JP2012253596A - Information processing device, image server, information processing system, upload method, image supply method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transmit both a first image and a second image on which data capacity reduction processing is performed to the first image according to a communication state, and to correctly manage both images at a reception side.SOLUTION: An identifier addition unit adds a common image set identifier to the first image and at least one second image having smaller data capacity than the first image. A communication state detector unit detects a communication state from and to a server. An image selection unit selects one or more images out of the first image and the second images, according to the data capacity of the first and second images and the detected communication state. The selected image is transmitted to the server.

Description

  The present technology relates to an information processing system for uploading an image to an image server. More specifically, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that uploads images to an image server, an image server that manages uploaded images, a processing method in these, and a program that causes a computer to execute the method.

  In recent years, there are increasing opportunities for images captured by a portable terminal or a digital still camera having a communication function to be transmitted to other devices via a network. In particular, with the spread of blogs and image sharing sites, captured images are often transmitted promptly. On the other hand, the communication speed may be low in a portable terminal or the like, and the communication speed may not be sufficient to transmit a large-capacity image as it is.

  In such a situation, there has been proposed a digital camera that shortens the communication time by only transferring thumbnail image files and not transferring the original image (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this prior art, only thumbnail images are transferred by storing thumbnail image files in which thumbnail images of QQVGA (160 × 120 pixels) and high-definition (1920 × 1080 pixels) are combined in a transfer directory. . Even if the composite image file including the main body image (3648 × 2736 pixels) is stored in the transfer directory after the thumbnail image file is transferred, the transfer is not performed because it has already been transferred.

JP 2010-252054 A

  In the above-described prior art, the communication time is shortened by transferring only the thumbnail image file at the time of imaging. However, in this prior art, the thumbnail image file and the composite image file are handled as separate files, and are recognized as different images in the web service as they are. The composite image file includes a QQVGA thumbnail image and a high-definition thumbnail image in addition to the image of the main body, and it is necessary to always handle them integrally. Therefore, it is difficult to control the transmission of the main body image and the thumbnail image according to the communication state.

  The present technology has been created in view of such a situation, and transmits a second image obtained by performing a data capacity reduction process on the first image and the first image according to the communication state. The purpose is to properly manage both on the receiving side.

  The present technology has been made to solve the above-described problems. The first aspect of the present technology relates to the first image and at least one second image having a data capacity smaller than that of the first image. An identifier assigning unit that assigns a common image set identifier, a communication state detecting unit that detects a communication state with the server, a data capacity of the first and second images, and the detected communication state Accordingly, there is provided an information processing apparatus including an image selection unit that selects one or more of the first and second images, and an image upload method and program in the information processing apparatus. This brings about the effect that the transmission destination server recognizes the first and second images as having a common image set identifier.

  In the first aspect, the image processing device further includes an image transmission unit that transmits the image selected by the image selection unit to the server, and the image selection unit transmits the image in the first and second images. If there is at least one image with a larger data capacity than the detected image and the communication state is better than the detected communication state, select one or more images having a larger data capacity than the transmitted image. You may make it do. As a result, when the communication state is improved, an image having a larger data capacity is transmitted to the server.

  In the first aspect, the image transmission unit transmits the first and second images having the largest data capacity to the server within a range permitted by the detected communication state. You may do it. This brings about the effect that the data having the largest data capacity is transmitted within the allowable range of the communication state.

  In the first aspect, the image transmission unit indicates that the first image is not transmitted when the second image is transmitted until the first image is transmitted. May be transmitted together. This brings about the effect of notifying that there is an untransmitted first image.

  In the first aspect, the communication state detection unit may detect the communication state based on a communication method used with the server. This brings about the effect | action of detecting a communication state and selecting an image with a simple method.

  In the first aspect, the image processing unit may further include an image generation unit that performs data volume reduction processing on the first image to generate at least one second image. In this case, the image generation unit may perform resolution conversion processing for reducing the resolution of the first image as the data capacity reduction processing. The image generation unit may perform a compression rate conversion process for reducing the compression rate of the first image as the data capacity reduction process. The first and second images may be moving images, and the image generation unit may perform a frame rate conversion process for reducing the frame rate of the first image as the data capacity reduction process. .

  The second aspect of the present technology provides an image set management unit that manages a first image to which a common image set identifier is assigned and at least one second image as an image set in association with the image set identifier. When an image request based on the image set identifier is received, an image that selects and supplies one of the first and second images in the image set managed in association with the image set identifier An image server including a supply unit, an image supply method and a program in the image server. Accordingly, there is an effect that any one of the first and second images to which a common image set identifier is assigned is selected and supplied.

  In the second aspect, a network address generation unit that generates a network address common to the first and second images based on the image set identifier may be further included. This brings about the effect that the first and second images are accessed by the generated network address.

  In the second aspect, the image supply unit selects the first and second images having the largest data capacity in the image set managed in association with the image set identifier. You may make it supply. As a result, the first and second images having the largest data capacity are supplied.

  The second aspect further includes a communication state detection unit that detects a communication state with the image supply destination, and the image supply unit is within the range allowed by the detected communication state. Of the first and second images, the one having the largest data capacity may be selected and supplied. This brings about the effect | action of supplying an appropriate image according to a communication state.

  The third aspect of the present technology provides an image set management unit that manages a first image to which a common image set identifier has been assigned and at least one second image as an image set in association with the image set identifier. When an image request based on the image set identifier is received, an image that selects and supplies one of the first and second images in the image set managed in association with the image set identifier An image server including a supply unit; an image generation unit configured to perform data volume reduction processing on the first image to generate at least one second image; and the first and second images An identifier assigning unit that assigns the image set identifier common to the image server, a communication state detecting unit that detects a communication state between the image server, and the first and second images. An information processing system comprising: an information transmission device including: an image transmission unit configured to transmit one of the first and second images to the image server according to the data capacity of the image and the detected communication state And a processing method and program in the information processing system. This brings about the effect that the image server manages the first and second images as having a common image set identifier.

  According to the present technology, the second image obtained by performing the data volume reduction process on the first image and the first image are transmitted according to the communication state, and both are appropriately managed on the receiving side. It is possible to achieve an excellent effect of being able to.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the portable apparatus 101 in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the image provision function in the portable device 101 of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the image management function in the image management server 200 of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the internal structural example of the image set holding | maintenance part 280 in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the image data and URL address in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a JPEG file. It is a figure which shows the main items in the main image IFD of APP1 of a JPEG file. It is a sequence chart which shows the operation example of the information processing system in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the information processing apparatus 100 in 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image management operation of the image management server 200 according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image supply operation of the image management server 200 according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the image management server 200 in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of whole structure of the information processing system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows the operation example of the information processing system in 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present technology (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described. The description will be made in the following order.
1. First embodiment (an example in which an image management server and a web server are provided independently)
2. Second embodiment (an example in which a web server has an image management function)

<1. First Embodiment>
[Entire configuration of information processing system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system according to the first embodiment. This information processing system is configured by connecting information processing apparatuses 100 and 400, an image management server 200, and a web server 300 to each other via a network 500.

  The information processing apparatus 100 is an information providing apparatus on the image providing side, and a portable device 101 such as a portable terminal or a digital still camera, a stationary computer 102, or the like is assumed. The portable device 101 has a function of capturing an image, and further has a function of transmitting the captured image to an external device. Since the portable device 101 is generally connected to the network 500 using wireless communication, the communication speed is relatively low. Therefore, it is conceivable that an image that has not been transmitted by the communication function of the mobile device 101 when going out or the like is transmitted from the wired network at home via the network 500. It is also conceivable that the portable device 101 is connected to a stationary computer 102, the image is transferred to the computer 102, and then the image is transmitted from the computer 102 via a wired network.

  The image management server 200 is a server for receiving an image transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 and managing the image. As will be described later, an image set identifier common to the original image is assigned to an image whose data capacity is reduced by compressing a certain original image, and the image management server 200 manages each image based on the image set identifier. To do. In addition, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) address on the network is assigned to each image set identifier, and the information processing apparatus 400 can view the image. Although a URL address is used here, this is an embodiment of a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) address.

  The web server 300 is a server that supplies an image, text, and the like in response to a request from a client connected to the network 500. The file supplied by the web server 300 is generally in the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) format. In this case, the client analyzes the HTML file with a web browser and displays it on the display. The web server 300 operates a bulletin board site, a social utility site, and the like on the network, and the URL address of the image is disclosed on those sites.

  The information processing apparatus 400 is an information processing apparatus on the image browsing side, and here, stationary computers 401 and 402 are assumed. The information processing apparatus 400 operates as the above-described client, communicates with the web server 300 through a web browser, and displays on the display.

  The network 500 is a network that interconnects the information processing apparatuses 100 and 400, the image management server 200, and the web server 300 in the information processing system. This network 500 can be realized by the Internet. Also, some communication may be realized by a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like.

[Configuration of mobile device]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile device 101 according to the embodiment. The portable device 101 includes a camera unit 710, a signal processing circuit 720, a control unit 730, a display control unit 740, a medium interface 750, and a communication unit 760. An image memory 721 is connected to the signal processing circuit 720, an operation unit 739 is connected to the control unit 730, and a display 749 is connected to the display control unit 740. Further, a recording medium 759 can be attached to and detached from the medium interface 750.

  The camera unit 710 captures a subject as a captured image and generates image data. The optical unit 711, a signal converter 712, a pre-processing circuit 713, an optical block driver 714, and a signal converter driver. 715 and a timing generation circuit 716.

  The optical block 711 includes a lens, a focus mechanism, a shutter mechanism, a diaphragm (iris) mechanism, and the like. The optical block 711 captures an image of a subject and supplies it to the signal converter 712. The optical block driver 714 generates a drive signal for operating the optical block 711 in accordance with the control from the control unit 730, supplies this to the optical block 711, and operates the optical block 711.

  The signal converter 712 photoelectrically converts the image from the optical block 711 and outputs it. Based on the drive signal from the signal converter driver 715 and the timing signal from the timing generation circuit 716, the signal converter 712 outputs the signal from the optical block 711. A subject image is captured and supplied to the preprocessing circuit 713 as an electrical signal. As such a signal converter 712, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) can be used.

  The pre-processing circuit 713 performs CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) processing and AGC (Automatic Gain Control) processing on the image information of the electrical signal supplied from the signal converter 712. The CDS process is a process for maintaining a good signal noise ratio (S / N ratio), and the AGC process is a process for controlling the gain. The preprocessing circuit 713 performs A / D (analog / digital) conversion on the signal obtained in this way, and forms image data based on the digital signal.

  The signal processing circuit 720 performs camera signal processing such as AF (Auto Focus), AE (Auto Exposure), and AWB (Auto White Balance) on the image data from the preprocessing circuit 713. Further, the signal processing circuit 720 compresses the image data thus adjusted in various ways by a predetermined compression method, and the compressed image data is transferred to the recording medium 759 via the bus 790 and the medium interface 750. Supply. In addition, the signal processing circuit 720 performs decompression processing on the compressed image data on the recording medium 759 and supplies the decompressed image data to the display control unit 740 via the bus 790. An image memory 721 is used as a data area necessary for the compression or expansion processing.

  The control unit 730 controls the entire imaging apparatus, and is configured by connecting a processing device 731, a memory 732, and a clock circuit 733 through a bus 790. Here, the memory 732 is used as a work area for temporarily storing programs executed in the processing device 731 and data necessary for processing. The former may be constituted by a flash ROM and the latter may be constituted by a RAM. In addition, the clock circuit 733 has a function of providing the imaging date and time together with image data by supplying the current date, current day, current time, and the like. This clock circuit 733 can also be used for measuring the time of the self-timer.

  The operation unit 739 transmits an operation input from the user to the processing device 731. For example, a touch panel or a control key can be assumed. The control unit 730 controls an input / output operation with respect to the recording medium 759, a display operation with respect to the display 749, and the like in accordance with an operation input from the operation unit 739.

  The display control unit 740 forms an image signal for the display 749 from the image data supplied thereto, and supplies this to the display 749. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data recorded on the recording medium 759 is displayed on the display screen of the display 749. As the display 749, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like can be used.

  The medium interface 750 writes image data to the recording medium 759 and reads image data from the recording medium 759. As the recording medium 759, various types such as a so-called memory card using a semiconductor memory, an optical recording medium such as a recordable DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or a recordable CD (Compact Disc), and a magnetic disk are used. it can.

  The communication unit 760 performs communication with other devices via the network 500.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image providing function in the mobile device 101 according to the embodiment. Here, as an image providing function, an imaging unit 110, an image generation unit 120, an identifier assignment unit 130, an image holding unit 140, a communication state detection unit 150, an image selection unit 160, and an image transmission unit 170 are included. It is shown.

  The imaging unit 110 captures a subject as a captured image and generates image data of the original image. The imaging unit 110 can be realized as the camera unit 710. The image data of the original image generated by the imaging unit 110 is supplied to the image generation unit 120.

  The image generation unit 120 performs predetermined processing on the image data of the original image supplied from the imaging unit 110 to generate new image data with a reduced data capacity. The image generation unit 120 can be realized as a function of the processing device 731. As the predetermined processing by the image generation unit 120, a resolution conversion process for reducing the resolution of the image and a compression rate conversion process for reducing the compression rate of the image are assumed. In addition, when the captured image is a moving image, a frame rate conversion process for reducing the frame rate of an image (frame) constituting the moving image may be performed. For example, it is conceivable that 60 frames of moving images per second are thinned out in the time direction so as to be 30 frames per second.

  The number of images generated by the image generation unit 120 is not limited to one, and a plurality of images having different data capacities may be generated for one original image. For example, it is conceivable to generate a VGA (640 × 480 pixel) thumbnail and a high-definition (1920 × 1080 pixel) thumbnail for an original image of 4096 × 2160 pixels. The image data generated by the image generation unit 120 is supplied to the identifier assigning unit 130 together with the original image.

  The identifier assigning unit 130 assigns a common image set identifier to image data belonging to the same image set, using the image data of the original image and the image data generated by the image generating unit 120 based on the image data as an image set. To do. That is, the same image set identifier is assigned to image data belonging to the same image set, and different image set identifiers are assigned to image data belonging to different image sets.

  The identifier assigning unit 130 assigns an image set identifier that is common to the image set from the incidental information of the image data. For example, in the case of a JPEG file, a unique image set identifier is generated by calculating a hash such as MD5 based on information obtained by combining imaging date and time, imaging parameters, and the like held in Exif information. Exif (Exchangeable image file format) records detailed information such as the imaging state of an image. As a result, it is possible to generate an image set identifier in which uniqueness of several levels is guaranteed rather than a simple file name. A specific storage location of the image set identifier will be described later. The identifier assigning unit 130 can be realized as a function of the processing device 731. The image data to which the image set identifier is assigned by the identifier assigning unit 130 is held in the image holding unit 140.

  The image holding unit 140 is a memory that holds image data of an original image and image data generated by the image generation unit 120 based on the image data. As described above, an image set identifier is assigned to the image data held by the image holding unit 140 for each image set by the identifier assigning unit 130. The image holding unit 140 can be realized as the image memory 721 or the memory 732.

  The communication state detection unit 150 detects a communication state with the image management server 200. The communication state detection unit 150 detects a communication state with respect to the network 500 for transmitting image data to the image management server 200. Here, it is assumed that the communication speed (communication band) is detected as the communication state. One method for detecting the communication speed (communication band) is to actually measure past communication history. As a simple method, it is conceivable to infer from the communication method in use. For example, it can be estimated that it is about 384 Kbps for the 3G system, about 40 Mbps for the WiMAX system, and about 150 Mbps for the WiFi system. Note that which communication method is currently used can be easily determined from the setting of the apparatus. The communication state detection unit 150 can be realized as a function of the communication unit 760.

  The image selection unit 160 selects the image data with the common image set identifier according to the data capacity of the image data with the common image set identifier and the communication state detected by the communication state detection unit 150. One or more of them are selected. The image data selected by the image selection unit 160 is a transmission target by the image transmission unit 170. Several policies can be considered as to which image data the image selection unit 160 selects. For example, it is conceivable to select and transmit the image data having the largest data capacity among the image data to which the common image set identifier is assigned within the range permitted by the detected communication state. That is, image data having a data capacity that can be quickly transmitted is transmitted according to the communication band between the mobile device 101 and the image management server 200. When the above example is used, if the communication method is the 3G method, a VGA thumbnail is selected, if the communication method is the WiMAX method, a high-definition thumbnail is selected, and if the communication method is the WiFi method, the image data of the original image is selected. It is possible. The image selection unit 160 is transmitted when one or more images having a larger data capacity than the image already transmitted to the image management server 200 are present and the communication state is better than the detected communication state. One or more images having a larger data capacity than the selected image are selected. Thereby, when the communication state is improved, an image having a larger data capacity is transmitted to the image management server 200.

  The image transmission unit 170 transmits image data to the image management server 200. The image transmission unit 170 transmits the image data selected by the image selection unit 160 to the image management server 200 via the network 500.

  In such a portable device 101, for example, the following story can be considered. First, it is assumed that the user performs imaging using the imaging unit 110 of the mobile device 101 while away from home. At this time, in addition to the image data of the original image, the image generation unit 120 generates image data in which the resolution of the original image is reduced. A common image set identifier is assigned to the image data by the identifier assigning unit 130.

  Assuming that the 3G system is used outside, the communication band is narrow, and at this time, VGA thumbnail image data is selected and transmitted to the image management server 200 by the image transmission unit 170. At that time, the user is notified from the image management server 200 of the URL address corresponding to the image set. The user publishes the URL address corresponding to the image set on his / her page in the social utility site. At this point, other users can view the image data of the VGA thumbnail. In addition, information indicating that not all high-resolution image data is transmitted at this time may be transmitted from the image transmission unit 170 to the image management server 200 together. At this time, for example, by adding a “breaking news” mark, it can be shown that all the high-resolution image data is not transmitted at this time.

  Thereafter, when the user returns home and the communication band is improved, the image data having higher resolution than the image data of the already transmitted VGA thumbnail is transmitted to the image management server 200. This may be transmitted from the portable device 101 directly connected to the network 500, or may be transmitted after being once transferred to another computer. In any case, this allows other users to view higher resolution image data.

[Image management server configuration]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image management function in the image management server 200 according to the first embodiment. Here, as an image management function, an image reception unit 210, a URL generation unit 220, a URL transmission unit 230, an image request reception unit 240, an image supply unit 250, an image set holding unit 280, and an image set management unit. 290. Note that the hardware configuration of the image management server 200 is the same as that of a normal computer, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The image receiving unit 210 receives image data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100. The image receiving unit 210 receives image data from the information processing apparatus 100 via the network 500. The image data received by the image receiving unit 210 is supplied to the image set management unit 290.

  When the image set identifier of the image data received by the image receiving unit 210 is new, the URL generation unit 220 generates a URL address corresponding to the image set identifier based on the image set identifier. As described above, since the image set identifier is common to each image set, the same URL address is assigned to the image data of the same image set. The URL address generated by the URL generation unit 220 is supplied to the URL transmission unit 230. The URL generation unit 220 is an example of a network address generation unit described in the claims.

  The URL transmission unit 230 transmits the URL address supplied from the URL generation unit 220 to the information processing apparatus 100. The URL transmission unit 230 transmits a URL address to the information processing apparatus 100 via the network 500.

  The image request receiving unit 240 receives an image request transmitted from the information processing apparatus 400. The image request accepting unit 240 accepts an image request from a web browser operating on the information processing apparatus 400 via the network 500. This image request includes at least a part of the URL address for specifying the image set. The image request received by the image request receiving unit 240 is supplied to the image set management unit 290.

  The image supply unit 250 supplies one of the image data held in the image set holding unit 280 to the information processing apparatus 400 in response to the image request. The image supply unit 250 receives image data from the image set management unit 290 and supplies the image data to the information processing apparatus 400 via the network 500.

  The image set holding unit 280 holds the image data received by the image receiving unit 210 for each image set. As shown in FIG. 5, the image set holding unit 280 holds an image set identifier 281, the number of images 282, an image size 283, and a storage address 284, and further includes an image memory 285. Corresponding to the image set identifier 281, information regarding image data belonging to the image set is held. Here, the number of image data belonging to the image set is held as the number of images 282, and an image size 283 and a storage address 284 in the image memory are held for each image data. The entity of the image data is stored in the image memory 285. Thereby, each of the image data belonging to the designated image set can be accessed. When image data having an image set identifier that is not held in any of the image set identifiers 281 is newly stored, an entry corresponding to the image set identifier is newly reserved. When image data having an image set identifier already held in the image set identifier 281 is stored, information regarding the image data is held in an entry corresponding to the image set identifier. Every time image data is newly stored, the number of images 282 is added, and every time image data is deleted, the number of images 282 is subtracted.

  The image set management unit 290 manages image data of an image set held in the image set holding unit 280. The image set management unit 290 performs various controls in order to manage image data. First, when image data is supplied from the image receiver 210, the image set manager 290 determines whether the image set identifier of the image set to which the image data belongs is already held in the image set holder 280. . When the image set identifier of the image data received by the image reception unit 210 is new, the image set management unit 290 instructs the URL generation unit 220 to generate a URL address. On the other hand, when the image set identifier of the image data received by the image receiving unit 210 is not a new one, the generation of the URL address is not instructed.

  In addition, when the image request is accepted by the image request accepting unit 240, the image set managing unit 290 reads out the image data belonging to the image set corresponding to the image request from the image set holding unit 280, and the image supplying unit. 250. Since the image request includes at least a part of the URL address for specifying the image set, the image set can be specified. When a plurality of image data exists in the corresponding image set, the image set management unit 290 selects and reads any one image data. Here, it is assumed that image data having the largest data capacity is read out from the plurality of image data. As a result, even when a plurality of pieces of image data are held in the image set holding unit 280 for one original image, the image data with the highest quality is selected and supplied to the information processing apparatus 400. can do.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between image data and a URL address in the embodiment. The image data 501 of the original image is supplied to the image generation unit 120. In the image generation unit 120, the data capacity reduction process is performed on the image data 501 of the original image. Here, an example in which compression processing is performed as data capacity reduction processing is shown. That is, low-compression image data 512 and high-compression image data 513 are generated in addition to the original uncompressed image data 511.

  These image data 511 to 513 are given image set identifiers 551 to 553 by the identifier assigning unit 130. These image set identifiers 551 to 553 are common in the same image set. Therefore, when these image data 511 to 513 are transmitted to the image management server 200, the URL generation unit 220 generates the same URL address for any image data.

[Data file structure]
FIG. 7 shows the data structure of a JPEG file. Here, an example in which a JPEG file is adopted as an example of a data file of image data will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  As the data structure of the JPEG file, a compressed data start (SOI), an application marker segment 1 (APP1), a quantization table (DQT), and a Huffman table (DHT) are recorded in order. Then, the main body of the compressed data is recorded following the frame header (SOF) and the scan header (SOS), and finally the end of the compressed data (EOI) is recorded. Note that the application marker segment 2 (APP2) is an area for recording Flashpix extension data, and a plurality of application marker segments 2 (APP2) are continuously recorded immediately after APP1 as necessary.

  APP1 is an area for recording Exif attached information. In this APP1, the APP1 length is defined following the APP1 marker. Then, following the Exif identification code, a TIFF header, a main image IFD (Image File Directory), a main image IFD value, a thumbnail IFD, a thumbnail IFD value, and thumbnail image data are recorded.

  In the main image IFD (0th IFD) and the main image IFD value (0th IFD Value), auxiliary information regarding the main image is recorded. In the thumbnail IFD (1st IFD) and the thumbnail IFD value (1st IFD Value), attached information regarding the thumbnail image is recorded. The IFD includes a count indicating the number of fields, a field entry string, and an offset to the next IFD. Each 128-byte field entry consists of four elements: tag, type, count, and offset to value. A tag is a unique number for identifying a field. The type identifies a data type such as signed. The count indicates the number of values. The offset to value records the offset from the beginning of the TIFF header to the recording position of the value body. However, if the value fits in 4 bytes, the value itself is recorded.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing main items in the main image IFD of APP1 of the JPEG file. The exposure time (tag number = 33434) indicates the exposure time of the captured image. The F value (tag number = 33437) indicates the F value of the captured image. The ISO speed rate (tag number = 34855) indicates the ISO speed rate of the captured image. The Exif version (tag number = 36864) indicates the Exif version of the captured image. The generation date and time (tag number = 36867) of the original image data indicates the generation date and time of the original image data. The digital data creation date and time (tag number = 36868) indicates the digital data creation date and time of the captured image. The shutter speed (tag number = 37377) indicates the shutter speed of the captured image. The aperture value (tag number = 37378) indicates the aperture value of the captured image. The subject distance (tag number = 37382) indicates the subject distance of the captured image. The flash (tag number = 37385) indicates a flash of the captured image. The lens focal length (tag number = 37386) indicates the lens focal length of the captured image. The maker note (tag number = 37500) indicates the maker note of the captured image. The user comment (tag number = 37510) indicates a user comment of the captured image. The corresponding flash pix version (tag number = 40960) indicates the corresponding flash pix version of the captured image. The color space information (tag number = 40961) indicates the color space information of the captured image. The exposure mode (tag number = 41986) indicates the exposure mode of the captured image. The shooting scene type (tag number = 41990) indicates the shooting scene type of the captured image.

  The manufacturer note is a unique area uniquely defined by the manufacturer. The user comment is an area that can be used by the user. It is appropriate to use these manufacturer notes or user comments as an area for storing the image set identifier.

[Operation of information processing system]
FIG. 9 is a sequence chart illustrating an operation example of the information processing system according to the first embodiment.

  When imaging is performed in the imaging unit 110 of the information processing apparatus 100 on the image providing side (811), new image data with a reduced data volume is generated from the original image in the image generation unit 120 (812). Also, an image set identifier is assigned to each piece of image data by the identifier assigning unit 130. In the information processing apparatus 100, one of the image data to which a common image set identifier is assigned is transmitted to the image management server 200 according to the communication state detected by the communication state detection unit 150 ( 813). For example, assuming that an image is taken outside, image data of a thumbnail image having the smallest capacity is transmitted.

  In the image management server 200, when image data is received from the information processing apparatus 100 (821), if the image set identifier of the image data is a new one, the URL generation unit 220 generates a URL address corresponding to the image set identifier. Is generated (822). The generated URL address is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 100 by the URL transmission unit 230 (823).

  When receiving the URL address (814), the information processing apparatus 100 registers the URL address in the web server 300 as necessary (815). As this registration operation, for example, an operation of writing a URL address on a bulletin board or a social utility site is assumed.

  When receiving the URL address (831), the web server 300 publishes the URL address (832). As this public operation, for example, an operation of updating a bulletin board or a social utility site so that a URL address can be displayed in response to an image request from a web browser on the information processing apparatus 400 is assumed.

  In the information processing apparatus 400, an image request for requesting image data is made (841), and as a result, the image data is received (842). As the image request, for example, it is assumed that the URL address of the image is designated in the web browser.

  In the web server 300, when an image request is received from the web browser on the information processing apparatus 400 (824), one image data is supplied to the information processing apparatus 400 from the image data of the image set related to the image request ( 825). Assuming that only the image data of the thumbnail image having the smallest capacity is held in the image management server 200 at this time, the image data of the thumbnail image is supplied to the information processing apparatus 400.

  Thereafter, assuming that the user returns and the information processing apparatus 100 is connected to the high-speed line, larger-capacity image data is transmitted to the image management server 200 (816). The image management server 200 that has received the image data (826) holds the image data.

  Thereafter, when an image request for requesting image data is made in the information processing apparatus 400 (843), the web server 300 accepts the image request (827), and among the image data of the image set related to the image request. Is supplied with one image data (828). Here, assuming that the information processing apparatus 400 is connected via a high-speed line, the image data having the largest capacity is supplied from the image data of the image set related to the image request and received by the information processing apparatus 400. (844).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

  When the imaging unit 110 performs imaging (S911), the image generation unit 120 generates new image data with a reduced data volume from the original image (S912). Also, an image set identifier is assigned to each piece of image data by the identifier assigning unit 130 (S913).

  A communication state is detected by the communication state detection unit 150 (S915), and one of the image data is selected from the image data to which a common image set identifier is assigned according to the detected communication state (S916). ) Is transmitted to the image management server 200 (S917).

  For example, assuming that an image is taken outside, image data of a thumbnail image having the smallest capacity is transmitted to the image management server 200. Thereafter, when it is assumed that the user returns home and the information processing apparatus 100 is connected to a high-speed line, larger-capacity image data is transmitted to the image management server 200.

  When all the image data to which the common image set identifier is assigned is transmitted to the image management server 200 (S918), the transmission operation is terminated.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an image management operation example of the image management server 200 according to the first embodiment.

  When the image receiving unit 210 receives image data from the information processing apparatus 100 (S921), if the image set identifier of the image data is new (S922), the image set management unit 290 generates an image set ( S923). Then, the URL address corresponding to the image set identifier is generated by the URL generation unit 220 (S924). The generated URL address is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 100 by the URL transmission unit 230 (S925).

  Regardless of whether the image set identifier is new or existing, the received image data is added to the corresponding image set in the image set holding unit 280 by the image set management unit 290 (S926).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image supply operation of the image management server 200 in the first embodiment.

  When the image request receiving unit 240 receives an image request from the web browser on the information processing apparatus 400 (S931), one image data is selected by the image set management unit 290 from the image data of the image set related to the image request. (S932). The selected image data is supplied to the information processing apparatus 400 by the image supply unit 250 (S933).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present technology, by assigning a common image set identifier, image data having a data capacity corresponding to the communication state of the information processing apparatus 100 is appropriately converted to the image management server 200. Can be viewed on the information processing apparatus 400. The image management server 200 manages each image set every time new image data is received. Since the same URL address is generated for the same image set, the information processing apparatus 400 can be accessed seamlessly at any timing without being aware of the data capacity.

[Modification of image management server]
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the image management server 200 according to the first embodiment. The modification of the image management server 200 differs from the configuration example shown in FIG. 4 in that a communication state detection unit 260 is further provided.

  The communication state detection unit 260 detects a communication state with the information processing apparatus 400. The communication state detection unit 260 detects a communication state with respect to the network 500 for transmitting image data to the information processing apparatus 400. Here, as with the communication state detection unit 150, it is assumed that the communication speed (communication band) is detected as the communication state. Further, as with the communication state detection unit 150, a simple method may be used. Therefore, the communication state detection unit 260 can be realized by the same configuration as the communication state detection unit 150.

  In this modification, the image set management unit 290 selects any image data from among image data to which a common image set identifier is assigned according to the communication state detected by the communication state detection unit 260. Send. That is, the data capacity of the image data to which the common image set identifier is assigned is compared with the communication state detected by the communication state detection unit 260, and appropriate image data is selected. Accordingly, the image data having the largest capacity can be supplied to the information processing apparatus 400 instead of always transmitting the largest amount of image data to the information processing apparatus 400.

<2. Second Embodiment>
[Entire configuration of information processing system]
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the information processing system according to the second embodiment. This information processing system is configured by connecting information processing apparatuses 100 and 400 and a web server 600 to each other via a network 500. In the information processing system according to the second embodiment, the web server 600 has the function of the image management server 200 in the information processing system according to the first embodiment. Therefore, this web server 600 can manage images independently. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[Operation of information processing system]
FIG. 15 is a sequence chart illustrating an operation example of the information processing system according to the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, when image data is received from the information processing apparatus 100 in the web server 600 (821), if the image set identifier of the image data is new, the URL corresponding to the image set identifier An address is generated by the URL generator (822). When the URL generation unit generates a URL address in the web server 600 (822), the URL transmission unit publishes the URL address (829). That is, like the web server 300 of the first embodiment, for example, a bulletin board or a social utility site is updated so that a URL address can be displayed in response to an image request from a web browser on the information processing apparatus 400. Work is assumed.

  The subsequent operation flow is the same as that of the web server 300 in the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present technology, by providing the web server 600 with the image management function, the web server 600 alone can manage and supply image data. Also in the second embodiment, since the same URL address is generated for the same image set, the information processing apparatus 400 can be accessed seamlessly at any timing without being aware of the data capacity. it can.

  The above-described embodiment shows an example for embodying the present technology, and the matters in the embodiment and the invention-specific matters in the claims have a corresponding relationship. Similarly, the invention specific matter in the claims and the matter in the embodiment of the present technology having the same name as this have a corresponding relationship. However, the present technology is not limited to the embodiment, and can be embodied by making various modifications to the embodiment without departing from the gist thereof.

  Further, the processing procedure described in the above embodiment may be regarded as a method having a series of these procedures, and a program for causing a computer to execute these series of procedures or a recording medium storing the program. You may catch it. As this recording medium, for example, a CD (Compact Disc), an MD (MiniDisc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a memory card, a Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark), or the like can be used.

In addition, this technique can also take the following structures.
(1) an identifier assigning unit that assigns a common image set identifier to the first image and at least one second image having a data capacity smaller than that of the first image;
A communication state detection unit for detecting a communication state with the server;
Information processing comprising: an image selection unit that selects one or more of the first and second images according to the data capacity of the first and second images and the detected communication state apparatus.
(2) further comprising an image transmission unit that transmits the image selected by the image selection unit to the server;
When the image selection unit has one or more images having a data capacity larger than that of the transmitted image in the first and second images, and the communication state is better than the detected communication state, The information processing apparatus according to (1), wherein one or more images having a larger data capacity than the transmitted image are selected.
(3) The image transmission unit transmits the first and second images having the largest data capacity to the server within a range allowed by the detected communication state. The information processing apparatus according to 2).
(4) The image transmission unit also transmits information indicating that the first image is not transmitted when transmitting the second image until the first image is transmitted. The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3).
(5) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the communication state detection unit detects the communication state based on a communication method used with the server.
(6) The information processing apparatus according to (1), further including an image generation unit that performs a data volume reduction process on the first image to generate at least one second image.
(7) The information processing apparatus according to (6), wherein the image generation unit is a resolution conversion process for reducing the resolution of the first image as the data capacity reduction process.
(8) The information processing apparatus according to (6), wherein the image generation unit is a compression rate conversion process for reducing the compression rate of the first image as the data capacity reduction process.
(9) The first and second images are moving images,
The information processing apparatus according to (6), wherein the image generation unit is a frame rate conversion process for reducing a frame rate of the first image as the data capacity reduction process.
(10) an image set management unit that manages a first image to which a common image set identifier is assigned and at least one second image as an image set in association with the image set identifier;
When an image request based on the image set identifier is received, an image supply unit that selects and supplies one of the first and second images in the image set managed in association with the image set identifier An image server comprising:
(11) The image server according to (10), further including a network address generation unit that generates a network address common to the first and second images based on the image set identifier.
(12) The image supply unit selects and supplies the first and second images having the largest data capacity among the first and second images in the image set managed in association with the image set identifier. ) Or (11).
(13) a communication state detection unit that detects a communication state with the image supply destination;
The image supply unit selects and supplies one of the first and second images having the largest data capacity within a range permitted by the detected communication state. The image server according to any one of the above.
(14) An image generation procedure for generating at least one second image by performing a data volume reduction process on the first image;
An identifier assigning procedure for assigning a common image set identifier to the first and second images;
A communication state detection procedure for detecting a communication state with the server;
Image uploading comprising: an image transmission procedure for transmitting one of the first and second images to the server according to the data capacity of the first and second images and the detected communication state Method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image providing side information processing apparatus 101 Mobile device 102 Computer 110 Imaging unit 120 Image generation unit 130 Identifier assigning unit 140 Image holding unit 150 Communication state detection unit 160 Image selection unit 170 Image transmission unit 200 Image management server 210 Image reception unit 220 URL generation unit 230 URL transmission unit 240 Image request reception unit 250 Image supply unit 260 Communication state detection unit 280 Image set holding unit 290 Image set management unit 300, 600 Web server 400 Information processing apparatus 401, 402 computer 500 network on the image browsing side

Claims (14)

An identifier assigning unit that assigns a common image set identifier to the first image and at least one second image having a data capacity smaller than that of the first image;
A communication state detection unit for detecting a communication state with the server;
Information processing comprising: an image selection unit that selects one or more of the first and second images according to the data capacity of the first and second images and the detected communication state apparatus. An image transmission unit that transmits the image selected by the image selection unit to the server;
When the image selection unit has one or more images having a data capacity larger than that of the transmitted image in the first and second images, and the communication state is better than the detected communication state, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more images having a data capacity larger than that of the transmitted image are selected.   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image transmission unit transmits the first and second images having the largest data capacity to the server within a range permitted by the detected communication state.   2. The image transmission unit transmits information indicating that the first image is not transmitted when transmitting the second image until the first image is transmitted. Information processing device.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication state detection unit detects the communication state based on a communication method used with the server.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image generation unit configured to perform data volume reduction processing on the first image to generate at least one second image.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image generation unit is a resolution conversion process for reducing the resolution of the first image as the data capacity reduction process.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image generation unit is a compression rate conversion process for reducing the compression rate of the first image as the data capacity reduction process. The first and second images are moving images;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image generation unit is a frame rate conversion process for reducing a frame rate of the first image as the data capacity reduction process. An image set management unit that manages a first image to which a common image set identifier is assigned and at least one second image as an image set in association with the image set identifier;
When an image request based on the image set identifier is received, an image supply unit that selects and supplies one of the first and second images in the image set managed in association with the image set identifier An image server comprising:   The image server according to claim 10, further comprising a network address generation unit that generates a network address common to the first and second images based on the image set identifier.   The image according to claim 10, wherein the image supply unit selects and supplies the first and second images having the largest data capacity in the image set managed in association with the image set identifier. server. A communication state detection unit for detecting a communication state with the image supply destination;
The image server according to claim 10, wherein the image supply unit selects and supplies an image having the largest data capacity among the first and second images within a range allowed by the detected communication state. An image generation procedure for performing data volume reduction processing on the first image to generate at least one second image;
An identifier assigning procedure for assigning a common image set identifier to the first and second images;
A communication state detection procedure for detecting a communication state with the server;
Image uploading comprising: an image transmission procedure for transmitting one of the first and second images to the server according to the data capacity of the first and second images and the detected communication state Method.

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