JP3762379B2 - Image distribution system, server and service provider terminal used therefor, server program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image distribution technique for distributing an image to a terminal connected via a network line such as the Internet. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image distribution technique stored on a server side using a low-resolution image displayed on a display. The present invention relates to an image processing technique for partially reading a high-resolution image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the spread of the Internet, anyone can easily obtain information such as various images and videos. In particular, with the recent widespread use of xDSL lines and the like, high-speed connection is possible, and what was conventionally distributed on a physical medium such as a CD-ROM is being distributed on a digital medium.
[0003]
By the way, as one of the recent business scenes, there are many cases where information (for example, sentences and images) posted on the Internet is written and expressed as it is in a plan book or a proposal. This eliminates the need for so-called cutting and pasting operations such as copying a conventional sentence or reading an image with a scanner, and makes it possible to easily create a sentence with expressive power on one computer.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in general, images distributed on the Internet are displayed with relatively low resolution in order to display them at high speed on browser software. For this reason, even if a detailed image is displayed on the display, when the actually downloaded image is pasted on a proposal or the like and printed, it is often a rough image.
[0005]
As one method for solving the above problem, there is a method of taking a display screen of the display as an image, that is, a method using a so-called screen shot. However, when this method is used, since the entire screen is stored as an image, it is necessary to cut out a necessary portion using dedicated image processing software, which is troublesome. In the first place, since the actual image data does not have a high resolution, it is impossible to obtain a more detailed image.
[0006]
Also, it is not preferable to distribute a high-resolution image as it is on the Internet from the viewpoint of the limitation of the display area of the browser software and the use of copyright. On the other hand, there is also a method of delivering in a PDF (Portable Document Format) format as one of high-quality image delivery methods. However, this method has a problem in image listing and collection of necessary parts.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and its purpose is to deliver a high-resolution clipped image using a low-resolution image for high-speed display displayed on a browser, The purpose is to provide a technology for managing the usage rights.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention has several features described below.
As a first invention, in an image distribution system that includes a server and a user terminal, which are connected via a network line such as the Internet, and distributes a predetermined image from the server side to the user terminal, the server includes: A low-resolution image file that stores a predetermined image as a low-resolution image for high-speed display, and a high-resolution image file that stores the same image as the high-resolution image for fine display. The user terminal includes a clipping region designating unit that designates a part of an image as a clipping region on the browser, and the server transmits a request for image transmission from the user terminal to the server. A second step of reading out a low resolution image of the image requested to be transmitted and transmitting it to the user terminal for display. On the user terminal side, a third step of designating a desired clipping region from the low-resolution image by the clipping region designating means and transmitting the region designation signal to the server, and the server, And a fourth step of reading out the high resolution image in the area designated by the area designation signal from the high resolution image file, and transmitting and reading it to the user terminal.
[0009]
According to this, the clipping operation is performed using the low resolution image displayed on the browser on the user terminal side, and only the high resolution clipping image corresponding to the clipping region is distributed from the high resolution image accumulated on the server side. Thus, not only the conventional image clipping process by the user terminal is unnecessary, but also the load on the server is reduced.
[0010]
As a second invention, there is provided an image distribution system including a server, a user terminal and a service provider terminal, which are connected via a network line such as the Internet and distribute a predetermined image from the server side to the user terminal. The user terminal includes a clipping area designating unit that designates a part of the image as a clipping area on the browser, and the service provider terminal writes a specific notification item in the part of the image on the browser to copy a copy guard image. The server includes a low-resolution image file that stores a predetermined image as a low-resolution image for high-speed display, and stores the same image as the high-resolution image for fine display. High-resolution image file and copy guard image set by the above service provider terminal A copy guard image file, an image clipping engine that creates a high-resolution clipped image from the high-resolution image file according to the clipping region specified by the user terminal, and a copy guard request from the service provider terminal And a copy guard engine that pastes the copy guard image on the cutout image of the high resolution image, and the server transmits a low resolution image in response to an image transmission request from the user terminal, and transmits the image to the user terminal. When a clipping region is designated from the low-resolution image, the image clipping engine creates a clipping image of the high-resolution image and transmits it to the user terminal. At this time, the copy guard engine transmits If a copy guard is set for the high-resolution clipped image, the high-resolution clipped image By delivering to the user terminal paste the serial copy protection image, it can be superimposed copy protection image in an arbitrary area of the image distribution images.
[0011]
Here, the user terminal and the administrator terminal of the present invention are computers connected to a network line such as the Internet, and images distributed to each terminal are distributed in a format (for example, HTML) that can be browsed by Internet browser software. Processing such as area designation and copy guard designation can also be performed on the same browser.
[0012]
In the present invention, “file” refers to a storage unit for storing various data used by the image processing of the present invention, and “engine” refers to a specific calculation process using the various data. An execution unit executed along processing steps.
[0013]
The copy guard engine includes a user information file that stores various user information including a service provider, and a user authentication engine that performs user authentication of the terminal based on the user information file. The copy guard request is accepted only when authenticated as a provider user. According to this, the service provider can selectively select and apply the necessary copy guard image.
[0014]
Further, the image processing apparatus includes a cut image file for storing the cut image and a log file for storing the creation history of the cut image, and the user authentication engine is described in the creation history by a user accessing from the user terminal. If it is determined that the user name is the same as the created user name, the clipped image file storing the clipped image corresponding to the creation history can be accessed, and the clipped image can be selectively distributed. According to this, it is possible to recall and distribute a clipped image that has been clipped before.
[0015]
When the user is a child user and there is a parent user that is an upper layer of the child user, the user authentication engine displays the clipped image owned by the child user when authenticating with the parent user. By enabling the distribution, for example, if a common account is used in the group, the cut image can be shared within the group, which helps to reduce the duplication work and reduce the load on the server.
[0016]
As a third invention, an image distribution program capable of constructing the above-described image distribution system is included. That is, in an image distribution program that includes a server, a user terminal, and a service provider terminal, which are connected via a network line such as the Internet, and distribute a predetermined image from the server side to the user terminal, A low-resolution image step of distributing the low-resolution image to the terminal in response to a request from the terminal, and storing the same image as the low-resolution image as a high-resolution image for fine display A high-resolution image step, a copy-guard image step for storing a copy-guard image in which specific notification items are written, a cut-out request for cutting out a predetermined cut-out area of the low-resolution image from the user terminal, and the cut-out request Cut out the cropped area from the high-resolution image according to the An image clipping step for generating a copy guard request for designating a predetermined copy guard area for the low resolution image from the service provider terminal, and the copy guard area for the high resolution image based on the copy guard request. A copy guard step for pasting a copy guard image, wherein the copy guard step specifies that the copy guard area is specified in the original image of the clipped image when a distribution request for the clipped image is received from the user terminal. A distribution step of inquiring whether the copy guard area is included in the display area of the clipped image and pasting the copy guard image to the clipped image and distributing to the user terminal. It is characterized by having.
[0017]
The present invention also includes a recording medium for storing the above-described image distribution program. That is, as a recording medium, in addition to various memories such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk such as an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, and a DVD standard disk, a storage device (for example, a hard disk) stored in a computer. In addition to this, a program recording program is included. Further, the image distribution program may be distributed through a network line such as the Internet, and the recording medium includes a recording medium of a terminal to which the program is distributed.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a connection form of the image distribution system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image distribution system 1 of the present invention includes an Internet server (WWW server) 2 connected to an Internet line 3 and a plurality of terminals 4 a and 4 b connected to the Internet line 3. .
[0019]
In this embodiment, two terminals are connected to the Internet line 3, one terminal 4a is a user terminal, and the other terminal 4b is a service provider terminal 4b. Note that there may be a plurality of user terminals 4a.
[0020]
The WWW server 2 stores a low-resolution image file 100 that stores a low-resolution image for display display distributed to each terminal 4, and a high-resolution image that stores a high-resolution image for fine display linked to the low-resolution image. A file 110, a cut-out image file 120 in which cut-out images that have been cut-out are stored, a copy guard image file 130 that stores a copy guard image in which specific notification items are described, and access history to the image distribution system 1 A log file 140 that stores (access log), a user authentication engine 20 that performs user authentication of each terminal 4 when using the image distribution system 1, and an image that performs predetermined image processing in response to a request from each terminal 4 And a processing engine (image processing means) 30.
[0021]
In this example, the files 100 to 140 and the engines 20 and 30 are all stored in a recording medium (not shown) in the WWW server 2 and are connected to each other via an information transmission path 5 (network). ing.
[0022]
The low-resolution image file 100 stores a large number of image files in which product materials described in a product catalog or the like are compressed images such as JPEG format. Therefore, the low resolution image file 100 has a sufficient recording area so that a large number of the compressed images can be stored.
[0023]
In this example, the low-resolution image for display is set to a relatively small image of about vertical × horizontal 128 × 128 pixels, 256 × 256 pixels, and 512 × 512 pixels, but it can work sufficiently in the display area of the browser software. Just set the size.
[0024]
In the low-resolution image file 100, the inside is further hierarchically divided according to the type and item of the catalog, and predetermined low-compressed images are stored for each hierarchy. Each low-compressed image is given an image file name (for example, 001.jpg, 002.jpg,...), And all are stored so as to be identifiable.
[0025]
The low resolution image file 100 also stores an enlarged display image (medium resolution image) for enlarging and displaying each low resolution image. The enlarged display image is a medium-resolution image of vertical × horizontal 1200 pixels, and a file name is assigned to each of the enlarged display images similarly to the low-compression image.
[0026]
Both the low resolution image and the medium resolution image are linked to the file names, and the low resolution image and the medium resolution image are selectively distributed in response to a distribution request from the terminal side. Note that the selection (cutout operation) of the cutout region of the image processing system 1 of the present invention can be performed for either a low resolution image or a medium resolution image. Also, link information between the low resolution image and the medium resolution image is stored in the low resolution image file 100.
[0027]
Next, the high-resolution image file 110 stores substantially the same type of image (in this example, a JPEG image) as the low-resolution image (medium-resolution image) described above. However, the high-resolution image file 110 stores files whose resolution is significantly higher than that of the low-resolution image and the medium-resolution image. Therefore, the high resolution image file 110 has a further sufficient recording area so that a large number of high resolution compressed images can be stored.
[0028]
In this example, the high-resolution image for fine display is set to vertical × horizontal, approximately 3500 × 3500 pixels. This size roughly corresponds to the size of the A3 vertical size.
[0029]
Each high-resolution image also has a unique file name. In the high resolution image file 110, link information transferred from the low resolution image file 100 is also stored. The link information is used, for example, to call a high-resolution image that is the same as the low-resolution image (or medium-resolution image) used when designating the area range on the user terminal 4a. In this example, the link name is Inquire.
[0030]
The cutout image file 120 in which cutout images that have been cut out are stored has a sufficient recording area in order to store a cutout image of an arbitrary size generated from a high-resolution image. Similarly, file names are assigned to the cut-out images, and these are stored hierarchically according to user names and types.
[0031]
The cutout image file 120 also stores cutout information in which a cutout image generation history is described. The cutout information is information obtained by encoding information at the time of various cutout operations such as the file name of the original high-resolution image, the date and time of the cutout operation, and the user name, and is cut out in cooperation with the log file 140 described later. Used for image management.
[0032]
The copy guard image file 130 that stores a copy guard image in which specific notification items are described has a sufficient area for storing a plurality of copy guard images. The copy guard image is made up of an image file such as JPEG or BMP format, and a unique file name is assigned to each image file.
[0033]
In this example, the copy guard image is a mark of each company, various marks such as “COPYRIGHT”, or a matrix image such as smudge or mosaic. Normally, the copy guard image is composed of an image file. However, other than this, for example, a text format such as HTML may be used. If the copy guard effect can be obtained, the service provider terminal 4b arbitrarily It can be set and stored in the copy guard image file 130.
[0034]
The copy guard image file 130 further stores copy guard information describing information of each copy guard image. The copy guard information stores, for example, the contents and setting information of the copy guard image, the usage history so far, and the like, and is used for a copy guard image distribution request in cooperation with the copy guard engine 50 described later.
[0035]
Next, the log file 140 hierarchically stores a history (log) that describes the contents of use (for example, the presence or absence of a cutout area or copy guard) when the image distribution system 1 of the present invention is used. . The log file 140 is used for managing images stored in each file in cooperation with the user authentication engine 20 and the image processing engine 30.
[0036]
The log file 140 is also used as a storage location for storing each region file in which a clipping region specified by the image clipping engine 40 and a copy guard region specified by the copy guard engine 50 described later are encoded. It is done. The log file 140 delivers a necessary area file in response to a request from the image processing engine 30.
[0037]
Next, the configuration of the user authentication engine 20 and the image processing engine 30 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user authentication engine 20 is a so-called gate server provided in the gate (entrance) portion of the image distribution system 1 of the present invention, and accepts a connection request from a terminal 4 connected to the WWW server 2 via the Internet line 3. The connection authentication is executed for the connection request.
[0038]
The configuration includes a user authentication unit 200 that executes a user authentication step based on user information input from the user terminal 4a and authentication data held by the user terminal 4a, and various account information of a normal user such as a single user. A normal user unit 210, a multi-user unit 210 that holds various account information of a multi-user (also referred to as a group user) such as an in-company user, and a service provider that holds various account information of a service provider (administrator) When the user unit 230 and the user authentication unit 200 determine that the request from the terminal 4 is the first access (new user), various account information of the new user is generated, and the account data is stored in the normal user unit 210, A new user registration unit 240 that registers in either one of the multi-user units 210, And the account storage unit 250 stores the user ID and password of over The, and a store access log management unit 260 of the access log to the user authentication engine 20.
[0039]
The user authentication unit 200 is connected to other units via an information transmission path. When a connection request is issued from the user terminal 4a, the user authentication unit 200 requests the user terminal 4a to input user information (account). When user information (for example, an account ID and password) is input from the user terminal 4a, the account storage unit 250 is searched based on the user information, and if the corresponding account exists, the storage location of the account ( The user's Internet usage environment (for example, the type of OS or browser and the connection environment) is read out and distributed to the image processing engine 30 to obtain the user information. Prepare for delivery.
[0040]
As a result of searching for user information input from the user terminal 4a, if it is determined that “user is not applicable”, a user registration request is made to the new user registration unit 240, and new user information is input to the user terminal 4a (user). Request. In this example, examples of user information input include name, address, company name, affiliation, and mail address.
[0041]
When new user information is obtained from the user terminal 4a, the account unit 250 is searched again and a new account ID and password that do not exist in the account unit 250 are issued. If the user information is a normal user, The user information is normally stored in the user unit 210, and in the case of a corporate user, the user information is stored in the multi-user unit 220. At the same time, the log history of new user registration is transmitted to the access log management unit 260.
[0042]
Thereafter, a new account ID and password completion issuance notification is distributed to the user terminal 4a. In this example, in the new user registration, an information transaction between the user terminal 4a and the user authentication engine 20 is performed in an on-demand format. However, in consideration of security on the network, a dedicated user is registered in the WWW server 2. A mail server may be provided separately, for example, after receiving new user information and performing registration processing, the new account information may be transmitted to the mail address entered by the user.
[0043]
When the user authentication engine 20 determines that the service provider has accessed through user authentication, the user authentication engine 20 accepts browsing requests for the normal user unit 210, the multi-user unit 220, and the access log 260, and performs various types of services required as the service provider. Distribute information.
[0044]
In the user authentication engine 20, it is preferable that security means is incorporated in order to prevent leakage of user information of each terminal 4 (each user), eavesdropping, and forgery / falsification of data. As the security means, for example, encryption processing such as 128-bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is preferably used, but if there are other security means, they are appropriately selected and used.
[0045]
Next, the image processing engine 30 cuts out a predetermined copy guard image in response to a setting request from the image cutout engine 40 that generates a cutout image in response to an image cutout request from the user terminal 4a and a service provider terminal 4b. And a copy guard engine 50 for synthesizing the image.
[0046]
The image clipping engine 40 includes an image region extracting unit 410 that extracts a clipping region in response to a clipping request from the user terminal 4a, a copy guard region searching unit 420 that retrieves whether or not a copy guard is set for an image to be clipped, A clipped image search unit 430 for searching for a clipped image;
[0047]
The image cutout engine 40 is provided with a user information management unit (not shown). The user information management unit receives user information previously authenticated by the user authentication engine 20 and uses the user information based on the user information. The image distribution processing method is selected as the optimum condition in accordance with the specifications and communication speed of the terminal 4a.
[0048]
When a clipping request is issued from the user terminal 4a, the image clipping engine 40 first acquires the file name of the low-resolution image distributed to the current user terminal 4a and the clipping region requested from the user terminal 4a. (Area acquisition processing). Next, the link information (file name) of the low resolution image is read, the high resolution image described in the link information is called, a search request is issued to the copy guard area search unit 420, and the copy guard is placed in the designated cutout area. Search whether the area is set.
[0049]
As a result of the search, if the copy guard area is not set, the cutout area is cut out from the high resolution image (cutout process). If a copy guard area is set, an image composition request is issued to the copy guard engine 50, and copy guard processing is performed on the cut-out image.
[0050]
When the user information is stored in the normal user 210, the process ends when the clipping process is executed. However, when the user information is multi-user, the image clipping engine 40 has been previously created by the group user. If the clipped image is searched and it is determined that there is the same clipped image as the current clipped image, the clipped image is distributed.
[0051]
When the user information is a multi-user (child user) registered in the same group (parent user), the image cropping engine 40 can share the cropped images created so far in the group. Can be delivered.
[0052]
The copy guard engine 50 is arranged in the image processing engine 20, but only when the user authentication engine 20 authenticates that the currently accessed user is the service provider terminal 4b, the copy guard setting is made. Accept the request.
[0053]
The copy guard engine 50 extracts a copy guard area from a specific image in response to an area setting request from the service provider terminal 4b, sets a copy guard area, and a copy guard image file. A copy guard image selection unit 520 that selectively calls various copy guard images stored in 130, and an image composition unit 530 that combines the copy guard image 530 with the cutout image. The copy guard engine 50 is provided with an information storage unit (not shown) in which the copy guard image information set by the service provider, the copy guard area, and the like are encoded and stored. Yes.
[0054]
When the copy guard engine 50 receives a search request from the copy guard search unit 420 of the image cutout engine 40, the copy guard engine 50 first inquires whether the image for which the cutout request has been issued is set in the copy guard engine 40. In this example, a file name search is used as an image inquiry method.
[0055]
As a result of the file name search, when it is determined that the same file name as the requested image exists in the copy guard engine 50, it is next searched whether or not the copy guard area is included in the cutout area. . As a result of the search, when it is determined that the copy guard area is included in the cutout area, the copy guard image selection unit 520 sends a distribution request to the copy guard image file 130 based on the copy guard information set by the service provider. To capture the copy guard image.
[0056]
Finally, the copy guard engine 50 issues a compositing request to the image composition unit 530, composes the copy guard image on the clipped image, passes the combined copy guarded clipped image to the image cropping engine 40, and receives the received image. The cutout engine 40 distributes the copy guarded cutout image to the terminal 4.
[0057]
At this time, the image cutout engine 40 and the copy guard engine 50 distribute the image processing information in which various log information such as a file name and a user name for which the copy guard processing has been performed to the log file 140, Save to.
[0058]
Next, when the image distribution program of the present invention receives a distribution request from the user (user terminal 4a), the processing is performed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0059]
First, when the user accesses the home page of the WWW server 2 on the service provider side from the user terminal 4a, the user authentication engine 20 of the WWW server 2 displays a user account information (account ID) input screen on the user terminal 4a. Then, an account ID input screen is displayed in a browser by HTML or the like on the display (display means) of the user terminal 4a (step ST10).
[0060]
When the user inputs an account ID on this input screen and issues a transmission command (step ST20), the input account ID is notified to the user authentication engine 20, and authentication processing is performed based on the account ID (step ST20). S30).
[0061]
In the following description, a case where the account ID is authenticated as a normal user will be described. In the case of a so-called new user who does not have an account ID, a new user registration step (not shown) is executed by the new user registration unit 240 described above. If it is determined that the account ID is invalid, an authentication error screen is transmitted to the user terminal 4a.
[0062]
When the authentication process is completed by the user authentication engine 20, the user-side account information is delivered to the image processing engine 30 based on the account information registered in the normal user unit 210 in advance to prepare for image distribution, and at the user terminal 4a. The user screen is transmitted and displayed on the display of the user terminal 4a in HTML or the like (step ST40). In this example, many usable images are displayed in a thumbnail format on the display of the user terminal 4a.
[0063]
Next, when the user designates an image to be browsed from among a plurality of images displayed on the display of the terminal 4a on the HTML and issues a browse request, the image distribution system 1 displays the low resolution image in the WWW server 2. The low-resolution image received from the file 100 is called, and the low-resolution image is transmitted to the user terminal 4a in the HTML format (step ST50).
[0064]
At this time, the image distribution system 1 refers to user information registered in advance, and an image suitable for the processing capability of the user terminal 4a (for example, the computing capability and communication speed of the terminal), that is, the processing capability is low (communication speed is low). In the case of slow, so-called narrow band, low resolution images are processed with relatively high processing power (high communication speed, so-called Yu (Broadband), the medium resolution image is automatically selected and distributed. In this example, a low resolution image is used. The user may select a low resolution image or a medium resolution image and send a distribution request.
[0065]
The user designates an area to be cut out from the low-resolution image (step ST60) displayed on the display of the user terminal 4a on the HTML, and issues a cut-out request (step 70). If another region is to be cut out from the same image, the next cut-out region is designated and a cut-out request is issued to the WWW server 2 (step ST80).
[0066]
Further, when it is desired to perform another image clipping operation, the process returns to the user screen display step ST40, and a series of operations are repeated to complete the setting of the clipping region (step ST90).
[0067]
The image distribution system 1 that has received the distribution area distribution request reads image information such as the file name of the low-resolution image that is the distribution request source, and in the high-resolution image file 110 in the WWW server 2 based on this image information. The stored designated high-resolution image is called up and distributed to the image processing engine 30 (step ST100).
[0068]
The image processing engine 30 transmits a cutting request to the image cutting engine 40 based on the cutting area, and the image area extraction unit 410 of the image cutting engine 40 cuts out an image corresponding to the requested cutting area (step ST110). In this example, the cutout image that has been cut out is temporarily stored in the cutout image file 120.
[0069]
Next, the image processing engine 30 transmits the requested image file name and cutout area to the copy guard area searching unit 420 in the cutout image engine 40, and the requested image file name and cutout area are copied guard copy. It is searched whether there is an overlapping portion in the copy guard image information stored in the engine 50 (step ST120).
[0070]
If there is an overlapping portion in the search area, the copy guard engine 50 calls the designated copy guard image from the copy guard image file 130 based on the copy guard information (step ST130), distributes it in the image composition unit 530, and the image The copy guard image is synthesized on the cut-out image by the synthesis unit 530 (step 140).
[0071]
When it is determined that there is no overlapping portion or when the composition of the copy guard image is completed, the image processing engine 30 adds the clipped image to which the user information and the file name are encoded, and then adds the clipped image to the clipped image file 120. Is stored (step ST150).
[0072]
If a cut request for another cutout area in the same image is received from the user terminal 4a, the process returns to step ST110, and after performing the cutout process again based on the designated area, copy guard search, copy guard process, A series of file registration processing is executed (step ST160).
[0073]
On the other hand, when another image clipping request is received from the user terminal 4a, the process returns to step ST100, and a series of operations are executed from the calling operation of the high resolution image (step ST170).
[0074]
Finally, the image delivery system 1 receives a cut request from the cut image file 120 in the WWW server 2, calls the cut image that has been cut, transmits the cut image to the user terminal 4, and displays the user terminal 4a. The image is displayed on the top using HTML or the like (step ST180). The image distribution process is completed by the series of steps described above.
[0075]
Next, a more specific usage pattern of the image distribution program (image distribution system) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 schematically shows the appearance of the browser B displayed on the display of the user terminal 4. In this example, the image distribution process ends the authentication process, and the description starts from the display image display step (step ST60 in FIG. 3).
[0076]
In the browser B window, the low-resolution image 600 designated by the user terminal 4 in step ST40 is displayed. In this example, the low-resolution image 600 shows front images of three types of doors 610 to 630.
[0077]
In the upper part of the window of the browser B, an area designating tool 700 for designating a cutout area and an execution processing button 800 for transmitting a request for executing cutout of the cutout area are displayed. The area designation tool 700 includes a first coordinate point 710 that designates one of the two cutout coordinates, a second coordinate point 720 that designates the other cutout coordinate, and an area determination button for confirming the cutout area. 730.
[0078]
In this example, the coordinate points 710 and 720 are displayed by register marks arranged along the upper left corner and the lower right corner, and the area confirmation button 730 is displayed in a form that schematically represents a triangle ruler. .
[0079]
In this example, the clip area is specified by specifying two points on the XY coordinates and specifying the XY coordinate range between the two points as the clip area. For example, a method of setting a cutout area within a range connecting the two can be used, and a method for specifying cutout coordinates is arbitrary. The execution processing button 800 is displayed by a drawing schematically showing scissors for expressing a clipping operation.
[0080]
As shown in FIG. 5, the user selects an image to be cut out from the low resolution image 600 displayed on the browser B, in this example, the glass portion in the rightmost door 630 as the cutout region. First, the pointer is placed on the first coordinate point 710 displayed on the browser B by using an input device such as a mouse and dragged as it is to the upper left corner of the glass portion. Similarly, the second coordinate point 720 is also dragged in accordance with the lower right portion of the glass portion.
[0081]
In this example, when the coordinate points 710 and 720 are moved, the guide line 740 is displayed along the XY coordinates, so that the work can be performed while checking the cutout range. After arranging each coordinate point 710, 720 on a desired cutout range, the cutout area is decided by placing the pointer on the area decision button 730 arranged adjacent to the second coordinate point 720 and one-clicking the mouse. The
[0082]
Although not shown in the drawing, once the cutout area is confirmed in this example, the cutout area is once transmitted to the WWW server 2 side, and the WWW server 2 that has received the cutout area specifies the cutout area designation range together with the confirmation data for the area confirmation. For example, the area designation display data such as displaying transparent red is distributed to the terminal 4 side, and the cutout area is displayed in red on the display image by HTML.
[0083]
If it is desired to further specify a cutout region on the same image, the same operation may be repeated a plurality of times. When all the cutout areas are confirmed, the cutout request for the cutout area designated is sent to the WWW server 2 side by placing the pointer on the execution processing button 800 displayed in the upper right of browser B and clicking the mouse once. .
[0084]
Upon receiving the clipping request, the WWW server 2 side executes a series of processes from step 100 to step ST170 in FIG. 3 described above, and distributes the processed clipping image to the terminal 4 in the HTML format. FIG. 6 shows a cut-out image distribution screen.
[0085]
As shown in FIG. 6, on the browser B, two images, a cutout image 900, in this example, a cutout image 910 of the glass portion and a cutout image 920 of the entire door surface, are in thumbnail format, in this example, reduced by 20%. It is displayed in the state. On the browser B, the size (pixel) of the clipped image and the image capacity (bit) are displayed together as clipped image information.
[0086]
For example, when the user puts the pointer on the clipped image 910 and clicks the mouse, the clipped image 910 is distributed to the user terminal 4a side, and the original cutout image 930 is displayed on the browser as shown in FIG. The The full-size cutout image 930 is automatically stored in an image folder formed in the recording device in the terminal 4. At this time, the user himself / herself can give a unique file name to the original cutout image 930 and select a storage location for storage. As described above, the image distribution processing can be performed on the browser B.
[0087]
Next, an example of a copy guard area specifying procedure will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in order to designate a copy guard area, it is necessary to connect in the service provider mode. In order to connect in the service provider mode, the connection can be made only when the user authentication engine 20 described above recognizes the service provider terminal 4b. The following description will be made on the assumption that the service provider mode is being used.
[0088]
Even in the service provider mode, the basic display means and the copy guard area are designated by the browser B. FIG. 8 shows the appearance of the browser B in the service provider mode state.
[0089]
As shown in FIG. 8, the browser B has a low-resolution image 600 for which copy guard needs to be designated, and in this example, the low-resolution images of the same three types of doors as the images used in FIGS. 610-630 are used.
[0090]
In the browser B window, a copy guard area designation tool 1000 for designating a copy guard area and a copy guard processing button 1100 for transmitting a request to confirm the copy guard area are displayed. The copy guard area designation tool 1000 includes a first copy guard coordinate point 1010 for designating one copy guard coordinate among the two copy guard coordinates, and a second copy guard coordinate point 1020 for designating the other copy guard coordinate. The copy guard selection tool 1030 for designating which copy guard image is to be combined with the designated copy guard area, and the copy guard area confirmation button 1040 for confirming the copy guard area.
[0091]
Also in this example, the copy guard coordinate points 1010 and 1020 are displayed by register marks arranged along the upper left corner and the lower right corner, and the copy guard area confirmation button 1040 has a shape that is a triangle ruler. Is displayed. The copy guard image selection tool 1030 is displayed in a pull-down format.
[0092]
As shown in FIG. 9, the copy guard area designation procedure is substantially the same as the cutout area designation procedure described above. That is, the service provider selects an image for which the copy guard is desired to be designated from the low resolution image 600 displayed on the browser B, in this example, the glass portion in the rightmost door 630 as the cutout region.
[0093]
First, the pointer is placed on the first copy guard coordinate point 1010 displayed on the browser B using an input device such as a mouse and dragged as it is to the upper left corner of the glass portion. Similarly, the second copy guard coordinate point 1020 is also dragged in accordance with the lower right portion of the glass portion.
[0094]
Also in this example, when the copy guard coordinate points 1010 and 1020 are moved, the guide line 1050 is displayed along the XY coordinates, so that the work can be performed while checking the cutout range.
[0095]
In the copy guard mode, it is necessary to designate which copy guard image is to be combined with the designated copy guard area. In specifying the copy guard image, as shown in FIG. 10, a pull-down window is developed by clicking the copy guard image selection tool 1030 together with a pointer.
[0096]
In the pull-down window, the contents (for example, file name and processing method) of the copy guard image stored in the copy guard image file 1030 are listed side by side, and the service provider selects the copy guard image to be applied from the list. select. In this example, select “Needs permission”.
[0097]
After each copy guard coordinate point 1010, 1020 is arranged on a desired copy guard range, and a copy guard image to be applied is selected, a copy guard area confirmation button 1040 arranged adjacent to the second copy guard coordinate point 1020 is displayed. Place the pointer and click the mouse once to confirm the copy guard area.
[0098]
Although not shown in the figure, when the copy guard area is confirmed in this example, the copy guard area is once transmitted to the WWW server 2 side, and the WWW server 2 that has received the copy guard area copies the copy guard confirmation confirmation data together with the copy guard confirmation data. For example, area designation display data such as displaying the guard area designation range in transparent blue is distributed to the terminal 4 side, and the copy guard area is displayed in blue on the display image by HTML.
[0099]
If it is desired to further specify a copy guard area on the same image, the same operation may be repeated a plurality of times. When all the copy guard areas are confirmed, a request for designating the copy guard area designated by one-clicking the mouse on the copy guard area confirmation button 1100 displayed on the upper right of the browser B is sent to the WWW server 2 side. Called to.
[0100]
Upon receiving the copy guard designation request, the WWW server 2 side encodes copy guard information such as the file name of the image that requires copy guard, the copy guard area, and the type of copy guard image, and stores them in the log file 140.
[0101]
FIGS. 11 and 12 show display examples when a clipping request is issued from the user terminal 4 for an image in which a copy guard area is set. As shown in FIG. 11, when it is determined in step ST120 of FIG. 3 that the image cutout engine 40 determines that there is an overlap between the cutout area on the designated image and the copy guard area set for the designated image. , A copy guard image 970 is synthesized with the cutout image 900 displayed on the browser B, in this example, the two types of cutout images 940 and 950.
[0102]
That is, for example, when the pointer is clicked on the clipped image 940 and the mouse is clicked, the clipped image 940 is distributed to the terminal 4 side. As shown in FIG. 12, the clipped image 940 includes a spotted copy. It can be seen that the guard image 970 is synthesized and the original image is intentionally deformed. The copy guarded clipped image can also be stored by the user himself / herself by assigning a unique file name to the clipped image 910 and selecting a storage location. However, since the copy guarded image is synthesized, the user terminal Even if the image processing software owned by 4a is used, the copy guard process cannot be canceled.
[0103]
13A and 13B show the storage status of the cut-out area data stored in the log file 140 and the storage status of the copy guard data. As shown in FIG. 13A, the cut area data includes, for each cut area, a file ID, a file creation date and time, a user ID that created the area, image file information (catalog ID and page number), and the start point of the cut coordinates. And end point, IMAGEFLAG applet status, and copy guard history status.
[0104]
The copy guard data includes the file ID, copy guard designated image information (catalog ID and page), copy guard area coordinate start and end points, IMAGEFLAG applet status, and copy guard history status for each copy guard area. Yes.
[0105]
Focusing on the cutout area stored in the copy guard data as the file ID 1010, the cutout image and the cutout area are the same as the copyguard image stored as the file ID 220 of the copyguard data, and further in the copy guard area. The cutout area is included. Thereby, it becomes a target of the copy guard process by the overlap area check performed in step ST120 described above.
[0106]
The image distribution system of the present invention is set up by installing an image distribution program sufficient to execute the above-described embodiment in a computer recording apparatus, and is activated by executing the program on the computer. The image distribution system (image distribution program) of the present invention may be sold to a customer in a state of being stored in a recording device of a computer including at least an input / output device, an arithmetic device, a display device, and a recording device. It may be in a state of being stored in a recording medium (for example, CR-ROM or the like) that can be read by an input / output device of a computer. Furthermore, the image distribution program may be stored on a WWW server connected to a network such as the Internet and distributed to customers via the network.
[0107]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the first invention includes a server and a user terminal, which are connected via a network line such as the Internet, and a predetermined image is transmitted from the server side to the user terminal. In the image distribution system for distributing images, the server stores a low-resolution image file that stores a predetermined image as a low-resolution image for high-speed display, and a high-resolution image that stores the same image as the high-resolution image for display. A resolution image file, and the user terminal includes a clipping region designating unit that designates a part of an image as a clipping region on a browser, and a first step of making an image transmission request from the user terminal to the server; The server reads the low-resolution image of the image requested to be transmitted from the low-resolution image file, and In the second step of transmitting to the terminal for display, and on the user terminal side, the desired clipping region is designated from the low resolution image by the clipping region designating means, and the region designation signal is transmitted to the server. And a fourth step in which the server reads a high-resolution image in the area designated by the area designation signal from the high-resolution image file, and transmits the high-resolution image to the user terminal for display. Therefore, clipping is performed using the low-resolution image displayed on the browser on the user terminal side, and only the high-resolution clipping image corresponding to the clipping region is distributed from the high-resolution image stored on the server side. Thus, not only the conventional image clipping process by the user terminal is unnecessary, but also the load on the server is reduced.
[0108]
In addition, as a second invention, image distribution includes a server, a user terminal, and a service provider terminal, which are connected via a network line such as the Internet, and distribute a predetermined image from the server side to the user terminal. In the system, the user terminal includes a clipping region designation unit that designates a portion of the image as a clipping region on the browser, and the service provider terminal writes a specific notification item on the portion of the image on the browser to copy guard A copy guard image setting means for making an image, wherein the server stores a low-resolution image file storing a predetermined image as a low-resolution image for high-speed display, and an image identical to the image as a high-resolution image for fine display The high resolution image file to be stored and the copy guard image set by the service provider terminal A copy guard image file to be stored, an image cutout engine for creating a cutout image of a high resolution image from the high resolution image file in accordance with a cutout region designated by the user terminal, and a copy guard from the service provider terminal A copy guard engine that pastes the copy guard image on the cut-out image of the high resolution image based on the request, wherein the server transmits the low resolution image in response to an image transmission request from the user terminal, and the user terminal When a clipping region is specified from the low-resolution image, the image clipping engine creates the high-resolution image clipping image and transmits it to the user terminal. If copy guard is set for the high-resolution cutout image to be sent, the high-resolution cutout image By attaching the copy guard image to the user terminal and distributing it to the user terminal, the copy guard image can be superimposed on an arbitrary area of the image distributed image, and the copyright belonging to the image can be protected. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system layout diagram of an image distribution system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system layout diagram illustrating a system configuration of a processing engine.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a distribution procedure of the image distribution system.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for specifying a cutout area in the image distribution system.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a procedure for specifying a cutout area in the image distribution system;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a procedure for designating a cutout area of the image distribution system.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure for specifying a cutout area in the image distribution system.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a copy guard area designation procedure of the image distribution system.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a copy guard area specifying procedure of the image distribution system.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a copy guard area designation procedure of the image distribution system.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a copy guard area designation procedure of the image distribution system.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a copy guard area specifying procedure of the image distribution system.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a storage situation of area data in the image distribution system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image distribution system (image distribution program)
2 WWW server
3 Internet
4 terminal (user)
100 Low resolution image file
110 High resolution image file
120 Crop image file
130 Copy Guard image file
140 log files
20 User authentication engine
200 User authentication part
210 Normal user part
220 Multi-user part
230 Service Provider Department
240 New User Registration Department
250 Account Information Storage Department
260 Log Management Department
30 Image processing engine
40 image cropping engine
410 Image area extraction unit
420 Copy guard area search unit
430 Cut-out image search unit
50 copy guard engine
510 Copy guard area extraction unit
520 copy guard image selection unit
530 Image composition unit
B Browser

Claims (7)

In an image distribution system including a server, a user terminal, and a service provider terminal, which are connected via a network line such as the Internet, and distribute a predetermined image from the server side to the user terminal,
The user terminal includes a clipping region designation means for designating a part of an image as a clipping region on a browser,
The service provider terminal comprises copy guard image setting means for writing a specific notification item in a part of an image on a browser and making it a copy guard image,
The server includes a low-resolution image file that stores a predetermined image as a low-resolution image for high-speed display, a high-resolution image file that stores the same image as the high-resolution image for fine display, and the service provision A copy guard image file for storing a copy guard image set by the user terminal, and an image clipping engine for creating a clipped image of the high resolution image from the high resolution image file according to the clip region designated by the user terminal; A copy guard engine that pastes the copy guard image on a high-resolution clipped image based on a copy guard request from the service provider terminal;
The server transmits a low resolution image in response to an image transmission request from the user terminal, and when a clipping region is designated from the low resolution image at the user terminal, the image clipping engine performs the high resolution. A cut-out image of the image is created and transmitted to the user terminal. At that time, the copy guard engine, when the copy guard is set in the cut-out image of the high-resolution image to be transmitted, An image distribution system, wherein the copy guard image is pasted on the cutout image and distributed to the user terminal. A service provided with a user terminal provided with a cutout area designation means for designating a part of an image as a cutout area on the browser and a copy guard image setting means for writing a specific notification item into a part of the image on the browser to make a copyguard image In a server that distributes a predetermined image to a user terminal via a network line such as the Internet,
A low resolution image file that stores a predetermined image as a low resolution image for high-speed display, a high resolution image file that stores the same image as a high resolution image for fine display, and settings from the service provider terminal A copy guard image file that stores the copy guard image that has been created, an image clipping engine that creates a clipped image of a high resolution image from the high resolution image file in accordance with a clip region specified by the user terminal, and the service provided above A copy guard engine that pastes the copy guard image on a high-resolution clipped image based on a copy guard request from a user terminal,
When a low resolution image is transmitted to the user terminal in response to an image transmission request from the user terminal, and a clipping region is designated from the low resolution image on the user terminal, the image clipping engine causes the high resolution A cut-out image of the image is created and transmitted to the user terminal. At that time, the copy guard engine, when the copy guard is set in the cut-out image of the high-resolution image to be transmitted, A server characterized in that the copy guard image is pasted on the cut-out image and distributed to the user terminal. A user information file for storing various user information including the service provider; and a user authentication engine for performing user authentication of the terminal based on the user information file. The copy guard engine is serviced by the user authentication engine. The server according to claim 2, wherein the copy guard request is accepted only when authenticated as a provider user. A cut-out image file for storing the high-resolution cut-out image, and a log file for storing the cut-out image creation history; and the user authentication engine allows a user accessing from the user terminal to If it is determined that the user name is the same as the described user name, the clipped image file storing the clipped image corresponding to the creation history can be accessed. The server according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cut-out image is selectively delivered. When the user is a child user and there is a parent user that is an upper layer of the child user, the user authentication engine displays the clipped image owned by the child user when authenticating with the parent user. The server according to claim 4, wherein the server is set in a distributable state. A service provided with a user terminal provided with a cutout area designation means for designating a part of an image as a cutout area on the browser and a copy guard image setting means for writing a specific notification item into a part of the image on the browser to make a copyguard image In a server program for operating a server that distributes a predetermined image to a user terminal via a network line such as the Internet,
A low-resolution image step for storing a low-resolution image for high-speed display and delivering the low-resolution image to the terminal in response to a request from the terminal; and a high-resolution image for displaying the same image as the low-resolution image A high resolution image step for storing as an image, a copy guard image step for storing a copy guard image in which specific notification items are written, and a clipping request for clipping a predetermined clipping region of the low resolution image from the user terminal; An image cutting step for cutting out the cut region from the high resolution image in response to the cut request to create a high resolution cut image, and a copy designating a predetermined copy guard region from the service provider terminal to the low resolution image A guard request is accepted, and the upper part of the high-resolution image is copied to the copy guard area based on the copy guard request. And a copy guard step to paste a copy guard image,
The copy guard step inquires whether the copy guard area is specified in the original image of the clipped image when receiving a distribution request for the clipped image from the user terminal, and displays the display area of the clipped image A server program comprising a distribution step of pasting the copy guard image to the clipped image and distributing it to the user terminal when the copy guard area is included therein. In a service provider terminal connected via a network line such as the Internet to a server that delivers a predetermined image to a user terminal,
A service comprising copy guard image setting means for writing a specific notification item in a part of the image on the browser to make a copy guard image for the image distributed to the user terminal Provider terminal.

Images