units 3 may be provided if the installation location can be secured. Good.

(Configuration of Photographic Printing Device-Overview)
Next, the operation of the control unit 10 in the photographic printing apparatus 1 and each unit of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the photographic printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the photographic printing apparatus 1 of the present invention is configured to include a photographing unit 2, an editing unit 3, a printing unit 4, a control unit 10, and a recording unit 50.

  The control unit 10 comprehensively controls the operations of the above-described units included in the photographic printing apparatus 1. The control unit 10 is configured by, for example, a PC (personal computer) based computer. And operation control of various composition is performed by making a computer run a control program. This program may be in the form of reading and using what is recorded on a removable medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be in the form of reading and using what is installed on a hard disk or the like. Further, when the control unit 10 is configured to be connected to a communication network such as the Internet, a mode in which the program is downloaded via the communication network, installed on a hard disk, and the like can be considered.

  The photographic printing apparatus 1 includes a recording unit 50 that includes a nonvolatile storage device such as the hard disk described above. Examples of the contents stored in the recording unit 50 include the control program, an OS (Operating System) program, other various programs, operation setting values in the camera unit 23, and image data of captured images and edited images. Examples of the operation setting values in the camera unit 23 include white balance values set at the time of shipment of the photographic printing apparatus 1 and maintenance, various parameter values related to image processing when adjusting the contrast of the captured image, and the like. It is done.

  The imaging unit 2 executes an imaging process, and includes a coin processing unit 21, an illumination unit 22, a camera unit 23, a captured image display unit 24, a camera image display unit 25, and an operation unit 26. Although not shown here, the photographing unit 2 may include a voice output unit for performing voice guidance so as to prompt the user to perform a certain operation.

  The coin processing unit 21 performs coin insertion / return processing when collecting charges from the user. When it is determined that a predetermined coin has been inserted, the control unit 10 is notified. And the control part 10 will perform an accounting process, if the notification from the coin process part 21 is received. That is, the control unit 10 counts notifications from the coin processing unit 21 and controls various operations for the user according to the amount of money that the user has inserted.

  The illumination unit 22 functions as a photographic flashlight such as a strobe lamp at the time of photographing and also functions as a normal illumination. In this embodiment, a flash lamp is used as the light source, but a light source that emits continuous light, such as a fluorescent lamp, can also be used. Further, a fluorescent lamp or the like can be provided as an auxiliary light source in the vicinity of the flash lamp. By using a continuous light source or an auxiliary light source, it is possible to infer a shot at the time of shooting from a live view image before shooting.

  The camera unit 23 mainly takes a photograph of a user as a subject, and is configured by a digital camera including, for example, a lens group, a diaphragm, a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor, and the like. The camera unit 23 is configured to be able to switch, for example, a lens group to be used and an aperture so as to be able to cope with both whole body photography and close-up photography.

  The captured image display unit 24 provides a user interface to the user, and displays various images, various operation buttons, and the like. The operation unit 26 is an input device for inputting an instruction signal for the user to perform a game operation on the photo printing apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 26 is realized as a touch panel integrated with the captured image display unit 24. That is, a GUI (graphical user interface) screen such as operation buttons is displayed on the captured image display unit 24. When the display screen of the photographed image display unit 24 is pressed by a user's finger (or a pointing device such as a touch pen), an instruction signal indicating a button or an image corresponding to the position is input into the photograph printing apparatus 1. Is done.

  The photographed image display unit 24 is configured by providing a touch panel on the surface of a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display element or a CRT, for example. By displaying the captured image captured by the camera unit 23 on the captured image display unit 24, the user can check the captured image. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 26 is configured as a touch panel provided integrally with the captured image display unit 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation unit 26 is provided with, for example, a numeric keypad or a cross key. It may be configured as an input device such as a remote controller or a keyboard.

  The camera image display unit 25 displays a real-time video captured by the camera unit 23, that is, a live view image before shooting. By displaying the live view image on the camera image display unit 25, the user can confirm the image in advance and start shooting.

  The editing unit 3 executes an editing process, and includes a touch panel unit 31 and a touch pen 32. The editing unit 3 may further include an audio output unit 33.

  The touch panel unit 31 provides a user interface to the user, and includes an edited image display unit 31a and an operation reception unit 31b. The edited image display unit 31a displays an image to be edited (an image to be edited) in the editing process and a result (composite image) obtained by editing the captured image. The operation accepting unit 31b accepts a user instruction signal input by using a pointing device such as a touch pen and transmits it to the inside of the photographic printing apparatus 1.

  The touch pen 32 is used by a user to perform fine operation input on the touch panel unit 31 in image editing processing or the like, and is disposed near the touch panel unit 31. The user can select a button displayed according to the progress of the process or draw an image such as a graffiti by bringing the touch pen 32 into contact with or approaching the touch panel unit 31.

  For example, when the screen of the touch panel unit 31 is pressed with the touch pen 32, an instruction signal indicating a button or an image corresponding to the position is input to the inside of the photographic printing apparatus 1. Thereby, the user can perform graffiti on the photographed image, press a stamp, or select a print target image to be printed.

  In the present embodiment, two touch pens 32 are provided so that a plurality of users can easily perform image editing. However, in order to simplify the configuration, only one touch pen 32 may be provided. Yes, and more than two can be deployed for more than two users. Similarly, a plurality of touch pens 32 can be provided.

  The audio output unit 33 outputs guidance voices and sound effects for various operations, and is provided at an appropriate place of the photo print apparatus 1. For example, a speaker is used as the audio output unit 33.

  The printing unit 4 executes a printing process by printing a photographed image and / or edited image selected as a printing target, and includes an ID (identification) tag reader / writer unit 41 and a printer unit 42. ing. A seal paper 142 and an ID tag 141 serving as a photo print output medium are delivered to the printing unit 4 as a seal paper unit 43 as a set.

  When image data to be output is sent from the control unit 10, the printer unit 42 prints on the sticker sheet 142 based on the image data. As the printer unit 42, for example, a sublimation printer is used. When a sublimation printer is used, a sublimation ink film is delivered as a set in addition to the sticker paper 142 and the ID tag 141.

  The ID tag reader / writer unit 41 reads out various pieces of identification information recorded in the ID tag 141 and outputs them to the control unit 10. The ID tag 141 is configured by an IC chip having a memory function. Examples of the identification information include a unique ID, the number of sheets, a sheet type, and ink-specific color information (when an ink film is set).

  Based on the identification information read by the ID tag reader / writer unit 41, the control unit 10 determines whether the attached sticker paper 142 and the ink film are usable in the photography printing apparatus 1, and can be used. Only when it is, the printer unit 42 can be operated. In other words, settings other than the seal paper 142 and the ink film designated in the photo printing apparatus 1 are set so that they cannot be used.

  In addition, by counting down the number of sheets each time sticker paper is used based on the information on the number of sheets recorded in the ID tag 141, the remaining number of sheets can be grasped. Therefore, when the remaining number of sheets is reduced, a configuration that warns the user with a display means or the like can avoid a problem such as running out of sheets during use by the user. .

  When counting down the number of sheets, it is desirable to rewrite the number of sheets information recorded in the ID tag 141. As a result, when the paper is used up, the paper number information recorded in the ID tag 141 is also zero, and the ID tag 141 can be invalidated.

  Further, by reading the paper type information recorded in the ID tag 141 and the color information unique to the ink, and correcting the color component of the image data in consideration of these, the seal paper 142 and the ink film are accurately obtained. Image output can be performed.

  As the ID tag 141, there are a non-contact type ID tag capable of performing wireless data communication and a contact type ID tag provided with a terminal. The ID tag reader / writer unit 41 includes It corresponds to either one or both.

  In the above example, the ID tag 141 is used to confirm whether or not the sticker paper 142 can be used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sticker paper 142 and the ink film are used. It is also possible to use a bar code printed on a packing material for packing. However, when a barcode is used, there are problems that the amount of information that can be included is small and that information cannot be rewritten by counting down the number of sheets, for example.

  In this embodiment, the seal sheet 142 is assumed to be a seal sheet including an adhesive sheet and a release sheet attached to the adhesive surface of the adhesive sheet, but is not limited thereto. The photographic printing apparatus 1 of the present invention can be configured to use a paper sheet that is a normal paper medium instead of the sticker paper 142.

  Moreover, the photography printing apparatus 1 of the present invention may include a curtain unit 27. The curtain unit 27 provides a curtain as a background of the captured image. Curtains with various colors and patterns are prepared, and can be freely selected by the user at the time of shooting, or can be automatically selected by the photo-taking and printing apparatus 1. The plurality of curtains are arranged so as to overlap the back surface of the photographing space 20 (facing the photographing unit 2) ((a) and (b) in FIG. 3), and at the time of photographing, the selected curtain is behind the subject. It is installed in the foreground so that it can be seen. The installation of the selected curtain may be executed by the background control unit 15 of the control unit 10 controlling the curtain unit 27, or may be configured to be manually performed by the user himself / herself.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the curtain part 27 was set as the structure which provides a some curtain, it is not limited to this. A curtain that can be installed in the curtain unit 27 may be one type. In this case, if a plurality of types of background images for synthesis are prepared and the background image desired by the user is synthesized in the editing process, even if there is only one type of curtain, the user can have various preferences. Can respond.

[Configuration of Photographic Printing Device-Details]
Next, the control unit 10 and the recording unit 50 of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the control unit 10 further includes a captured image acquisition unit 11, an image editing unit 12, a print image creation unit 13, a communication processing unit 14, and a background control unit 15. Since the background control unit 15 is as described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

  The recording unit 50 includes a captured image recording unit 51 that records a captured image, an editing image recording unit 52 that records an editing image such as a background image, a frame image, and a stamp image provided in image editing. Edit image information recording unit 53 for recording the print image, print image recording unit 54 for recording the print image, and mail address recording unit 55 for recording the mail address.

  The captured image acquisition unit 11 acquires a captured image created by capturing a subject from the camera unit 23. The captured image acquisition unit 11 records the acquired captured image in the captured image recording unit 51.

  The image editing unit 12 performs image editing on a captured image in accordance with a user operation. Examples of image editing include adding a background image and / or a frame image read from the editing image recording unit 52, adding a stamp image read from the editing image recording unit 52 to an arbitrary position, or using a touch pen. For example, adding graffiti. However, the image editing is not limited to the above-described example, and the editing is executed by the user operating any input means (input unit) connected to the photography / printing apparatus 1, and the original photographed image is changed. Any editing process may be used as long as the composite image can be obtained as a result of the addition.

  The image editing unit 12 records data included in the composite image information and edited image information related to the editing content in the edited image information recording unit 53.

  The print image creation unit 13 creates a print image in which an edit image corresponding to the size of each divided region is arranged in each of the plurality of divided regions. The size and arrangement of the edited image in the print image are usually determined by the user selecting one of a plurality of patterns, but may be determined freely by the user, or the photography printing apparatus 1 It may be determined at random. The print image creation unit 13 records in the created print image recording unit 54. Then, the control unit 10 instructs the printer unit 42 to print the print image recorded in the print image recording unit 54 on the sticker sheet 142 at an appropriate timing.

  The communication processing unit 14 executes communication processing with an external device via a communication interface. The communication processing unit 14 performs transmission / reception processing of the e-mail address, the composite image information, and the additional information, and performs processing of converting the composite image information into an appropriate data format as the composite image information is transmitted / received.

  The composite image information is transmitted by receiving instruction data instructing transmission from the management server system 200 described later.

  In addition, the communication processing unit 14 receives an input of a mail address to which the composite image is transmitted via the editing unit 3 and records it in correspondence with the composite image information transmitted to the mail address recording unit 55.

(Management server system configuration)
Next, the configuration of the management server system 200 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the management server system 200 includes an FTP server 201, a registration processing server 202, an image file server 203, an additional information file server 204, a WEB server (communication processing means) 205, and a mail transmission server (mail transmission). Means) 206 is provided.

  The FTP server 201 is a file transfer server that performs a process of receiving an e-mail address, an image ID, composite image information, and additional information sent from the photography printing apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used as a protocol for performing data communication with the photographic printing apparatus 1, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. Data received by the FTP server 201 is transmitted to the registration processing server 202. If a large number of photography printing apparatuses 1 are installed over a wide area, data transmission processing may be distributed by providing a plurality of FTP servers 201.

  When using FTP, the composite image information is acquired by storing a list for acquiring the composite image information in the FTP server 201 immediately after receiving the e-mail address. It may be performed by receiving and transmitting the composite image information. Here, an image ID indicating image information corresponding to an e-mail address is registered in the list.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that FTP is used as a protocol for performing data communication with the photographic printing apparatus 1 using the FTP server 201. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . Any protocol that allows data communication may be used.

  The registration processing server 202 performs processing for transmitting the composite image information received from the FTP server 201 to the image file server 203 and including the electronic mail address in the additional information and transmitting it to the additional information file server 204. In addition, the registration processing server 202 performs processing for generating an e-mail in which URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information (WEB address) for accessing the WEB server 205 is accessed for the e-mail address included in the additional information. The generated electronic mail is sent to the mail transmission server 206.

  In this embodiment, when the registration processing server 202 receives an e-mail address from the FTP server 201, the management server system 200 determines the status of the line from which the combined image information is acquired, and the combined image corresponding to the e-mail address. Determine whether to get information immediately. Details of processing in the registration processing server 202 will be described later.

  Each of the image file server 203 and the additional information file server 204 is a file server that constructs a database based on information received from the registration processing server 202 and records / stores the database. Note that the image file server 203 and the additional information file server 204 may be realized in the form of a file server as described above, or may be an image file recording device and an additional information recording device depending on a recording medium used by the registration processing server 202. It may be configured.

  The mail transmission server 206 performs processing for transmitting the electronic mail received from the registration processing server 202. Since the mail address specified here is basically the mail address of the mobile phone 300, the mail transmission server 206 transmits the mail to the mobile phone 300.

  The WEB server 205 is a server device that provides composite image information recorded in the image file server 203 in the form of a WEB page in response to access from the mobile phone 300. Further, the WEB server 205 performs processing for reading additional information and image specifying information from the additional information file server 204 and extracting it. Details of the processing in the WEB server 205 will be described later.

  In this embodiment, the management server system 200 includes a plurality of server devices, that is, an FTP server 201, a registration processing server 202, an image file server 203, an additional information file server 204, a WEB server 205, and a mail transmission server 206. Although it is the structure provided, the function implement | achieved by several server apparatus is good also as a structure implement | achieved by the function which one server apparatus has among these server apparatuses.

(Registration processing server configuration)
Next, the configuration of the registration processing server 202 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the registration processing server 202 includes a data acquisition unit (address acquisition unit, image acquisition unit) 211, a data determination unit 212, an image information acquisition time determination unit (determination unit) 213, an instruction transmission unit 214, a registration The configuration includes a processing unit 215, a comparison data storage unit 216, a post-processing email address storage unit 217, an email address temporary storage unit 218, and a connection number measurement unit 219.

  The data acquisition unit 211 acquires various data such as an e-mail address, an image ID (identification information), composite image information, and additional information from the FTP server 201. Then, the acquired data is transmitted to the data determination unit 212.

  Here, the image ID is data that can identify the composite image information. The image ID may include not only data that can identify the composite image information but also data that can identify the photographic printing apparatus 1 that is the transmission source of the composite image information.

  When the management server system 200 obtains an image ID and the management server system 200 requests composite image information from the photography printing apparatus 1, the image ID is transmitted to the photography printing apparatus 1, thereby taking a picture. The printing apparatus 1 can easily identify the composite image information using the image ID and transmit it to the management server system 200. In addition, when the management server system 200 obtains data that can identify the photography printing apparatus 1, and requests composite photography information from the photography printing apparatus 1, the management server system 200 selects the photography printing apparatus 1 that is the transmission source of the image information. Can be easily identified.

  The data determination unit 212 determines whether the data received from the data acquisition unit 211 is an email address and an image ID. If the received data is an e-mail address and an image ID, the data is transmitted to the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 and the e-mail address is stored in the e-mail address temporary storage unit 218. On the other hand, if the received data is composite image information and additional information, it is transmitted to the registration processing unit 215 together with the email address corresponding to the composite image information stored in the email address temporary storage unit 218, and sent to the email. The transmitted e-mail address stored in the temporary address storage unit 218 is deleted.

  When the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 receives an e-mail address from the data determination unit 212, the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 determines whether to acquire composite image information corresponding to the e-mail address immediately or later. This determination is made based on whether or not the number of connections received by the management server system 200 exceeds a predetermined value.

  Here, when the predetermined value exceeds the predetermined value, or when all the composite image information corresponding to the e-mail address is received, the management server system 200 exceeds the allowable amount of the communication line for acquiring the composite image information. The value is such that reception of the composite image information and subsequent processing in the management server system 200 are delayed.

  For example, if the number of connections that can be processed simultaneously by the management server system 200 is determined based on the composite image information and the allowable communication line acquired by the management server system 200, the number of simultaneous connections can be set to a predetermined value.

  Therefore, if the predetermined image is exceeded, the communication line through which the management server system 200 acquires the composite image information when the composite image information corresponding to the e-mail address is immediately acquired by acquiring the composite image information later. The amount of data flowing through the communication line exceeds the allowable amount of the communication line, and the adverse effect that the acquisition of the composite image information is delayed or failed can be prevented.

  Further, it is possible to prevent the influence on the composite image information and the like from the other photographic printing apparatus 1 acquired at the same time.

  A predetermined value such as the number of simultaneous connections described above is stored in the comparison data storage unit 216.

  Then, the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 receives the electronic mail address and the image ID from the data determination unit 212, the number of connections received by the management server system 200 received from the connection number measurement unit 219, and It is determined whether or not the comparison target data stored in the comparison data storage unit 216 is exceeded.

  Note that the determination method in the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 is not limited to the above-described method, and for example, the data transfer amount for measuring the data transfer amount per unit time of the line from which the management server system 200 acquires the composite image information. A measurement unit (data transfer amount measurement means, not shown) may be provided to determine whether the data transfer amount per unit time exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  If the result of the determination is that the predetermined value has been exceeded, the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 sends an e-mail address that immediately acquires composite image information to the photography printing apparatus 1 and a composite to be performed later. The image information is classified into an e-mail address from which image information is acquired. Then, the image ID corresponding to the e-mail address from which the composite image information is immediately acquired is transmitted to the instruction transmission unit 214. On the other hand, an e-mail address from which the composite image information is acquired later is transmitted to the registration processing unit 215, and an image ID corresponding to the e-mail address is stored in the post-processing image ID storage unit 217. Thereafter, the image ID stored in the post-processing image ID storage unit 217 is transmitted to the instruction transmission unit 214.

  Here, when the acquisition of the composite image information is not performed immediately after acquiring the e-mail address, the acquisition of the composite image information may be performed several minutes to several hours after the acquisition of the e-mail address. You may carry out from the time zone when the communication line from which the system 200 acquires synthetic image information is vacant, for example, from midnight to dawn.

  In addition, the classification of the e-mail address that immediately obtains the composite image information and the e-mail address that is performed later may be determined based on, for example, whether or not the member is registered. That is, as will be described later, the WEB server 205 is provided with a database of registered member e-mail addresses, and the e-mail address received from the data determination unit 212 is checked to determine whether or not the member is a member. In the case of a member, the composite image information may be acquired immediately, and in the case of a non-member, the composite image information may be acquired later.

  On the other hand, if the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 determines that the predetermined value has not been exceeded, image IDs corresponding to all e-mail addresses are transmitted to the instruction transmission unit 214.

  The instruction transmission unit 214 transmits instruction data for transmitting the corresponding composite image information from the image ID received from the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 to the registration processing server 202 to the photographic printing apparatus 1 via the FTP server 201.

  The registration processing unit 215 performs processing related to registration of the e-mail address, the composite image information, and the additional information received from the data determination unit 212 to the WEB server 205. Further, the electronic mail address received from the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 is processed.

  More specifically, for the email address, composite image information, and additional information received from the data determination unit 212, the composite image information is transmitted to the image file server 203, and the email address is included in the additional information. A process of transmitting to the additional information file server 204 is performed. Since the additional information includes information for specifying the composite image information corresponding to the additional information, the additional information file server 204 includes information for specifying the additional information and the corresponding composite image information. The information of the combination is recorded as a database.

  Further, when transmitting the composite image information to the image file server 203, the registration processing unit 215 also transmits information for specifying the user among the additional information corresponding to the composite image information. As a result, the image file server 203 records a database in which the composite image information corresponding to the user is recorded in the folder corresponding to each user. Note that the image file server 203 may generate a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image size of the composite image indicated by the received composite image information, and store the thumbnail image in the same folder.

  In addition, as described above, the registration processing unit 215 generates an e-mail in which URL information (WEB address) for accessing the WEB server 205 is generated for the e-mail address included in the additional information, and transmits the e-mail. The server 206 is transmitted.

  Further, the registration processing unit 215 creates an e-mail indicating that transmission of the image instructed by the user is delayed for the e-mail address received from the image information acquisition time determination unit 213, and transmits the e-mail to the mail transmission server 206. .

  The connection number measuring unit 219 measures the number of connections simultaneously processed by the management server system 200 and transmits it to the image information acquisition time determining unit 213.

(Web server configuration)
Next, the configuration of the WEB server 205 will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the WEB server 205 includes a data acquisition unit 251, a composition processing unit 252, a WEB server processing unit 253, a composition image storage unit 254, a member registration unit 255, a registered member database (registered member storage unit) 256. , And a collation unit 257.

  The WEB server processing unit 253 performs processing for providing a WEB page on the Internet. Specifically, the WEB server processing unit 253 transmits the page data of the WEB page related to the provision of the composite image data in response to the WEB access from the mobile phone 300 and the input required for the provision of the composite image data. A process of receiving information from the mobile phone 300 is performed.

  The data acquisition unit 251 receives the composite image information and additional information necessary for providing the WEB page by the WEB server processing unit 253 and the composite image information necessary for the composition processing by the composition processing unit 252 from the image file server. 203 and the additional information file server 204 are acquired.

  The composition processing unit 252 performs processing for generating composite image data provided by the WEB server processing unit 253. Specifically, the composition processing unit 252 generates composite image data in a format that can be provided by the WEB server processing unit 253 based on the composite image information. The combining process here may be performed using only the data included in the combined image information, or may be performed using the combining image data stored in the combining image storage unit 254.

  The member registration unit 255 records user information in the registered member database 256. Specifically, user identification information for identifying a group to which the user belongs, such as whether the user belongs to a member or a non-member, is recorded. When the user wishes to register as a member, the member registration unit 255 creates a member registration form, and when the form is correctly input, the new registration content is stored in the registered member database 256.

  In the present embodiment, an example of an email address that can be referred to by the mobile phone 300 owned by the user will be described as user identification information. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The registered member database 256 stores user identification information such as an e-mail address and group information to which the user belongs in association with each other. For example, email addresses and groups may be stored in a table in which one-to-one correspondence is made, or email addresses may be stored in a plurality of folders such as members, member plans, and non-members. Further, a plurality of e-mail addresses may be associated with one hash value in a set of e-mail addresses compressed by the hash function.

  In this embodiment, the configuration in which the registered member database 256 is provided in the WEB server 205 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The photographic printing apparatus 1 may be configured to include the registered member database 256, or the photographic printing apparatus 1 and the WEB server 205 may be configured to include the registered member database 256.

  When the user accesses the WEB page provided by the WEB server 205 from the mobile phone 300 or the like from the mobile phone 300 or the like, the collation unit 257 collates with a database stored in the registered member database 256.

(Processing of the entire image communication system)
Next, the flow of data and processing in the entire image transfer system will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that, in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the photo printing apparatus 1, the management server system 200, and the mobile phone 300 are shown side by side in order from the left.

  First, in step S <b> 801, the photographic printing apparatus 1 receives an e-mail address input by the user and records it in the e-mail address recording unit 55. In step S <b> 802, the transmission image selected by the user is received and recorded in the recording unit 50. Then, the photography printing apparatus 1 transmits the received mail address and image ID to the management server system 200 (S803).

  In step S <b> 804, the management server system 200 receives the e-mail address and the image ID from the photograph printing apparatus 1 and stores them in the e-mail address temporary storage unit 218. Then, the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 of the management server system 200 stores comparison data as to whether or not the number of connections performed by the management server system 200 when the e-mail address is received does not exceed a predetermined value. Judgment is made by comparing with a predetermined value stored in the unit 216 (S805).

  If the predetermined value is not exceeded (YES in S805), in S809, the management server system 200 transmits an instruction to transmit the composite image information corresponding to the e-mail address to the photography printing apparatus 1. On the other hand, if it exceeds the predetermined value (NO in S805), in S806, the image information acquisition time determination unit 213 of the management server system 200 determines whether the user is a member from the registered member database 256 and the received e-mail address. Determine if you are a member.

  If the user is a member (YES in S806), in S809, the management server system 200 transmits an instruction to transmit the composite image information corresponding to the e-mail address to the photography printing apparatus 1. On the other hand, if it is not a member (NO in S806), in S807, the management server system 200 creates an e-mail indicating that the image transmission is delayed, such as “Please wait for a while until the image is transmitted”, and the received non-member And the post-processing e-mail address storage unit 217 stores the e-mail address. In step S808, the user receives the electronic mail.

  In step S <b> 810, the photography printing apparatus 1 that has received the composite image information transmission instruction from the management server system 200 transmits the instructed composite image information and additional information associated with the composite image information to the management server system 200.

  In step S811, the management server system 200 that has received the composite image information from the photographic printing apparatus 1 stores the received composite image information in the image file server 203, and additionally stores additional information corresponding to the received composite image information in an e-mail address. The e-mail address stored in the unit 218 is stored in the additional information file server 204. In step S812, the URL of the stored image browsing site is transmitted to the mobile phone 300.

  In S813, the user receives the URL of the browsing site using the mobile phone 300. In S814, the user accesses the browsing site by connecting to the network using a browser application or the like provided in the mobile phone 300. In S815, the management server system 200 that has received access from the mobile phone 300 responds. In S816, the collation unit 257 collates whether the user who referred to the URL is a member.

  If the user is a member (YES in S816), in S817, the WEB server processing unit 253 of the management server system 200 displays a browsing site for the member, and if the user is not a member (NO in S816). In step S818, the WEB server processing unit 253 of the management server system 200 displays a non-member browsing site.

  Whether the member is a member or a non-member may be transmitted in a form including information on whether the member is a member or a non-member using the information determined in S806 when the URL of the browsing site is transmitted in advance.

  Thereafter, when a predetermined time elapses, the management server system 200 instructs to transmit the composite image information corresponding to the email address stored in the post-processing email address storage unit 217 classified as a non-member in S807. Is transmitted to the photographic printing apparatus 1 (S823). Thereafter, the process returns to S810.

  Then, the user selects an image from the displayed site (S821) and stores it in his / her mobile phone 300 (S822). Then, the process ends.

  When a non-member browsing site is displayed in S818, an admission guide screen is displayed at the same time. If the user wishes to join, admission is accepted, and then a member browsing site is displayed. May be.

  In the above embodiment, an e-mail indicating that image transmission is delayed is transmitted to the user in S807, but this may be an image browsing request mail.

  That is, the user who has received the image browsing request mail returns a reply to the mail, and the management server system 200 transmits the URL of the image browsing site to the user who has sent the reply.

  As a result, even if the user registers an incorrect mail address and an e-mail is transmitted from the management server system 200 to a third party, the image browsing request mail is first transmitted and must be replied. The URL of the image browsing site is not sent. Therefore, the URL of the image browsing site that the third party does not remember is not transmitted suddenly, and the third party is not made uncomfortable.

(Detailed processing flow in the photo printing device)
Next, the operation flow of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, a stand-by demonstration screen is displayed on the shooting process touch panel 29 (not shown) as a play start acceptance process. The demonstration screen includes information such as the machine name, abbreviation, and outline of the photographic printing apparatus 1. In this demonstration screen, a message prompting the user to insert coins, such as “Please insert coins”, may be displayed. When the user who entered the shooting space inserts a coin (S901) and the billing processing by the billing processing unit is completed, the demonstration screen is switched to the shooting processing screen and the acceptance processing is completed.

  Next, in S902, a screen for allowing the user to select a shooting course is displayed on the shot image display unit 24, and an input of a shooting course selection from the user is accepted. Shooting courses include, for example, a normal shooting course (the user selects and captures a desired curtain (background color)), an automatic shooting course (automatically selects and shoots a curtain), a pose shooting course (a user completes a model sample image (completed) It is assumed that the user can select a course that the user likes.

  In S903, the user takes a plurality of photographs in the photographing space based on the photographing course. At this time, the user can take a picture while visually recognizing his / her appearance displayed on the live view display panel. In step S <b> 904, the user selects an image to be edited from the photographed images as a keep image, and the photographed image selected here is recorded in the photographed image recording unit 51. Note that the process of S904 may be omitted and all the captured images may be subject to editing processing. In this case, since the process of S904 can be omitted, the editing process can be made longer.

  Next, in S905, a game selection performed after the editing process is performed. A plurality of types of games to be selected here are prepared. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that at least a game related to processing (portable transmission) for transmitting a composite image to the mobile phone 300 is included. Examples of other games include a game related to a process of generating a decoration image that can be added to an e-mail with respect to the mobile phone 300.

  In step S906, editing processing is performed on the captured image kept in step S904. In this editing process, an image to be edited and various editing tools at the time of the image editing process such as graffiti are displayed on the edited image display unit 31a, and based on input instructions from the user with the touch pen 32 and the operation receiving unit 31b, Various editing processes are performed.

  In S907, it is determined whether or not the game selected in S905 is a game related to “mobile transmission”. If NO in S907, that is, if a game other than the game related to “mobile transmission” is selected, a sticker printing process is performed in S908 after the game is executed, and the process ends.

  If YES in S907, that is, if a game relating to “mobile transmission” is selected, first in S909, the communication processing unit 14 receives an input of a mail address to which the composite image is transmitted from the user. This corresponds to S801 in FIG. Next, the communication processing unit 14 causes the edited image display unit 31a to display a synthesized image as a still image that does not include a moving image among the plurality of synthesized images generated by the editing process, and to be transmitted from the user. Is received (S10). This corresponds to S802 in FIG.

  Thereafter, the communication processing unit 14 determines the model or type of the cellular phone 300 corresponding to the email address based on the email address input in S909, and whether the cellular phone 300 is compatible with video display. It is determined whether or not (S911). If YES in S911, that is, if the display is compatible with moving image display, the communication processing unit 14 selects a combined image as a moving image including a moving image from among the plurality of combined images generated by the editing process. The selection input of the composite image to be displayed on 31a and transmitted from the user is received (S912).

  Thereafter, the photographic printing apparatus 1 receives the transmission instruction of the composite image information from the management server system 200 (S913). Then, the communication processing unit 14 transmits the composite image information of the composite image selected in S10 and S12 corresponding to the received transmission instruction to the management server system 200 (S914, corresponding to S810 in FIG. 8). In S908, a sticker printing process is performed, and the process ends.

  If NO in S911, that is, if it does not support moving image display, the communication processing unit 14 sends the composite image information of the composite image selected in S910 corresponding to the instruction received in S913 to the management server system 200. In step S914, a seal printing process is performed in step S8, and the process ends.

(Detailed processing flow in the WEB server)
Next, the flow of processing in the WEB server will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in S101, the WEB server processing unit 253 receives a WEB access from the mobile phone 300 (corresponding to S812 in FIG. 8). Here, the mobile phone 300 performs WEB access based on the WEB address described in the electronic mail received from the mail transmission server 206. Next, in S102, the WEB server processing unit 253 specifies the mobile phone 300 or the user who has accessed. Then, it is determined whether the user is a member.

  The WEB server processing unit 253 acquires additional information corresponding to the accessed mobile phone 300 or user from the additional information file server 204. Then, based on the acquired additional information, the mobile phone 300 or the member browsing site corresponding to the user or the non-member browsing site is transmitted to the mobile phone 300 (S103a, S103b).

  Here, the main difference between members and non-members is the number of image data that can be acquired, which will be described later. For example, a member can acquire up to 4 cards, and a non-member can acquire up to 2 cards.

  In the above example, the WEB address described in the e-mail sent from the mail transmission server 206 is a WEB address indicating a member browsing site or a non-member browsing site corresponding to the user's email address of the mobile phone 300. It may be an address. That is, S102, S103a, and S103b are automatically performed by WEB access from the mobile phone 300. More specifically, the WEB server processing unit 253 acquires information that can specify the mobile phone 300 or the user by the accessed address in S102, and adds additional information corresponding to this information to the additional information file server 204. Will get from.

  In addition, the WEB address described in the e-mail is the WEB address of the top page of the WEB page provided by the WEB server 205, and the user specifies personal identification information such as an e-mail address (such as a password if necessary) on the top page. It is also possible to access the personal browsing site by inputting. That is, the WEB server processing unit 253 acquires information that can specify the mobile phone 300 or the user from the personal identification information such as the mail address input on the top page in S102, and adds information corresponding to this information. Information is acquired from the additional information file server 204.

  Next, in S104, the WEB server processing unit 253 determines whether or not the accessed mobile phone 300 is a model that does not support moving image display. Here, the WEB server processing unit 253 may acquire the model information corresponding to the accessed mobile phone 300 by the processing in S102 described above, or receives the model information transmitted by the mobile phone 300 at the time of access. Or may be acquired by inputting model information by the accessing user.

  The above determination is made by the WEB server processing unit 253 inquiring the additional information file server 204. If YES in S104, that is, if the model is not compatible with moving image display, the WEB server processing unit 253 transmits a page for a non-moving image compatible model to the mobile phone 300 in S105. Here, the WEB server processing unit 253 reads out the thumbnail image data of the composite image information corresponding to the user from the image file server 203, and transmits the thumbnail image data to the mobile phone 300 as still image state data.

  In this case, a thumbnail of a still image corresponding to at least one composite image information recorded in the image file server 203 as composite image information corresponding to the mail address of the user of the mobile phone 300 is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 300. An image is displayed. Here, the displayed thumbnail image is displayed in a link format. When a link of this thumbnail image is selected (S106), the composite image information corresponding to the thumbnail image is read from the image file server 203. Then, the composite image data generated based on the composite image information is transmitted to the mobile phone 300 (S107).

  Thereafter, when an instruction to change the display format is received from mobile phone 300 (YES in S108), WEB server processing unit 253 transmits composite image data whose display format has been changed in accordance with the instruction to mobile phone 300. The change in the display format is a change in the number of pixels of the composite image data. For example, a pixel number changing process such as maximum horizontal, maximum vertical, or reduced according to the size of the display screen of the mobile phone 300 can be given. By default, composite image data having the maximum number of horizontal pixels is transmitted.

  On the other hand, if NO in S104, that is, if the model is a video display compatible model, in S110, the WEB server processing unit 253 transmits a page for the video compatible model to the mobile phone 300. Here, the WEB server processing unit 253 reads out the thumbnail image data of the composite image information corresponding to the user from the image file server 203, and for those that can display the thumbnail image data as a moving image, the mobile phone To 300.

  In this case, the display screen of the mobile phone 300 includes a thumbnail including a moving image corresponding to at least one composite image information recorded in the image file server 203 as composite image information corresponding to the mail address of the user of the mobile phone 300. An image is displayed. Here, the displayed thumbnail images are displayed in a link format. If a thumbnail image that does not include a moving image is selected (YES in S112), the processing from S107 is performed.

  On the other hand, when a thumbnail image including a moving image is selected (YES in S111), the combined image information including the moving image corresponding to the thumbnail image is read from the image file server 203 and generated based on the combined image information. The image data is transmitted to the mobile phone 300 (S113). Here, the composition processing unit 252 generates composite image data in a format that can be provided by the WEB server processing unit 253 based on the composite image information. The combining process here may be performed using only the data included in the combined image information, or may be performed using the combining image data stored in the combining image storage unit 254.

[Embodiment 2]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanation thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is that the photographic printing apparatus 1 determines whether transmission of the composite image information from the photographic printing apparatus 1 to the management server system 200 is delayed. Is a point.

  That is, the photography printing apparatus 1 includes a transmission failure number measuring unit (transmission failure number measuring means, not shown) 16 that measures the number of failed transmissions of the composite image information to the management server system 200 per predetermined time, and the composition. A delay determination unit (determination means, not shown) 17 for determining whether transmission of image information is delayed is provided in the control unit 10. Then, when the number of failures measured by the transmission failure number measurement unit 16 exceeds a predetermined value, the delay determination unit 17 determines that transmission of the composite image information is delayed, and a communication processing unit (transmission control unit). 14 transmits only the e-mail address received by the editing unit (acquisition means) 3 to the management server system 200.

  When the management server system 200 receives only the e-mail address, the management server system 200 transmits an e-mail indicating that the image transmission is delayed to the e-mail address.

  Next, a processing flow of the entire image communication system in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the entire image communication system in the present embodiment.

  First, the photography printing apparatus 1 accepts an e-mail address in S1201 and accepts a transmission image in S1202. Next, in S1203, the photography printing apparatus 1 determines whether the number of failures per predetermined time of the composite image information exceeds a predetermined value in the transmission failure number measuring unit 16. If the number of failures exceeds a predetermined value (YES in S1203), the communication processing unit 14 transmits only the accepted e-mail address to the management server system 200 (S1204). In S1205, the management server system 200 that has received only the e-mail address creates and transmits an e-mail indicating that the image transmission is delayed to the e-mail address (S1206). Then, the user receives an e-mail (S1207). Thereafter, the composite image information is transmitted to the management server system 200 (S1208). The transmission of the composite image information may be several minutes to several hours after the transmission of the mail address, or a time zone in which the communication line in which the management server system 200 acquires the composite image information is available, for example, It may be transmitted from midnight to dawn.

  On the other hand, if the number of failures does not exceed the predetermined value (NO in S1203), the communication processing unit 14 transmits additional information including an email address together with the composite image information (S1208). The subsequent steps are the same as those after S812 in FIG.

  In addition, it is not the structure which provides the transmission failure number measurement part 16, but the image classification | category part (not shown) which divides into the image for members and the image for nonmembers is provided in the photography printing apparatus 1, and the image for nonmembers If the number of unsent messages exceeds a threshold, only the email address may be transmitted.

(Configuration by software)
Finally, each block of the photography printing apparatus 1, particularly the control unit 10, and each block of the registration processing server 202, particularly the data acquisition unit 211, the data determination unit 212, the image information acquisition timing determination unit 213, and the registration processing unit 215. May be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the photographic printing apparatus 1 and the registration processing server 202 include a CPU that executes instructions of a control program for realizing each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program. ), A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is to enable a computer to read program codes (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of control programs for the photography printing apparatus 1 and the registration processing server 202 that are software for realizing the functions described above. Is supplied to the photography printing apparatus 1 and the registration processing server 202, and the computer (or CPU or MPU (microprocessor unit)) reads and executes the program code recorded on the recording medium. Is also achievable.

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, a CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) / MO (magneto-optical) / Disc systems including optical disks such as MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (digital video disk) / CD-R (CD Recordable), card systems such as IC cards (including memory cards) / optical cards, or mask ROM / EPROM ( An erasable programmable read-only memory) / EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory) / semiconductor memory system such as a flash ROM can be used.

  Further, the photographic printing apparatus 1 and the registration processing server 202 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN (local area network), ISDN (integrated services digital network), VAN (value-added network), CATV (community antenna television) communication. A network, a virtual private network, a telephone line network, a mobile communication network, a satellite communication network, etc. can be used. In addition, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, IEEE (institute of electrical and electronic engineers) 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL (asynchronous digital subscriber loop) line Wireless such as IrDA (infrared data association) and remote control such as remote control, Bluetooth (registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR (high data rate), mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, etc. But it is available. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention relates to an image communication system and a server device used in an image communication system that take a photograph, perform an editing process on the photographed image, print out the image, and transmit image data to a terminal such as a user's mobile phone. Applicable. In particular, when the line between the imaging device and the server is congested and the transmission of the image is delayed, an electronic mail indicating that the transmission is delayed is transmitted to the user. It is suitable for an image communication system that easily accumulates user dissatisfaction due to delay and an image server device of the image communication system.

1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a composite image communication system and a registration processing server. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the said synthetic | combination image communication system. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the photography printing apparatus in the said composite image communication system, (a) And (b) has shown the external appearance of the said photography printing apparatus seen from a different direction, respectively. It is a front view of the editing part of the said photography printing apparatus. It is a front view of the printing part of the said photography printing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the said photography photography printing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the web server of the said synthetic | combination image communication system. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process between a photography printing apparatus, a management server system, and a mobile phone in the composite image communication system. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the said photography photography printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the said web server. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention and showing a flow of processing among a photography printing apparatus, a management server system, and a mobile phone in a composite image communication system. It is a flowchart which shows a prior art and shows the flow of a process between a photography printing apparatus, a management server system, and a mobile phone in a conventional composite image communication system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photographic printing apparatus 2 Shooting part 3 Editing part (acquiring means)
4 Print Unit 10 Control Unit 11 Captured Image Acquisition Unit 12 Image Editing Unit 13 Print Image Creation Unit 14 Communication Processing Unit (Transmission Control Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Background control part 31 Touch panel part 50 Recording part 51 Photographed image recording part 52 Editing image recording part 53 Editing image information recording part 54 Print image recording part 55 Mail address recording part 100 Composite image communication system (image transmission system)
200 Management server system (image server device)
201 FTP server 202 Registration processing server 203 Image file server 204 Additional information file server 205 WEB server (communication processing means)
206 Mail sending server (mail sending means)
211 Data acquisition unit (address acquisition means, image acquisition means)
212 Data determination unit 213 Image information acquisition time determination unit (determination means)
214 Instruction transmission unit (image acquisition means)
215 Registration processing unit 216 Comparison data storage unit 217 Post-processing image ID storage unit 218 Email address temporary storage unit 219 Connection number measurement unit (connection number measurement means)
251 Data acquisition unit 252 Composition processing unit 253 Web server processing unit 254 Composition image storage unit 255 Member registration unit 256 Registered member database (registered member storage unit)
257 Verification unit 300 Mobile phone (communication terminal)

Claims (16)

An image server device that receives and stores image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information from a plurality of image transmission devices via a communication line,
Address acquisition means for acquiring the e-mail address from the image transmission device before the corresponding image information;
An image server device comprising: an e-mail address acquired by the address acquisition unit as a transmission destination, and a mail transmission unit that transmits an e-mail indicating the acquisition status of the image.   The image server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address acquisition unit acquires identification information for identifying image information corresponding to the electronic mail address together with the electronic mail address. When the address acquisition means acquires an e-mail address, a determination means for determining whether to immediately acquire image information corresponding to the e-mail address or to acquire it later;
Image acquisition means for acquiring the image information from the image transmission device based on the determination result of the determination means;
2. The image server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image information is acquired later based on the determination result, the mail transmitting unit transmits an e-mail indicating that the image acquisition is delayed. The image acquisition means comprises a connection number measuring means for measuring the number of connections simultaneously acquiring the image information,
The determination means determines whether to acquire image information corresponding to the e-mail address immediately or based on whether the number of connections measured by the connection number measurement means exceeds a predetermined value. The image server device according to claim 1, wherein: The image acquisition means comprises data transfer amount measuring means for measuring the data transfer amount per unit time of the communication line for acquiring the image information,
The determining means acquires the image information corresponding to the e-mail address immediately or later, depending on whether the data transfer amount per unit time measured by the data transfer amount measuring means exceeds a predetermined value. The image server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A registered member storage unit that stores e-mail addresses registered as members,
2. The image server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit refers to the registered member storage unit and, in the case of a registered member, immediately acquires image information regardless of other conditions.   A communication processing unit is provided that can create a page on which an image indicated by image information stored in the device can be viewed from a communication terminal, and can access the page on which the image can be viewed from an external communication terminal via a communication medium. The image server device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The image server device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
To the image server device, first send the e-mail address accepted by the device itself,
An image transmission system comprising: a plurality of image transmission apparatuses that transmit image information corresponding to the electronic mail address later. An image transmission system comprising the image server device according to claim 1 and the plurality of image transmission devices,
The image transmission device
Obtaining means for obtaining the image information and the e-mail address;
When the acquisition unit acquires the image information and the e-mail address, a determination unit that determines whether transmission of the image information by the transmission unit is delayed;
When the transmission of the image information is delayed by the determination result of the determination unit, the transmission control unit controls the transmission unit so that the transmission unit transmits the e-mail address before the image information. And
The mail transmission means of the image server device, when only the e-mail address is acquired from the image transmission device, transmits an e-mail indicating that the image acquisition is delayed with the e-mail address as a transmission destination. Image transmission system. A transmission failure number measuring means for measuring the number of transmission failures of image information per predetermined time;
10. The determination unit determines that transmission of the image information is delayed when the number of transmission failures per predetermined time measured by the transmission failure number measurement unit exceeds a predetermined value. The image transmission system described in 1.   The image transmission apparatus is a photography printing apparatus that provides a service for printing a composite image based on composite image information generated by performing an editing process on a photographed image of a subject on a print medium. The image transmission system according to any one of 8 to 10.   An image server device control program for operating the image server device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the image server device control program causes a computer to function as each of the above means.   An image transmission system control program for operating the image transmission system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the image transmission system control program causes a computer to function as each of the above means.   A computer-readable recording medium on which at least one of the image server device control program according to claim 12 and the image transmission system control program according to claim 13 is recorded. An image server device control method for receiving and storing image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information from a plurality of image transmission devices via a communication line,
An address acquisition step of acquiring the e-mail address from the image transmission device before the corresponding image information;
A method for controlling an image server apparatus, comprising: a mail transmission step of transmitting an e-mail indicating the acquisition status of the image with the e-mail address acquired in the address acquisition step as a transmission destination. An image transmission system control method in which image information indicating an image and an e-mail address corresponding to the image information are transmitted from a plurality of image transmission devices to an image server device via a communication line and stored.
An acquisition step in which the image transmission device acquires the image information and the e-mail address;
A determination step of determining whether the transmission of the image information by the transmission unit is delayed when the image information and the e-mail address are acquired in the acquisition step;
If the transmission of the image information is delayed according to the determination result in the determination step, the image transmission apparatus transmits the e-mail address before the image information so that the transmission unit transmits the e-mail address. A transmission control step for controlling the unit,
When the image server apparatus acquires only the e-mail address from the image transmission apparatus, the image server apparatus includes a mail transmission step of transmitting an e-mail indicating that the image acquisition is delayed with the e-mail address as a transmission destination. And a control method of the image transmission system.

Images