JP2011028675A - Collaborative drawing device, collaborative drawing method, collaborative drawing program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for supporting simultaneous drawing of the same image by collaboration of a plurality of client terminals. <P>SOLUTION: When a user in a home draws an image by using an in-home client terminal 210, the in-home client terminal 210 interprets the contents of the drawing operation and transmits the interpreted contents to a collaborative drawing server 100 as drawing information. When the drawing information is received from the in-home client terminal 210, the collaborative drawing server 100 generates or updates image data, by using the received drawing information and transmits generated or updated image data to the in-home client terminal 210 and a visiting destination client terminal 400. Consequently, the in-home client terminal 210 and the visiting destination client terminal 400 can share the same image data. Since the drawing operation performed in each client terminal is reflected to the collaborative drawing server 100 and the image data are distributed to respective client terminals, the plurality of client terminals can simultaneously perform the collaborative drawing of the same image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique in which one or more client terminals jointly draw an image.

  In recent years, an environment in which users at remote locations jointly create contents via the Internet has been prepared. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 describes a technique for registering a part of content produced by a content creator or content in the middle of production so that other creators can use the content. As a result, the production work can be performed using the content produced by other creators.

  Also, in the same document, the copyright information of the creator is assigned to the first generated content and managed in the database, and there is a browsing request for content processing from another content creator Presents a sample of the content. If the creator of the original content approves content processing, the other content creator is allowed to process the content. As described above, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, copyright management can be performed while a plurality of content creators jointly produce content.

JP 2001-290781 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of content creators can jointly produce content, but it is difficult for a plurality of content creators to simultaneously perform production work on the same content. In other words, in order for each content creator to process the same content, it is necessary to wait until the work of another content creator is completed.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a technique for supporting a plurality of client terminals to jointly draw the same image at the same time.

  The collaborative drawing apparatus according to the present invention receives drawing information representing a drawing operation performed on a client terminal, updates image data, and transmits the image data to another client terminal.

  According to the collaborative drawing apparatus according to the present invention, each client terminal individually updates the image data, and the updated image data can be shared between the client terminals. As a result, a drawing operation performed at a certain client terminal is also reflected on other client terminals, so that a plurality of client terminals can simultaneously perform a drawing operation on the same image.

1 is a configuration diagram of a collaborative drawing system 1000 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the schematic flow of the data in the joint drawing system. 2 is a functional block diagram of a collaborative drawing server 100. FIG. It is a communication sequence diagram between the home client terminal 210 and the collaborative drawing server 100. It is a flowchart explaining the detail of step S415 of FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that the image update part 120 updates an image for every layer. 6 is a functional block diagram of a collaborative drawing server 100 according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the theme list | wrist 131, and a data example. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a drawing history 132 and data examples. FIG. FIG. 10 is a communication sequence diagram between the home client terminal 210 and the collaborative drawing server 100 in the second embodiment. It is a figure explaining the detail of the process which reproduces | regenerates the drawing log | history in step S1005 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration and data example of a drawing history 132 in the third embodiment. It is a figure explaining the difference in the image generation method for every paper quality to be used. FIG. 10 is a communication sequence diagram between the home client terminal 210 and the collaborative drawing server 100 in the third embodiment.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a collaborative drawing system 1000 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The joint drawing system 1000 includes the joint drawing server 100, each device in the house 200, a network 300, and a client terminal 400 on the go. In the house 200, a home client terminal 210 and a home network 220 exist.

  The joint drawing server 100 is an apparatus that supports one or more client terminals to jointly draw an image, and corresponds to the “joint drawing apparatus” in the first embodiment. The configuration of the joint drawing server 100 will be described again with reference to FIG.

  The in-home client terminal 210 and the out-of-home client terminal 400 can be configured using a terminal device compatible with the Jini specification in which JavaVM (Virtual Machine) (registered trademark) operates. A user jointly draws an image using these terminals. The home client terminal 210 and the out-of-home client terminal 400 are connected to the joint drawing server 100 via the home network 220 and the network 300, respectively.

  In FIG. 1, only two client terminals and only one joint drawing server 100 are described, but there is no limit on the number thereof.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic flow of data in the collaborative drawing system 1000. When a user in the house 200 performs an image drawing operation using the home client terminal 210, the home client terminal 210 interprets the drawing operation content and transmits it as drawing information to the joint drawing server 100.

  The drawing information here does not necessarily have to be the image data itself that the user draws using the home client terminal 210. For example, the information specifying the coordinate data, color, transparency, etc. of the drawing trajectory can be used as the drawing information. In the following description, the latter example is assumed. A specific example of the drawing information will be described later.

  Upon receiving drawing information from the home client terminal 210, the joint drawing server 100 generates or updates image data using the drawing information, and transmits the image data to the home client terminal 210 and the out-of-home client terminal 400.

  Through the above operation, the home client terminal 210 and the out-of-home client terminal 400 can share the same image data. In addition, since the drawing operation performed by each client terminal is reflected on the joint drawing server 100 and the image data is distributed to each client terminal, a plurality of client terminals can simultaneously jointly draw the same image.

  The operation of each device when the user of the client client terminal 400 performs a drawing operation is the same as described above.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the collaborative drawing server 100. The joint drawing server 100 includes a receiving unit 110, an image updating unit 120, a storage unit 130, and a transmission unit 140.

  The receiving unit 110 receives the above drawing information from each client terminal and outputs the drawing information to the image update unit 120.

  The image update unit 120 creates image data using the drawing information received by the receiving unit 110 or updates the created image data and stores the image data in the storage unit 130. The creation of the image data here means that the same image data as the image drawn by the user on the client terminal is generated inside the joint drawing server 100 in accordance with the image drawing operation represented by the content of the drawing information. The same applies to the update of the image data.

  The storage unit 130 stores the image data created or updated by the image update unit 120.

  The transmission unit 140 transmits the image data stored in the storage unit 130 to each client terminal.

  The receiving unit 110 and the transmitting unit 140 appropriately include an interface necessary for connecting to a network.

  The image updating unit 120 can be configured by using hardware such as a circuit device that realizes the function, or by using an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and software that defines the operation thereof. You can also

  The storage unit 130 can be configured using a writable storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  FIG. 4 is a communication sequence diagram between the home client terminal 210 and the collaborative drawing server 100. For the convenience of description, the operation of each device is represented as a flowchart, and portions where communication processing is performed are connected to each other with arrows to show a communication sequence. Hereinafter, each step of FIG. 4 will be described.

(FIG. 4: Step S401)
A user of the home client terminal 210 executes a login procedure for the collaborative drawing server 100. The login procedure is, for example, inputting a user ID and a password. The home client terminal 210 transmits the user ID and password to the joint drawing server 100.

(FIG. 4: Step S402)
The receiving unit 110 of the joint drawing server 100 receives the user ID and password transmitted from the home client terminal 210 and executes an authentication procedure. With this step, the collaborative drawing server 100 can specify a user who is using the home client terminal 210. The transmission unit 140 of the joint drawing server 100 transmits the result of the authentication procedure to the home client terminal 210. At this time, the internal time of the joint drawing server 100 may be transmitted to the home client terminal 210 for time adjustment. The home client terminal 210 adjusts its own time to the internal time of the joint drawing server 100.

(FIG. 4: Step S403)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects on the home client terminal 210 whether or not he / she wants to draw an image together with other users. If joint drawing is desired, the process proceeds to step S404. If not desired, the process proceeds to step S409.

(FIG. 4: Step S404)
The home client terminal 210 displays a list of counterpart users who perform joint drawing. This list may be stored in the home client terminal 210 in advance as a specified list, or at the time of executing this step, a list of candidates for the other user is searched using an appropriate technique via the network. May be obtained. The user of the home client terminal 210 selects a partner who desires joint drawing from the list of partner users. The home client terminal 210 requests the joint drawing server 100 to permit joint drawing with the other user selected by the user.

(FIG. 4: Step S405)
The receiving unit 110 of the collaborative drawing server 100 receives a request from the home client terminal 210 to permit joint drawing with the partner user selected in step S404. The transmission unit 140 of the joint drawing server 100 transmits a message for confirming whether or not joint drawing is permitted to the client terminal used by the partner user. The collaborative drawing server 100 receives the response from the client terminal used by the other user and transmits it to the home client terminal 210.

(FIG. 4: Step S406)
The home client terminal 210 receives the response transmitted by the collaborative drawing server 100 in step S405. If the response is “permitted”, the process proceeds to step S407, and if “not permitted”, the process returns to step S403 to repeat the same processing.

(FIG. 4: Step S407)
The home client terminal 210 transmits the user ID of the partner user who performs joint drawing to the joint drawing server 100.

(FIG. 4: Step S408)
The receiving unit 110 of the joint drawing server 100 receives the user ID of the partner user who performs joint drawing from the home client terminal 210. By this step, the collaborative drawing server 100 can specify a partner user who performs collaborative drawing with the user of the home client terminal 210.

(FIG. 4: Step S409)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects a pen device to be used for drawing an image. The pen device here is a virtual pen on software that defines the thickness and type of a line when an image is drawn on the screen of the home client terminal 210. Examples of the virtual pen device include a brush, a colored pencil, a pastel, a brush, an airbrush, and a palette knife.

(FIG. 4: Step S410)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects the pen device shape selected in step S409.

(FIG. 4: Step S411)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects a paint to be used for drawing an image. The term “paint” as used herein refers to a virtual paint on the software that defines the texture of lines when an image is drawn on the screen of the home client terminal 210. Examples of virtual paints include oil paints, watercolor paints and acrylic paints.

(FIG. 4: Step S412)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects a color for drawing an image.

(FIG. 4: Step S413)
A user of the home client terminal 210 performs a drawing operation on the home client terminal 210. The home client terminal 210 obtains a drawing trajectory (coordinates on the screen on which the drawing operation is performed) from the drawing operation, and sends it to the joint drawing server 100 as drawing information together with the contents selected by the user in steps S409 to S412. Send.

(FIG. 4: Step S414)
The receiving unit 110 of the joint drawing server 100 receives drawing information transmitted from the home client terminal 210.

(FIG. 4: Step S415)
The image update unit 120 of the joint drawing server 100 executes the image drawing process using the drawing information received by the receiving unit 110 in step S414. Details of this step will be described later with reference to FIG.

(FIG. 4: Step S416)
The transmission unit 140 of the joint drawing server 100 acquires the image data generated or updated by the image update unit 120 from the storage unit 130 and transmits the image data to the home client terminal 210.

(FIG. 4: Step S417)
The home client terminal 210 receives the image transmitted by the collaborative drawing server 100.

(FIG. 4: Step S418)
The home client terminal 210 displays the image received in step S417.

(FIG. 4: Step S419)
The home client terminal 210 checks whether a joint drawing request from another client terminal has arrived. Specifically, it is checked whether or not the message described in step S405 has arrived from the joint drawing server 100.

(FIG. 4: Step S420)
If the joint drawing request for the home client terminal 210 has arrived, the process proceeds to step S421, and if not, the process proceeds to step S423.

(FIG. 4: Step S421)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects whether to permit joint drawing. The home client terminal 210 transmits the selection result to the collaborative drawing server 100.

(FIG. 4: Step S422)
The receiving unit 110 of the collaborative drawing server 100 receives from the home client terminal 210 a response indicating whether or not collaborative drawing is permitted. The collaborative drawing server 100 transmits the response received from the home client terminal 210 to the transmission source of the collaborative drawing request by the same processing procedure as in step S405.

(FIG. 4: Step S423)
The home client terminal 210 proceeds to step S424 when performing an operation of drawing an image, and returns to step S409 when continuing to repeat the same processing.

(FIG. 4: Step S424)
A user of the home client terminal 210 performs a logout procedure at the home client terminal 210. The home client terminal 210 transmits a logout request to the joint drawing server 100.

(FIG. 4: Step S425)
The joint drawing server 100 executes a logout procedure.

  The communication sequence between the home client terminal 210 and the joint drawing server 100 has been described above. The communication sequence between the other client terminals (for example, the client client 400 on the go) and the collaborative drawing server 100 is the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating details of step S415 in FIG. Hereinafter, each step of FIG. 5 will be described.

(FIG. 5: Step S501)
The image updating unit 120 executes exclusive control (locking) of image data so that a plurality of client terminals simultaneously update the image data and the image data is not damaged. Specifically, processing such as writing flag information indicating that the image data is being updated to the storage unit 130 is conceivable. Other suitable techniques may be used. While the image updating unit 120 reflects the previous drawing information on the image data, the other drawing information is put into a process waiting state by exclusive control. When drawing information arrives simultaneously from a plurality of client terminals, or when a plurality of drawing information waiting for processing is generated, the drawing information is prioritized based on, for example, a user ID. The image update unit 120 reflects the drawing information one by one as described above.

(FIG. 5: Step S502)
The image update unit 120 draws an image by reflecting the drawing operation represented by the content of the drawing information in the image data stored in the storage unit 120. In this step, each time the drawing information is newly reflected in the image data, the upper layer is overwritten on the image data before reflection, and the drawing operation is reflected in the upper layer. As a result, an effect of overwriting the previous image from above can be obtained. The layers will be shown again in FIG.

(FIG. 5: Step S503)
The image update unit 120 integrates the layers from bottom to top and generates one piece of image data. In addition, the generated image is written in the storage unit 130.

(FIG. 5: Step S504)
The image update unit 120 cancels the exclusive control executed in step S501.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the image update unit 120 updates an image for each layer. Every time the same image data is updated, the image update unit 120 generates a virtual drawing area called a layer and reflects the drawing information on this layer. When reflecting new drawing information, a new layer is generated on top of the old layer. When integrating layers, the layers are integrated in order from the lower layer to the upper layer. As a result, the last drawing operation is reflected on the top.

  In addition, by generating one layer each time one piece of drawing information is reflected in image data, a plurality of client terminals can simultaneously perform drawing operations on the same image. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the user with the user ID (A) and the user with the user ID (B) overwrite and update the image using the respective client terminals.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the joint drawing server 100 holds image data to be drawn, and each client terminal transmits drawing information to the joint drawing server 100. The joint drawing server 100 creates or updates image data using the drawing information and distributes the image data to each client terminal. Thereby, one or more client terminals can jointly perform drawing work on the same image at the same time.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the image updating unit 120 executes exclusive control (locking the image data) when updating the image data. Thereby, even if each client terminal updates the same image at the same time, there is no fear that the image data is damaged.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, distributed processing can be performed by the joint drawing server 100 and each client terminal. For example, it is not necessary for each client terminal to have a function for a user to draw an image, and it is sufficient if the user can transmit drawing information to the joint drawing server 100 and receive and display an image from the joint drawing server 100. Thereby, since the processing of each client terminal can be reduced, the client terminal can be reduced in size and power can be saved.

<Embodiment 2>
In Embodiment 2 of the present invention, a configuration and operation for performing joint drawing using a prescribed background image will be described. Also, a description will be given of a configuration and an operation in which a history of drawing work performed by the user on each client terminal can be saved and the drawing work can be reproduced later.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the collaborative drawing server 100 according to the second embodiment. The joint drawing server 100 according to the second embodiment includes a new subject list 131 and a drawing history 132 in the storage unit 130 in addition to the configuration described in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. Since other configurations are generally the same as those in the first embodiment, the following description will focus on the differences.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the theme list 131 and data examples. The theme list 131 holds a list of images that can be used as a background image when the user of each client terminal draws an image and the background image data. This background image data can be used as a theme (material) of an image to be drawn.

  The use of the background image data is not necessarily limited to the background image, and can be used as a template for drawing an image. In the following, for the sake of convenience, the subject and the background image will be treated almost synonymously.

  The theme list 131 holds each background image ("background image" column in FIG. 8) and its ID ("subject ID" column in FIG. 8). Examples of background images include landscapes, still lifes, illustrations, and the like. Or a line drawing such as a sketch of a coloring book, a blurred image with a lighter color overall, a photograph, and the like are also conceivable. A background image composed of a white image on which nothing is drawn can also be used like a plain canvas.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the drawing history 132 and data examples. The drawing history 132 is information that holds the history of each client terminal sending drawing information to the joint drawing server 100 regarding the same image data. The image update unit 120 creates a new drawing history 132 each time the client terminal 210 newly starts drawing an image. Each item held in the drawing history 132 will be described.

  “History ID” is used as a serial number for identifying each drawing history 132.

  The “subject ID” corresponds to the “subject ID” column of the subject list 131 and holds the subject ID of the subject selected by the client terminal that first started image drawing.

  The “co-drawing user” holds each user ID of the client terminal that jointly draws the image data. The user ID of the client terminal that participated in the joint drawing from the middle is also stored in this item.

  “Drawing information” holds a history of drawing information transmitted by each client terminal for the image data together with the reception date (time stamp) of each drawing information. One “drawing information” corresponds to one layer described in FIG. This item holds a history of all drawing information received by the collaborative drawing server 100 until the collaborative drawing work is completed (all collaborative drawing users log out).

  “Drawing locus” in “Drawing information” represents, for example, the start coordinates and end coordinates of a line segment in the case of drawing a line segment, and the center coordinates and radius in the case of drawing a circle. Similarly, drawing information other than the above represents coordinate information or the like that can specify the drawing shape.

  FIG. 10 is a communication sequence diagram between the home client terminal 210 and the joint drawing server 100 in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of FIG. 10 will be described.

(FIG. 10: Steps S401 to S402)
These steps are the same as those in FIG.

(FIG. 10: Step S1001)
The home client terminal 210 requests the joint drawing server 100 to transmit the subject list 131.

(FIG. 10: Step S1002)
The receiving unit 110 of the collaborative drawing server 100 receives a request that the subject list 131 should be transmitted. The transmission unit 140 acquires the theme list 131 from the storage unit 130 and transmits it to the home client terminal 210.

(FIG. 10: Step S1003)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects whether to start drawing a new image or restart drawing an image drawn in the past. When drawing of a new image is started, the process proceeds to step S1008, and when drawing of an image drawn in the past is resumed, the process proceeds to step S1004.

(FIG. 10: Step S1004)
The home client terminal 210 requests the joint drawing server 100 to resume drawing of images drawn in the past. At this time, the user ID of the user is transmitted to the joint drawing server 100 together.

(FIG. 10: Step S1005)
The receiving unit 110 of the joint drawing server 100 receives a request for resuming drawing of an image drawn in the past and a user ID. The image update unit 120 searches the drawing history 132 stored in the storage unit 130 using the user ID as a key. The image update unit 120 reproduces an image drawn by the home client terminal 210 in the past by reproducing the drawing history 132 obtained as a result of the search. The transmission unit 140 transmits the image to the home client terminal 210. Details of the process of reproducing the drawing history will be described later with reference to FIG.

(FIG. 10: Step S1005: Supplement)
As another method in which the image updating unit 120 resumes drawing that has been interrupted in the past, a method in which the joint drawing server 100 holds the state when the client terminal 210 finishes drawing can be considered. In this case, when the drawing information is not transmitted from the client terminal 210 for a predetermined time or when a connection end command is received, the joint drawing server 100 holds the drawing state at that time as it is. When the client terminal 210 resumes drawing, drawing is resumed from the held final state. This method is also effective when the connection between the client terminal 210 and the joint server 100 is temporarily interrupted.

(FIG. 10: Step S1006)
The home client terminal 210 receives the image transmitted by the collaborative drawing server 100.

(FIG. 10: Step S1007)
The home client terminal 210 displays the received image. The subsequent steps are the same as those after step S403 in FIG.

(FIG. 10: Step S1008)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects a desired material from the material list 131. The home client terminal 210 transmits the subject ID of the subject specified by the user to the joint drawing server 100.

(FIG. 10: Step S1009)
The receiving unit 110 of the joint drawing server 100 receives the designation of the subject ID. The subsequent steps are the same as those after step S403 in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the details of the process of reproducing the drawing history in step S1005 of FIG. Hereinafter, each step of FIG. 11 will be described.

(FIG. 11: Step S1101)
The image update unit 120 searches the drawing history 132 stored in the storage unit 130 using the user ID as a key.

(FIG. 11: Step S1102)
The image update unit 120 reads the drawing history 132 obtained as a result of the search, and acquires the value of each item in the drawing history.

(FIG. 11: Step S1103)
The image update unit 120 executes the drawing process described with reference to FIG.

(FIG. 11: Step S1104)
The image update unit 120 transmits an image obtained as a result of the drawing process to the client terminal.

  The communication sequence between the home client terminal 210 and the joint drawing server 100 has been described above. The communication sequence between the other client terminals (for example, the client client 400 on the go) and the joint drawing server 100 is the same as that in FIG.

  In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the image update unit 120 reflects the drawing information on the background image data (subject) selected by the client terminal and updates the background image data. The original background image data is stored separately, and the drawing information may be reflected in the copy data, or the background image data itself may be updated.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the user of the client terminal selects a desired material from the material list 131 stored in the storage unit 130 and draws an image using the material. Can start. Thereby, the variation of the image to draw can be expanded.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, the user of the client terminal can newly acquire an image drawn in the past and resume drawing. This makes it possible to jointly draw complex images that take time to draw. In addition, even if the work schedule of the co-drawer does not match, flexible operation is possible, such as drawing only by the user who can do the drawing work, and another co-drawer doing the remaining work later. Become. Furthermore, images drawn in the past can be used instead of the subject.

<Embodiment 3>
In the third embodiment of the present invention, a configuration and operation for reflecting a transparency effect when an image is overwritten and drawn on the image will be described. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, the following description will focus on differences.

  In general, when an image is overwritten on normal paper, the newly drawn image appears on the front and the old image is hidden on the back. However, depending on the type of paper on which an image is drawn, different drawing effects may be exhibited.

  For example, consider the case where the paper used for drawing is a half paper. The half paper has the property of drawing the paint into the paper and exhibits a drawing effect different from other drawing bases such as drawing paper and canvas. A semi-paper has the property that, regardless of how many times the paint is applied, what is written first appears in front of what is written later. When drawing an ink painting or the like, it is better to draw using this property of a half paper.

  In the third embodiment, the difference in paper quality as described above is introduced into the drawing work performed on the client terminal. When starting drawing, the user selects the type of paper on which an image is drawn. Actually, it is not drawn on paper, but the difference in paper quality is expressed by the transmission effect of the image. This will be described later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration and an example of data of the drawing history 132 according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the drawing history 132 newly holds a “paper type ID” in addition to the configuration described in FIG. Other items are the same as those in FIG.

  The “paper type ID” stores an identifier of the paper type used when the user of each client terminal draws an image. In the third embodiment, since the difference in paper quality is expressed by the image transmission effect, the value of this item actually indicates the type of the transmission effect.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the difference in the image generation method for each paper quality to be used. For comparison, the contents of FIG. 6 are also shown in FIG.

  In the case of drawing an image using normal paper as shown in FIG. 13A, when another image is overwritten on the previously drawn image, the last drawn image is at the top. appear. Therefore, the image updating unit 120 superimposes a layer each time it newly receives drawing information.

  FIG. 13B shows an image generation method in the case of expressing a transmission effect such as drawing an image using a half paper. In order to simulate the feature that when the image is drawn on the half paper, the first writing appears in front of the later writing, the image update unit 120 superimposes the layer every time new drawing information is received. It was. When the layers are finally integrated, the layers are integrated by adding them downward (back side). This means that what you write first appears in front of what you write later.

  FIG. 14 is a communication sequence diagram between home client terminal 210 and collaborative drawing server 100 in the third embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of FIG. 13 will be described.

(FIG. 14: Steps S401 to S402)
These steps are the same as those in FIG.

(FIG. 14: Steps S1001 to S1009)
These steps are the same as those in FIG. However, the difference is that steps S1301 to S1302 are added after steps S1008 to S1009.

(FIG. 14: Step S1401)
The user of the home client terminal 210 selects a desired paper type. Examples of paper types include drawing paper, half paper, and canvas. The home client terminal 210 notifies the joint drawing server 100 of the paper type specified by the user.

(FIG. 14: Step S1402)
The receiving unit 110 of the collaborative drawing server 100 receives a paper type designation. The subsequent steps are the same as those after step S403 in FIG.

  The communication sequence between the home client terminal 210 and the joint drawing server 100 has been described above. In the third embodiment, since the image generation method (layer addition order and integration order) is different for each paper type, it is necessary to change the process in the drawing process of FIG. 5 as follows.

(FIG. 5: Step S502)
The image update unit 120 draws an image by reflecting the drawing operation represented by the content of the drawing information in the image data stored in the storage unit 130. In this step, every time drawing information is newly reflected in the image data, a lower layer is added to the image data before reflection, and the drawing operation is reflected in the lower layer. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect such that what is written first appears before what is written later.

(FIG. 5: Step S503)
The image update unit 120 integrates the layers from top to bottom and generates one image data. In addition, the generated image is written in the storage unit 130.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, every time drawing information is received, the image update unit 120 adjusts the position where the layers are added and the integration order so that the first drawing information appears at the forefront. As a result, it is possible to exhibit a drawing effect as if the first drawn image is transmitted through the forefront of the paper.

<Embodiment 4>
In step S410 described in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, the pen shape is selected. However, if the client terminal can automatically detect this, this step can be omitted. For example, if the input device for drawing an image can detect writing pressure, the writing pressure value may be transmitted to the joint drawing server 100 as drawing information instead of the pen shape. The image updating unit 120 can perform a process such that the drawing line is thickened when the pen pressure value is high, and thinned when the pen pressure value is low.

<Embodiment 5>
A program for realizing the functions of the client terminal and the function of the joint drawing server 100 described in the first to fourth embodiments is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is recorded. You may implement | achieve the process of each function part by making a computer system read and run. Here, the “computer system” includes hardware such as an OS (Operating System) and peripheral devices.

  Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW (World Wide Web) system is used.

  Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. .

  In addition, the “recording medium” storing the program includes a computer-readable portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk built in the computer system. A storage device. Furthermore, a program that dynamically holds a program for a short time, such as a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and a server or client in that case Such a volatile memory inside a computer system as described above includes a program that holds a program for a certain period of time.

<Embodiment 6>
The methods described in the first to fifth embodiments are not limited to these, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  The subject of the present invention is not limited to pictures and illustrations. The same applies to hand-drawn characters. Furthermore, it is possible to develop applications such as joint writing and correction applications.

  The present invention can be realized as one of services of a cloud system. By realizing it as a cloud system service, it brings about the effect of promoting the art of connecting users in different regions and drawing pictures and illustrations.

  Furthermore, when a photograph is used as the base of the subject, the photograph can be drawn as a background picture. Using information attached to the background picture (camera information at the time of shooting such as Exif: position information such as latitude and longitude can be collected), collect other works depicting the same place, and open a fair It becomes possible to appreciate.

  In addition, when displaying a drawn picture on an electronic photo frame (a device that displays a photograph or the like on a small liquid crystal display), not only a completed picture or illustration is displayed, but also a drawing history reproduction function of the joint drawing server 100 is provided. It can be used to display the drawing.

  100: Joint drawing server 110: Receiving unit 120: Image updating unit 130: Storage unit 131: Subject list 132: Drawing history 140: Transmission unit 200: House 210: Home client terminal 220: Home network, 300: network, 400: client terminal on the go, 1000: collaborative drawing system.

Claims (9)

An apparatus that supports one or more client terminals to jointly draw an image,
A receiving unit that receives drawing information representing drawing operation details performed on the client terminal;
An image update unit that generates or updates image data using the drawing information;
A storage unit for storing the image data;
A transmission unit for transmitting the image data to each of the client terminals;
With
The receiver is
Receiving the drawing information for the same image data from one or more of the client terminals;
The image update unit
When the receiving unit receives the drawing information for the same image data, after performing exclusive control on the image data, the image data is additionally reflected one by one and updated. The joint drawing device is characterized in that the exclusive control is released when the operation ends. The receiving unit receives a user identifier from the client terminal,
The image update unit
When the receiving unit simultaneously receives the drawing information for the same image data,
Prioritize the drawing information using the user identifier,
The collaborative drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is updated using the drawing information one by one in accordance with the priority order. The storage unit
Storing at least one background image data as a background when the client terminal draws an image;
The receiver is
The client terminal receives a background image instruction that specifies which of the background image data is used to draw an image,
The image update unit
The joint drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is updated using the background image data specified by the background image instruction received by the receiving unit and the drawing instruction. The storage unit
Storing the image data being drawn by the client terminal;
The receiver is
An instruction to read the image data in the middle of drawing is received from the client terminal,
The transmitter is
The joint drawing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image data is read from the storage unit and transmitted to the client terminal. The receiver is
When the client terminal overwrites a drawn image with another image, the client terminal receives an overwrite transparency instruction that specifies a transparency indicating how much the drawn image is to be transmitted, from the client terminal,
The image update unit
The image data is updated using the separate image after determining the transparency of the separate image according to the transparency specified by the overlay transmission instruction received by the receiving unit. The collaborative drawing apparatus according to claim 1. The image update unit
If the transparency specifies that the first rendered image should be transmitted to the foreground,
Reflecting the drawing information representing the first drawing operation content performed on the client terminal on the top layer of the image data,
Thereafter, each time a drawing operation is performed on the client terminal, one layer is added below, and the contents of the drawing operation are sequentially reflected on the added layer.
The collaborative drawing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image data is updated by sequentially integrating lower layers below the upper layer. A method for supporting one or more client terminals to jointly draw an image,
A receiving step for receiving drawing information representing the drawing operation content performed on the client terminal;
An image update step of generating or updating image data using the drawing information;
Storing the image data;
Transmitting the image data to each of the client terminals;
Have
In the receiving step,
Receiving the drawing information for the same image data from one or more of the client terminals;
In the image update step,
When the drawing information for the same image data is received in the receiving step, after performing exclusive control on the image data, the drawing information is additionally reflected in the image data one by one and updated. The joint drawing method is characterized in that the exclusive control is released when the process ends.   A joint drawing program for causing a computer to execute the joint drawing method according to claim 7.   A storage medium storing the collaborative drawing program according to claim 8.

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