JP2010113674A - Information management apparatus, image viewing apparatus, information management method and image viewing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information management apparatus, an image viewing apparatus, an information management method and an image viewing method that facilitate the knowledge of periodicity of content and enable a viewer to enjoy viewing content more. <P>SOLUTION: A client computer 4 can send to a server computer 2 time information indicating the time attached to selected image information, receive from the server computer 2 related information specified by identification information associated in a related information management table with a predetermined period to which the time indicated by the time information sent belongs, and reproduce the received related information, to provide the viewer with the related information related to the period (time) of generation of the image information as well as the image information. This facilitates the knowledge of periodicity of content and enables the viewer to enjoy viewing content more. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information management device, an image browsing device, an information management method, and an image browsing method.

  Data display devices in the current GUI (Graphical User Interface) environment (for example, Explorer, which is a tool for managing files and folders built in Windows (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation)), the contents of the hard disk built in the computer It has a function to display a list of files (files, folders, etc.) in a tree shape.

  However, according to the data display device as described above, since the data management structure (hierarchical structure) is expressed in a tree form, there is a problem that the data listing property is poor. For example, if you want to list all the data managed in multiple directories, you need to copy and list them in one directory, or open a window for each directory and compare them. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes unnecessary work. In addition, since it is difficult to find a group of data groups (such as a data group within a certain period), it is necessary to look at the data one by one, and there is a problem that the scroll operation is not efficient.

  In the existing data display device, the viewer needs to explicitly create a hierarchical structure and manage the data, but it is difficult to appropriately create the hierarchical structure of the data in advance. For this reason, it is necessary to recreate the hierarchical structure, and there is a problem that data management costs are high for the viewer.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a system for managing and navigating various data objects by using a timeline-based navigation tool.

JP 2006-195970 A

  However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm periodicity of image data (contents) such as AM / PM and spring / summer / autumn / winter.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is an information management device, an image browsing device, an information management method, and an information management device that make it easy to check the periodicity of content and allow a viewer to enjoy browsing content more. An object is to provide an image browsing method.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is added to the image information stored in the storage means and the storage means for storing the image information to which the time is added. Receiving means for receiving time information representing the time added to the image information for which selection has been received from an image browsing device that displays the image information on a timeline in a list based on the time; a predetermined period; and the predetermined period The related information specified by the identification information associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the received time information belongs, according to a related information management table that associates identification information for specifying related information related to Transmission means for transmitting to the image browsing device.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the related information management table further associates the rank of the song information as the related information with the identification information, and The means is characterized by transmitting the music information having a higher rank among the music information associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the time information belongs.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage means further stores the related information, and the related information management table stores the related information in the storage means. The predetermined period determined on the basis of the registered date is associated with the identification information.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising embedding means for embedding the identification information in the image information, wherein the transmission means is stored in the storage means. When the identification information is embedded in the image information to which the time belonging to the predetermined period is added, the related information specified by the identification information is transmitted. To do.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the related information management table further includes a right flag indicating whether or not the related information has been purchased. And the identification information, and the transmission means indicates that the related information specified by the identification information when the right flag associated with the identification information indicates that it has not been purchased. It is characterized by transmitting a part of.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the receiving unit further receives a purchase request for the related information including the image information from the image browsing device, and the embedding unit includes: When the related information is purchased in accordance with a purchase request for the related information including the image information, the identification information is embedded in the image information stored in the storage unit.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 3, characterized in that the transmission means transmits the related information stored in the storage means.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit stores the related information that has been purchased.

  The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the transmission means acquires the related information stored in a content server and transmits the acquired related information. To do.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the related information stored in the storage means is transferred to the image browsing device, and the related information is transferred to the image browsing device. In this case, the information processing apparatus further includes an update unit that updates the right flag associated with the related information in the related information management table to the right flag indicating that the right information is not purchased.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided display control means for displaying a list of the image information arranged on a timeline based on the time added to the image information stored in the information management device, and the time displayed as a list. An operation acquisition unit that receives selection of the image information on the line, a transmission unit that transmits time information indicating the time added to the image information that has received the selection to the information management device, a predetermined period, and a predetermined period In the related information management table that associates identification information for specifying related related information, the related information specified by the identification information associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the transmitted time information belongs, It is characterized by comprising receiving means for receiving from the information management device and reproducing means for reproducing the received related information.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claim 11, wherein the display control means further displays a purchase button for accepting purchase of the related information, and the operation acquisition means further includes the purchase button. When the purchase of the related information is received by pressing the button, the transmission unit further transmits a purchase request for the related information to the information management device when the purchase of the related information is received.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to claim 11 or 12, wherein when the identification information is embedded in the image information to be printed, the image information and the identification information are printed on a paper medium. It further comprises a print control means.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the storage unit stores the image information to which the time is added, and the reception unit is based on the time added to the image information stored in the storage step. A receiving step for receiving time information representing a time added to the image information that has been selected from an image browsing device that displays the image information in a list on a timeline, and a transmitting unit includes a predetermined period and the predetermined period. The related information specified by the identification information associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the received time information belongs, according to a related information management table that associates identification information for specifying related related information. And a transmission step of transmitting to the image browsing device.

  The invention according to claim 15 is a display control step in which the display control means displays a list of the image information arranged on a timeline based on the time added to the image information stored in the information management apparatus. An operation acquisition unit that receives a selection of the image information on the timeline displayed in a list; and a time unit that represents a time added to the image information that the transmission unit has received the selection. In the related information management table in which the transmitting step for transmitting to the apparatus and the receiving means associate the predetermined period with the identification information for specifying the related information related to the predetermined period, the time represented by the transmitted time information belongs A receiving step for receiving from the information management device the related information specified by the identification information associated with a predetermined period; It characterized by having a a reproducing step of reproducing the related information.

  According to the present invention, related information related to the time (era) when the displayed content is generated can be provided to the viewer together with the content, so that the periodicity of the content can be easily confirmed and the viewer can check the content. The effect is that you can enjoy browsing more.

  Exemplary embodiments of an information management device, an image browsing device, an information management method, and an image browsing method according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an example in which a server computer of a server client system is applied as an information management apparatus. The present embodiment is an example in which a client computer of a server client system is applied as an image browsing apparatus. In this embodiment, an example in which the information management apparatus, the image browsing apparatus, the information management method, and the image browsing method of the present invention are applied to a personal computer will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to a personal computer, and is a multifunction peripheral (MFP: The present invention can also be applied to image forming apparatuses such as Multi Function Peripherals), printers, facsimiles, and copiers.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system construction example according to the first embodiment. The server client system 1 according to the present embodiment assumes a server client system 1 in which a plurality of client computers 4 are connected to a server computer 2 via a network 3 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The server client system 1 has an environment in which an image input device 5 such as a scanner or a digital camera and an image output device 6 such as a printer can be shared on the network 3. In addition, an MFP 7 called a multifunction peripheral may be connected on the network 3, and an environment may be constructed so that the MFP 7 functions as the image input device 5 or the image output device 6.

  Such a server client system 1 is constructed so as to be capable of data communication with another server client system 1 via, for example, an intranet 8 and constructed so as to be capable of data communication with an external environment via an Internet communication network 9.

  The server computer 2 exhibits an image management function for storing and managing image information.

  FIG. 2 is a module configuration diagram of the client computer 4 as the image browsing device and the server computer 2 as the information management device in the first embodiment.

  The server computer 2 and the client computer 4 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that performs information processing, a primary storage device 14 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 that store information, and various formats. Secondary storage device 16 such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 15 which is a storage unit for storing data files (image information and document information) and compression codes described later, and storing information and distributing information to the outside A removable disk device 17 such as a CD-ROM drive for obtaining information from the network, a network interface 18 for communicating information with other external computers via the network 3, processing progress and results to the operator Display devices such as CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 19 and a keyboard 20 for an operator to input commands and information to the CPU 11, a pointing device 21 such as a mouse, and the like. The bus controller 22 arbitrates data transmitted and received between these units. Operate.

  In the present embodiment, compression-coded image information (content) is managed in the HDD 15 of the server computer 2 with a predetermined management structure. Such image information (content) is input from an image input device 5 such as a scanner or a digital camera.

  In the server computer 2 and the client computer 4, when the user turns on the power, the CPU 11 activates a program called a loader in the ROM 12, and loads a program for managing the hardware and software of the computer called the operating system from the HDD 15 into the RAM 13. Start this operating system. Such an operating system starts a program, reads information, and performs storage according to a user operation. As a typical operating system, Windows (registered trademark) is known. An operation program running on these operating systems is called an application program.

  Here, the server computer 2 and the client computer 4 store an image browsing program and an information management program in the HDD 15 as application programs. In this sense, the HDD 15 functions as a storage medium that stores an image browsing program and an information management program.

  In general, an application program installed in the secondary storage device 16 such as the HDD 15 of the server computer 2 and the client computer 4 is an optical information recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, or a magnetic medium such as an FD. And the recorded application program is installed in the secondary storage device 16 such as the HDD 15. For this reason, a portable storage medium such as an optical information recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a magnetic medium such as an FD can also be a storage medium for storing an application program. Furthermore, the application program may be taken in from the outside via, for example, the network interface 18 and installed in the secondary storage device 16 such as the HDD 15.

  In the server computer 2 and the client computer 4, when an application program operating on the operating system is started, the CPU 11 executes various arithmetic processes according to the application program to centrally control each unit. Among various types of arithmetic processing executed by the CPU 11 of the server computer 2 or the CPU 11 of the client computer 4, characteristic processing of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the server computer 2 and the client computer 4.

  The server computer 2 stores an information management program in the HDD 15 as an application program. That is, the server computer 2 functions as an information management program, and the CPU 11 controls each unit and executes the information management program according to the information management program operating on the OS.

  The server computer 2 allows the content storage unit 311, the management table storage unit 312, the reception unit 313, the transmission unit 314, the content management unit 315, the table management unit 316, and the accounting by the CPU 11 following an information management program operating on the OS. The processing unit 317 is realized.

  The content storage unit 311 is realized by a storage device such as the HDD 15 or the RAM 13 and stores image information (content). Here, the image information is, for example, an Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) file format. The Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) file format is composed of an image information portion for recording a JPEG image (TIFF format if uncompressed) as captured image information and an Exif header portion. In the Exif header section, the digital still camera B manufacturer name, model name, digital still camera software version, exposure program mode, metering mode, aperture value, aperture value, shutter speed, focal length, focus distance, exposure compensation Shooting condition information such as value, ISO sensitivity value, shooting time (time according to the present invention), light source discrimination, and use of a strobe is stored. Such shooting condition information is generated and added at the time of shooting.

  Further, in the Exif header portion, it is possible to record additional information (image information, thumbnail images, etc.) recorded in the TIFF format in addition to the shooting condition information.

  Therefore, when image information stored in the content storage unit 311 is displayed in a list on the timeline, the shooting times can be acquired from the Exif header portion of the image information (content) and displayed in the order of the shooting times. .

  Further, the Exif header portion is related information such as music (song information according to the present invention) and sound related to a predetermined period to which the shooting time included in the shooting condition information belongs, and is an identification for specifying the related information. Information (for example, a song ID such as a URL indicating a storage area where related information is stored), a user ID of a viewer who purchased the related information, and the number of times the related information has been copied to the storage area of the client computer 4 are registered. (Embed).

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the Exif header part. As shown in FIG. 4A, the Exif header portion includes a tag number (Tag No .: “0x0001”, “0x0002”, “0x0003”, etc.) and a tag name (Tag Name: “MusicId”, “UserId”). , “CopyCount”, etc.), identification information format (Format: “Ascii string”, “Unsignedshort”, etc.), identification information capacity (Compo No: 256B, 1B), identification information (Value: “Song ID”) , “User ID”, “number of times of copying”) are registered in association with each other. The information shown in FIG. 4A may be described in the Exif header portion in a format structured in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format, or in the Exif header portion in a non-structured format such as a text format. It may be described.

  In addition to the image information, the content storage unit 311 can also store related information purchased by the viewer.

  The management table storage unit 312 is realized by a storage device such as the HDD 15 or the RAM 13, and includes a predetermined period and identification information (song ID) for specifying related information (song information) related to the predetermined period. , Are stored in the related information management table.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of a related information management table. As shown in FIG. 4B, in the related information management table, the start date and the end date representing a predetermined period, the priority of the related information in the predetermined period, the identification information (song ID) of the related information, and the related information have been purchased. Is associated with a right flag indicating whether or not (or whether or not there is ownership).

  The predetermined period is determined based on the registration date, which is the date when the related information purchased by the viewer is stored in the content storage unit 311. For example, a predetermined period is determined from a date (start date) that is a day earlier than the registration date to a date (end date) advanced α days from the registration date. Alternatively, a predetermined period from the registration date (start date) to the date advanced by β days (end date) from the registration date is determined.

  The priority may be set according to the user's preference, or may be set to the same value (for example, 1). The right flag is set to 1 indicating that the related information has ownership when the related information is stored in the content storage unit 311 by the viewer or purchased through a regular procedure.

  The related information management table may be generated based on hit chart information of music (music information) for each predetermined period. For example, the related information management table includes a predetermined period in which the hit chart information is updated, the rank (priority) of the music in the predetermined period, and the identification information (music ID) of the music up to the top N in the predetermined period. And the right flag are associated with each other.

  The receiving unit 313 displays the image information (or the thumbnail image of the image information) on the timeline based on the shooting time included in the shooting condition information stored in the Exif header portion of the image information stored in the content storage unit 311. The time information indicating the time added to the image information for which the selection has been received is received from the client computer 4 which displays the list side by side. The receiving unit 313 receives a request for purchasing related information from the client computer 4. Further, when purchasing the related information, the receiving unit 313 receives confirmation information indicating a viewer's intention to purchase the related information.

  In accordance with the related information management table, the transmission unit 314 transmits the related information (music information) specified by the identification information (music ID) associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the time information received by the reception unit 313 belongs. 4 is transmitted.

  In addition, when the time indicated by the time information received by the reception unit 313 belongs to a plurality of predetermined periods included in the related information management table, the transmission unit 314 specifies the identification information associated with the plurality of predetermined periods. It is assumed that, among the plurality of pieces of related information, the related information having the highest priority is transmitted to the client computer 4 in order. Alternatively, the transmission unit 314 may randomly select related information from a plurality of related information regardless of the priority, and transmit the related information to the client computer 4. Alternatively, the transmission unit 314 may transmit only the related information having the highest priority among the plurality of related information to the client computer 4.

  If the time indicated by the time information received by the receiving unit 313 does not belong to a predetermined period included in the related information management table, the transmitting unit 314 does not transmit the related information to the client computer 4 or It is assumed that N pieces of related information identified by identification information associated with a predetermined period nearest to the time indicated by the time information are selected and transmitted to the client computer 4.

  Here, a process of selecting N pieces of related information specified by the identification information associated with the predetermined period nearest to the time represented by the time information will be described. When the predetermined period included in the related information management table is a period before the time represented by the time information, the transmission unit 314 calculates an elapsed time from the end date of the predetermined period to the time represented by the time information. On the other hand, when the predetermined period included in the related information is a period after the time represented by the time information, the transmission unit 314 calculates an elapsed time from the time represented by the time information to the start date of the predetermined period. Then, the transmitting unit 314 selects N pieces of related information specified by the identification information associated with the predetermined period in order from the shortest calculated elapsed time among the predetermined periods included in the related information management table. .

  Furthermore, when the client computer 4 displays a list of thumbnail images stored in the Exif header portion of the image information, the transmission unit 314 captures a shooting time belonging to a predetermined period to which the time represented by the time information received by the reception unit 313 belongs. The image information in which the shooting condition information including is stored in the Exif header part is acquired from the content storage unit 311. Then, the transmission unit 314 transmits the acquired image information to the client computer 4. Accordingly, the client computer 4 can acquire not the thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image information but the image information that has not been subjected to the scaling process.

  Note that when the identification information (shown in FIG. 4A) is registered in the Exif header portion of the acquired image information, the transmission unit 314 is specified by the identification information registered in the Exif header portion of the acquired image information. Assume that the related information is preferentially transmitted to the client computer 4. In the present embodiment, the transmission unit 314 first transmits related information specified by the identification information registered in the Exif header portion of the acquired image information to the client computer 4. Next, the transmission unit 314 transmits related information specified by the identification information associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the time information received by the reception unit 313 belongs to the client computer 4.

  Alternatively, the transmission unit 314 is associated with a predetermined period to which the related information specified by the identification information registered in the Exif header portion of the acquired image information and the time represented by the time information received by the reception unit 313 belongs. The related information may be selected at random from the related information specified by the identification information and transmitted to the client computer 4. Alternatively, the transmission unit 314 may repeatedly transmit related information specified by the identification information registered in the Exif header portion of the acquired image information to the client computer 4.

  Further, when the right flag associated with the identification information in the related information management table indicates that the right flag has not been purchased (that is, when the right flag is 0), the transmission unit 314 is specified by the identification information. It is assumed that only a part of the related information (for example, a sample version, a chorus part of music information, etc.) is transmitted to the client computer 4. Alternatively, when the right flag is 0, the transmission unit 314 inquires of the music distribution site 320 that manages the related information (music information) specified by the identification information whether or not the music information can be acquired. If possible, a sample version is acquired on demand and transmitted to the client computer 4. Note that if the song information cannot be acquired by deleting the song information from the song distribution site 320, the transmission unit 314 includes the time represented by the time information received by the receiving unit 313 in the related information management table. The process proceeds as if it does not belong to the predetermined period.

  Further, before purchasing the related information from the music distribution site 320, the transmission unit 314 confirms purchase confirmation screen information for displaying a purchase confirmation screen on the display device 19 in order to confirm the viewer's intention to purchase the relevant information. Is transmitted to the client computer 4.

  The content management unit 315 manages image information stored in the content storage unit 311. Specifically, the content management unit 315 stores and deletes image information in the content storage unit 311, registers (embeds) the shooting condition information, additional information, and information shown in FIG. 4A in the Exif header portion of the image information. Update is performed (embedding means according to the present invention). Further, the content management unit 315 may download related information (content) purchased from the music distribution site 320 (content server according to the present invention) to the content storage unit 311 and store the related information in the content storage unit 311. Is possible. In the present embodiment, the content management unit 315 downloads related information from the music distribution site 320 in advance and stores it in the content storage unit 311. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the music information may be downloaded from the music distribution site 320 and transmitted to the client computer 4 each time related information is transmitted to the client computer 4.

  The table management unit 316 manages the related information management table stored in the management table storage unit 312. Specifically, the table management unit 316 updates the related information management table by using information from the ranking transmission site 330 or the news site (update means according to the present invention). For example, based on the hit chart information acquired from the ranking transmission site 330, the table management unit 316 stores the song ID, rank (priority), and right flag of the top N pieces of song information in a predetermined period in the related information management table. Record. Further, when the related information is purchased, the table management unit 316 updates the right flag stored in association with the identification information of the related information to 1.

  The billing processing unit 317 manages purchase information of related information for each viewer stored in the RAM 13 or the HDD 15, and in accordance with the purchase of the related information, purchase information of the viewer who purchased the related information. It is updated (hereinafter referred to as billing process).

  The client computer 4 stores an image browsing program in the HDD 15 as an application program. That is, the client computer 4 functions as an image browsing device, and when an image browsing program operating on the OS is activated, the CPU 11 controls each unit and executes an image browsing process according to the image browsing program.

  The client computer 4 implements an operation acquisition unit 301, a display control unit 302, a transmission unit 303, a reception unit 304, and a reproduction unit 305 by the CPU 11 following an image browsing program that runs on the OS.

  The operation acquisition unit 301 is a means for acquiring the operation content of the browser, and accepts selection of image information on the timeline displayed in a list by the display control unit 302 described later and a purchase instruction for related information. More specifically, operation contents such as pressing of various buttons displayed on the display device 19 by the pointing device 21 and dragging and dropping of image information displayed on the display device 19 by the pointing device 21 are acquired.

  The display control unit 302 reads the image information (content) stored in the content storage unit 301 of the server computer 2 based on the operation content of the browser acquired from the operation acquisition unit 301, and stores the image information on the display device 19. This is means for controlling display / non-display, setting of detail level, automatic setting of display position of image information, and the like.

  More specifically, the display control unit 302 selects the image based on the shooting time included in the shooting condition information stored in the Exif header portion of the image information stored in the content storage unit 311 of the server computer 2. A display area for displaying a list of information (or thumbnail images of the image information) arranged on the timeline is displayed on the display screen of the display device 19.

  FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of the display screen. As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the display control unit 302 represents the time axis in a spiral shape in the display area A1, and arranges content (thumbnail / icon, etc.) thereon. In addition, the display control unit 302 adjusts the size and transparency of the image information (content) on the time axis expressed in a spiral shape according to time (the newer one becomes larger and opaque). For example, the transparency α may be set close to 100 according to the coordinates on the display with the reference being the right side of the screen.

  Thereby, confirmation of the periodicity of image information (content) can be facilitated.

  Further, the operation acquisition unit 301 can specify the period of the time axis expressed in a spiral manner in a stepwise manner, and the display control unit 302 expresses the time axis in a spiral shape according to the specified period (this embodiment) In the form of 10 days). Thereby, it can display with a suitable period according to the frequency of image information (content).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the display control unit 302 further displays a list area A2, which is a third display area for displaying a list of image information (contents) on the time axis expressed in a spiral shape. By using together with such list display of the list area A2, image information (contents) registered together at the same time overlaps only by spiral display, and this can be compensated.

  Furthermore, the display control unit 302 displays the content in the list area A2 that is the same as the specific content on the time axis expressed in a spiral (for example, the latest one among visible ones) at a specific position (for example, , Center) and display them in a manner distinguished from other contents (for example, display the corresponding image with a different frame color). Thereby, it is possible to clarify the correspondence between specific image information (contents) on the spiral and image information (contents) in the list area A2.

  In addition, the display control unit 302 displays a dedicated UI (purchase button or the like) on the display device 19 for accepting purchase of related information. Here, the dedicated UI is a visual representation of related information such as a jacket image of an album including song information that is related information or an icon representing the genre of the song information.

  Further, the display control unit 302 displays a purchase confirmation screen including a purchase confirmation button on the display device 19 in order to confirm the intention to purchase related information to the viewer according to the purchase confirmation screen information transmitted from the server computer 2. It shall be.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a purchase confirmation screen. As shown in FIG. 6, the display control unit 302 displays a purchase confirmation button (“Purchase”) 801 together with information (for example, song name, song ID, usage fee, etc.) regarding related information (song information) to be purchased. Shall be displayed.

  The transmission unit 303 transmits time information indicating the photographing time included in the photographing condition information stored in the Exif header portion of the image information received by the operation acquisition unit 301 to the server computer 2.

  The transmission unit 303 generates a purchase request according to the purchase instruction received by the operation acquisition unit 301 and transmits the generated purchase request to the server computer 2. More specifically, when the operation acquisition unit 301 receives a purchase instruction by pressing a purchase button, the transmission unit 303 generates a purchase request including only a message requesting purchase of related information. In addition, when the operation acquisition unit 301 receives a purchase instruction by selecting image information, the transmission unit 303 generates a purchase request including the selected image information in addition to a message requesting purchase of related information. .

  Furthermore, when the purchase confirmation button on the purchase confirmation screen displayed on the display device 19 is pressed, the transmission unit 303 transmits confirmation information indicating the purchase intention of the viewer to the server computer 2.

  In the related information management table stored in the management table storage unit 312 of the server computer 2, the reception unit 304 is identification information (song ID) associated with a predetermined period to which the time represented by the time information transmitted by the transmission unit 303 belongs. The related information (music information) specified by is received from the server computer 2.

  The receiving unit 304 receives purchase confirmation screen information and image information transmitted from the server computer 2.

  The reproduction unit 305 reproduces a song or the like according to related information (for example, song information) received by the reception unit 304.

  Next, a processing procedure for displaying image information and reproducing related information will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure for reproducing related information.

  First, the transmission unit 501 transmits to the server computer 2 time information representing the photographing time included in the photographing condition information stored in the Exif header portion of the image information received by the operation acquisition unit 301 (step S501). . The receiving unit 313 receives the time information transmitted from the transmitting unit 501 (step S502). Next, the transmission unit 314 acquires, from the content storage unit 311, image information in which shooting condition information including shooting times belonging to a predetermined period (section) to which the time information received by the receiving unit 313 belongs is stored in the Exif header unit. (Step S503). Then, the transmission unit 314 transmits the acquired image information to the client computer 4 (step S504).

  Further, the transmission unit 314 determines whether or not the song ID is embedded in the Exif header portion of the acquired image information (step S505). When the song ID is embedded in the Exif header portion of the acquired image information (step S505: Yes), the transmission unit 314 acquires the song information specified by the embedded song ID from the content storage unit 311. Then, the acquired music information is transmitted to the client computer 4 (step S508). On the other hand, when the song ID is not embedded in the Exid header portion of the acquired image information (step S505: No), the transmission unit 314 associates the song ID associated with the predetermined period to which the time information received by the reception unit 313 belongs. Is acquired from the content storage unit 311 (step S507), and the acquired music information is transmitted to the client computer 4 (step S508).

  The receiving unit 304 waits for reception of image information and song information from the server computer 2 (step S509: No, step S511: No). When the image information is received by the receiving unit 304 (step S509: Yes), the display control unit 302 displays the image represented by the received image information on the display device 19 (step S510), and the receiving unit 304 displays the music information. When receiving (step S511: Yes), the reproducing unit 305 reproduces the music according to the received music information (step S512).

  Next, a processing procedure for purchasing related information will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure for purchasing related information.

  The operation acquisition unit 301 waits for selection of image information displayed as a list on the display device 19 while the music is being played (step S701). When the image information is selected (step S701: Yes), the transmission unit 303 generates a purchase request including the selected image information (step S704). On the other hand, when the image information is not selected (step S701: No), the operation acquisition unit 301 waits for the purchase button displayed on the display device 19 to be pressed (step S702). When the purchase button is pressed (step S702: Yes), the transmission unit 303 generates a purchase request for the music information being played back (step S703). Then, the transmission unit 303 transmits the generated purchase request to the server computer 2 (step S705). If the purchase button is not pressed (step S702: No), the process returns to step S501 shown in FIG.

  Next, the receiving unit 313 receives the purchase request transmitted from the client computer 4 (step S706). When the receiving unit 313 receives a purchase request from the client computer 4, the transmitting unit 314 transmits purchase confirmation screen information to the client computer 4 (step S707).

  Next, the receiving unit 304 receives the purchase confirmation screen information transmitted from the server computer 2 (step S708), and displays the purchase confirmation screen (shown in FIG. 6) represented by the purchase confirmation screen information received by the display control unit 302. It is displayed on the display screen of the device 19. Then, when the purchase confirmation button on the purchase confirmation screen is pressed and the operation acquisition unit 301 accepts the intention to purchase the song information, the transmission unit 303 transmits the confirmation information to the server computer 2 (step S709).

  Next, the receiving unit 313 receives the confirmation information transmitted from the client computer 4 (step S710). When the receiving unit 313 receives the confirmation information, the charging processing unit 317 executes charging processing (step S711). If the purchase request received in step S706 includes image information, the content management unit 315 uses the song ID of the purchased song information as image information stored in the content storage unit 311 (included in the purchase request). Embedded in the Exif header portion of the image information) (step S712). Furthermore, the table management unit 316 updates the right flag associated with the song ID of the purchased song information to 1 in the related information management table stored in the management table storage unit 312 (step S713).

  Thus, according to the server client system 1 according to the present embodiment, related information related to the time (era) when the image information was generated can be provided to the viewer together with the image information. The periodicity can be easily confirmed, and the viewer can enjoy browsing the content more.

(Second Embodiment)
In the server client system according to the present embodiment, when related information (song information) to be purchased in response to a purchase request has already been purchased by another viewer and stored in the server computer, it is duplicated from the music distribution site. The music information stored in the server computer is used without downloading. Thereby, even after the music distribution site is closed, the music information can be used. In addition, the same part as 1st Embodiment is shown with the same code | symbol, and description is also abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure for purchasing related information. The processes shown in steps S901 to S912 and S919 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  When the content management unit 315 embeds the song ID of the purchased song information in the Exif header portion of the image information, the content management unit 315 determines whether the purchased song information is already stored in the content storage unit 311 (step 913). If the purchased song information is already stored in the content storage unit 311 (step S913: Yes), the transmission unit 313 acquires the purchased song information from the content storage unit 311 in step S507 shown in FIG. In step S914), it is transmitted to the client computer 4. In the present embodiment, the content management unit 315 may determine whether the purchased song information is already stored in the content storage unit 311 using the purchase information of the song information for each viewer. .

  On the other hand, when the purchased music information is not stored in the content storage unit 311 (step S913: No), the content management unit 315 transmits a music information transmission request to the music distribution site 320 (step S915).

  When the music distribution site 320 receives a transmission request from the server computer 2 (step S916), the music distribution site 320 transmits the music information requested to be transmitted to the server computer 2 (step S917). In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the detailed processing content in the music distribution site 320. FIG.

  Then, the content management unit 315 receives (acquires) the song information transmitted from the song distribution site 320 (step S918) and stores the song information in the content storage unit 311. Thereafter, the transmission unit 313 acquires the music piece information from the content storage unit 311 and transmits it to the client computer 4 when executing the process of step S507 shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the server client system 1 according to the present embodiment, when related information (song information) to be purchased in response to a purchase request has already been purchased by another viewer and stored in the server computer, Since the music information stored in the server computer can be used to send the music information to the client computer without duplicating downloads from the music distribution site, the music distribution site is closed after the music distribution site is closed. Even song information can be used.

(Third embodiment)
The server client system according to the present embodiment acquires on-demand from a music distribution site and transmits it to the client computer every time it is necessary to transmit the purchased related information (music information) to the client computer. Thereby, since it is not necessary to store the related information which purchased in the server computer, the storage capacity of a server computer can be saved. In addition, the same part as 1st Embodiment is shown with the same code | symbol, and description is also abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure for purchasing related information. The processes shown in steps S1001 to S1012 and S1017 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The content management unit 315 transmits a music information transmission request to the music distribution site 320 (step S1013).

  When the music distribution site 320 receives a transmission request from the server computer 2 (step S1014), the music distribution site 320 transmits the music information requested to be transmitted to the server computer 2 (step S1015). In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the detailed processing content in the music distribution site 320. FIG.

  Then, the content management unit 315 receives (acquires) the song information transmitted from the song distribution site 320 (step S1016), and stores the song information in the content storage unit 311. Thereafter, the transmission unit 313 acquires the music piece information from the content storage unit 311 and transmits it to the client computer 4 when executing the process of step S507 shown in FIG.

  Thus, according to the server client system 1 concerning this Embodiment, whenever it becomes necessary to transmit the purchased relevant information (music information) to a client computer, it acquires on demand from a music distribution site, and the said client By transmitting to the computer, it is not necessary to store the purchased related information in the server computer, so that the storage capacity of the server computer can be saved.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the server client system according to the present embodiment, even if the related information has already been purchased, once it is downloaded to the client computer, the server computer handles the related information as not purchased. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the related information stored in the server computer from being illegally and repeatedly downloaded to the client computer. In addition, the same part as 1st Embodiment is shown with the same code | symbol, and description is also abbreviate | omitted.

  The transmission unit 314 (transfer means according to the present invention) transfers (downloads) related information stored in the content storage unit 311 to the client computer 4.

  When the related information is downloaded to the client computer 4, the table management unit 316 (updating unit according to the present invention) has a right flag associated with the related information in the related information management table stored in the management table storage unit 312. Is updated to 0.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure when related information is uploaded from a client computer to a server computer.

  The transmission unit 303 transmits the related information once downloaded from the client computer 4 to the server computer 2 and uploads the related information (step S1101).

  The content management unit 315 stores the related information uploaded from the client computer 4 in the content storage unit 311. Further, the content management unit 315 is stored in the Exif header portion of the image information together with the user ID for specifying the viewer who operates the client computer 4 and the identification information for specifying the uploaded related information. It is determined whether or not the user ID matches (step S1102).

  When the user ID for specifying the viewer who operates the client computer 4 matches the user ID stored in the Exif header portion of the image information (step S1102: Yes), the content management unit 315 It is determined whether the number of copies stored in the Exif header portion of the image information exceeds the upper limit (step S1103). When the copy count stored in the Exif header portion of the image information does not exceed the upper limit (step S1103: No), the content management unit 315 increases the copy count stored in the Exif header portion of the image information by 1 ( Step S1104). Further, the table management unit 316 updates the right flag associated with the identification information stored in the Exif header portion of the image information in the related information management table to 1 (step S1105). As a result, the server computer 2 can transmit the related information to the client computer 4 again.

  If the user ID for specifying the viewer who operates the client computer 4 does not match the user ID stored in the Exif header portion of the image information (step S1102: No), the Exif header of the image information When the number of copies stored in the copy exceeds the upper limit (step S1103: Yes), or when the right flag of the related information management table is updated to 1 (step S1105), the content management unit 35 receives the client computer. The related information uploaded from 4 is stored (stored) in the content storage unit 311 (step S1106).

  As described above, according to the server client system 1 according to the present embodiment, even if the related information has already been purchased, after the information is once downloaded to the client computer, the related information is not purchased in the server computer. It is possible to prevent the related information stored in the server computer from being illegally and repeatedly downloaded to the client computer.

(Fifth embodiment)
When the server client system according to this embodiment prints out image information, it prints identification information (song ID) for specifying related information (song information) embedded in the image information. Then, the paper medium on which the image information and the identification information are printed is read, and the music information specified by the read music ID is reproduced. Thereby, even when browsing the image information printed on the paper medium, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the same part as 1st Embodiment is shown with the same code | symbol, and description is also abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure for printing image information and identification information on a paper medium.

  The operation acquisition unit 301 determines whether a print button (not shown) that receives an instruction to print image information has been pressed (step S1201). If the print button is not pressed (step S1201: No), the process returns to step S501 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the print button is pressed (step S1201: Yes), the transmission unit 303 (the print control unit according to the present invention) is embedded in the image information for which the print instruction has been received and the Exif header portion of the image information. Print information including identification information (music ID) is generated (step S1202), and the generated print information is transmitted to the image output device 6 (step S1203). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the transmission unit 303 generates print information including a two-dimensional barcode representing a song ID.

  The image output device 6 receives the print information from the transmission unit 303 (step S1204), and prints out the received print information on a paper medium (step S1205).

  When the two-dimensional barcode is read from the paper medium by the image input device (scanner) 5 (step S1206), the transmission unit 303 transmits the song ID represented by the read two-dimensional barcode to the server computer 2 ( Step S1207).

  The receiving unit 313 receives the song ID from the client computer 4 (step 1208). Then, the transmission unit 314 acquires music information specified by the music ID received by the reception unit 313 from the content storage unit 311 or the music distribution site 320 (step S1209), and transmits the acquired music information to the client computer 4. (Step S1210). Also in this embodiment, the transmission unit 314 transmits only a part of the music to the client computer 4 when the acquired music information is not purchased (that is, when the right flag is 0). .

  The receiving unit 304 receives the song information transmitted from the server computer 2 (step S1211). Then, the reproducing unit 305 reproduces the music according to the music information received by the receiving unit 304.

  As described above, according to the server client system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the image information is printed out, the identification information (music information) for specifying the related information (music information) embedded in the image information. ID) is printed, and then the paper information on which the image information and the identification information are printed is read, and the music information specified by the read music ID is reproduced to view the image information printed on the paper medium. In this case, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the system construction example concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a module block diagram of the client computer as an image browsing apparatus in 1st Embodiment, and the server computer as an information management apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a server computer and a client computer. It is a figure which shows an example of the information registered into the Exif header part. It is a figure which shows an example of a related information management table. It is a front view which shows an example of a display screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a purchase confirmation screen. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence which reproduces | regenerates relevant information. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence which purchases relevant information. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence which purchases relevant information. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence which purchases relevant information. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence when related information is uploaded to the server computer from the client computer. It is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure for printing image information and identification information on a paper medium.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server client system 2 Server computer 3 Network 4 Client computer 5 Image input device 6 Image output device 7 MFP
8 Intranet 9 Internet communication network 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Primary storage device 15 HDD
16 Secondary storage device 17 Removable disk device 18 Network interface 19 Display device 20 Keyboard 21 Pointing device 301 Operation acquisition unit 302 Display control unit 303, 314 Transmission unit 304, 313 Reception unit 305 Playback unit 311 Content storage unit 312 Management table storage unit 315 Content management unit 316 Table management unit 317 Charge processing unit 320 Music distribution site 330 Ranking distribution site

Claims (15)

Storage means for storing image information to which time is added;
A time representing the time added to the image information that has been selected from an image browsing device that displays the image information on a timeline in a list based on the time added to the image information stored in the storage means Receiving means for receiving information;
Identified by the identification information associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the received time information belongs, according to a related information management table associating the predetermined period with identification information for identifying related information related to the predetermined period Transmitting means for transmitting the related information to the image browsing device;
An information management device comprising: The related information management table further associates the order of song information as the related information with the identification information,
2. The information management according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the music information having a higher rank among the music information associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the time information belongs. apparatus. The storage means further stores the related information,
3. The related information management table is configured to associate the identification information with the predetermined period determined based on a registration date when the related information is stored in the storage unit. The information management device described in 1. Further comprising embedding means for embedding the identification information in the image information,
The transmission means is specified by the identification information when the identification information is embedded in the image information stored in the storage means and added with a time belonging to the predetermined period. The information management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the related information is transmitted. The related information management table further associates a right flag indicating whether or not the related information has been purchased with the identification information,
The transmission means transmits a part of the related information specified by the identification information when the right flag associated with the identification information indicates that it has not been purchased. Item 5. The information management device according to any one of Items 1 to 4. The reception means further receives a purchase request for the related information including the image information from the image browsing device,
The embedding means embeds the identification information in the image information stored in the storage means when the related information is purchased in accordance with a purchase request for the related information including the image information. 4. The information management apparatus according to 4.   4. The information management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmission unit transmits the related information stored in the storage unit.   The information storage device according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit stores the related information that has been purchased.   The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit acquires the related information stored in a content server and transmits the acquired related information. Transfer means for transferring the related information stored in the storage means to the image browsing device;
When the related information is transferred to the image browsing device, an update unit that updates the right flag associated with the related information in the related information management table to the right flag indicating that the related information is not purchased;
The information management apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: Display control means for displaying a list of the image information arranged on a timeline based on the time added to the image information stored in the information management device;
Operation acquisition means for accepting selection of the image information on the displayed timeline;
Transmitting means for transmitting time information representing the time added to the image information for which selection has been received to the information management device;
In the related information management table associating a predetermined period with identification information for specifying related information related to the predetermined period, specified by the identification information associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the transmitted time information belongs Receiving means for receiving the related information from the information management device;
Reproducing means for reproducing the received related information;
An image browsing apparatus comprising: The display control means further displays a purchase button for accepting purchase of the related information,
The operation acquisition means further accepts purchase of the related information by pressing the purchase button,
The image browsing device according to claim 11, wherein the transmission unit further transmits a purchase request for the related information to the information management device when the purchase of the related information is received.   The print control unit for printing the image information and the identification information on a paper medium when the identification information is embedded in the image information to be printed. Image browsing device. A storage step for storing image information to which time is added; and
The time added to the image information received by the receiving means from the image browsing device that displays the image information on the timeline in a list based on the time added to the image information stored in the storing step. A receiving process for receiving time information representing
The transmission means is associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the received time information belongs, according to a related information management table associating the predetermined period with identification information for specifying related information related to the predetermined period. A transmission step of transmitting the related information specified by the identification information to the image browsing device;
An information management method characterized by comprising: A display control step in which the display control means displays a list of the image information arranged on a timeline based on the time added to the image information stored in the information management device;
An operation acquisition step in which an operation acquisition means receives selection for the image information on the timeline displayed in a list;
A transmission step of transmitting time information representing a time added to the image information for which selection has been received to the information management device;
In the related information management table in which the reception unit associates the predetermined period with the identification information for specifying the related information related to the predetermined period, the reception unit is associated with the predetermined period to which the time represented by the transmitted time information belongs Receiving the related information specified by the identification information from the information management device;
A reproduction step of reproducing the related information received;
An image browsing method characterized by comprising:

Images