JP3913324B2 - Image information recording medium, photofinishing system using the same, and recording medium on which a program for generating the same is recorded - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image information recording medium and a photofinishing system, and more particularly to an image file format for recording image data on a recording medium together with auxiliary information, and a photofinishing system for reproducing a visible image from such an image file. It is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, digital output services are known in which image data read from a developed film or the like is recorded on a medium such as a CD-R or MO and provided to customers. There is also known a digital input service in which image data output by the above service is processed by a customer using a personal computer, and the processed data is brought into a laboratory and reproduced as a photo print.
[0003]
In the digital input / output service, generally, image processing software for a personal computer is provided to a customer together with image data at the time of outputting the image data, and data for digital input service to be passed to the laboratory is generated by the function of this software. At this time, since the processing capacity of a personal computer is generally inferior to that of a laboratory photo finishing system, image processing information indicating the processing intended by the customer is generated instead of actually processing the image data on the personal computer side. A method has been proposed in which image data is transferred to a laboratory and subjected to actual image processing on the laboratory side.
[0004]
The FlashPix standard is a standard advocated by Eastman Kodak Company as a standard suitable for the above-described digital input / output service. In the FlashPix standard, image data and various incidental information of the image data are used as components. A structured storage file (hereinafter referred to as a FlashPix file) is defined. Further, it has been proposed that the image processing information is included in the structured storage file as one of the incidental information.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the data for digital input service is generated by the image processing software provided to the customer by the photograph service provider as described above, the contents of the image processing that can be specified by the customer are limited by the function of this software. As image processing technology advances day by day and customer needs also grow day by day, photo service providers upgrade their software as often as possible to increase their competitiveness, It is desirable to provide customers with the latest technology that always meets their needs.
[0006]
At this time, since the data generated by the software is processed by the photofinishing system, in order to provide new image processing as a service, the software version of the photofinishing system of the laboratory as well as the customer is used. Need to do up.
[0007]
At this time, a version upgrade of a commercially available PC package program may be performed by a person who obtains the effect of the version upgrade at a timing when the effect is desired. Regardless of the circumstances, it must be done according to customer requirements.
[0008]
Although it may be possible not to provide a new image processing program to the customer until the photo finishing system upgrade is completed, the digital output service and the digital input service are not necessarily commissioned by the same lab. The burden of upgrading is not completely eliminated.
[0009]
In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention frequently performs up-to-date image processing for customers by frequently performing version upgrades of software incorporated in a photofinishing system in a digital input / output service for photographs without increasing the burden on the laboratory. The purpose is to be able to provide services.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image information recording medium of the present invention is a computer-readable image information recording medium in which a structured storage file having image information as a component is recorded.
The structured storage file is the component,
Image data,
When the image data is reproduced as a visible image by a photofinishing system connected to a network, the photofinishing system is information for designating image processing to be performed on the image data, and the photofinishing system Image processing information necessary for obtaining and executing an image processing program for executing the image processing from any system including the photofinishing system among the systems connected to the network. Is.
[0011]
Here, the “structured storage file” is a file having a hierarchical structure like a directory structure of a conventional file system and storing a plurality of types of data having different properties as each component forming the hierarchy. This file structure has the advantage that data contained in the same file can be manipulated by different applications. In addition, since the size of some data has changed as in the case of a conventional non-hierarchical file, there is no need to change to a program that references another part of the file. The processing code of the program to be changed can be stored in the file as one of the data.
[0012]
In the present invention, the image data included as a component of the structured storage file may be high-resolution image data actually used for printing or low-resolution image data only for display on a personal computer. Alternatively, a plurality of pieces of image data having different resolutions representing one image may be used like the above FlashPix file.
[0013]
Further, “reproduce as a visible image” means both reproduction as a photo print and reproduction on a monitor. The reproduction on the monitor includes, for example, a case where the image data is stored in the server computer of the service provider and released on the network.
[0014]
“Image processing to be performed on the image data by the photofinishing system” is mainly image processing specified by the customer by the function of the above-mentioned personal computer software. It is assumed that the image processing specified by the determination of the above is also included. The contents of the image processing include, for example, correction processing such as color, gradation, and brightness, black and white finishing, sepia finishing, red-eye correction, and trimming.
[0015]
Further, “obtaining and executing an image processing program for executing the image processing from any system including the photofinishing system” means that if a necessary image processing program is already incorporated in the system, This means that processing is performed immediately by executing, and if it is not incorporated, it is downloaded from another system and executed. At this time, it is desirable that the program upgrade be performed in units of processing codes, not in units of packages (instead of replacing the whole). This is to reduce the amount of communication and save time and cost. However, the present invention does not exclude version upgrade in units of packages.
[0016]
Further, the image processing information can be, for example, information including ID information for specifying the image processing program and link information indicating the image processing program. In particular, if the network is the Internet and a URL is used as link information, a highly versatile system can be realized. Alternatively, when versatility is not particularly required and the number of image processing program storage locations is limited to a few locations, the program storage location is indicated by the upper few digits of the ID so that the program can be downloaded using only the ID information. May be.
[0017]
Here, for example, monochrome finishing can be executed immediately if the type of image processing can be specified. However, in the case of brightness correction, image processing parameters such as the degree of brightness must be given to the system. The process cannot be executed. Therefore, in such a case, it is desirable that the image processing information further includes a processing parameter input to the image processing program.
[0018]
A photofinishing system of the present invention is a photofinishing system that reads the image information recording medium of the present invention and reproduces image data recorded on the recording medium as a visible image,
A communication means for exchanging information over a network with other systems providing photo services;
Image data and information for specifying image processing to be performed on the image data when the image data is reproduced as a visible image, and the photo finishing system in a system in which the photo finishing system is connected to the network From the image information recording medium in which the structured storage file having the image processing information necessary for obtaining and executing the image processing program for executing the image processing from any system including the system is recorded Data capturing means for capturing image data and the image processing information;
Program existence confirmation means for confirming whether the photofinishing system has the image processing program based on the image processing information;
When the photofinishing system does not have the image processing program, the image processing is executed from any system other than the photofinishing system in the system connected to the network based on the image processing information. A program obtaining means for obtaining an image processing program to be performed;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data using an image processing program obtained from any one of the systems connected to the network including the photofinishing system;
Image reproduction means for reproducing the image data subjected to the image processing as a visible image is provided.
[0019]
Here, the “data fetching means” is a media drive for fetching a structured storage file recorded on a medium such as a CD-R, or a means for receiving a structured storage file transferred from a customer's personal computer. is there.
[0020]
The confirmation by the program existence confirmation means is performed by managing the IDs of the programs held by the own system in advance as a list, for example, when the above-mentioned ID information is included in the image processing information. It can be confirmed by comparing the ID contained in the list with this list.
[0021]
For example, when the URL as described above is included in the image processing information, the program obtaining means automatically accesses the system storing the latest program using the URL and downloads the program. is there.
[0022]
The image information recording medium can be generated by a dedicated software function incorporated in a customer's personal computer or the like. The recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium storing this program.
[0023]
That is, a computer-readable recording medium storing an image information recording medium generation program for causing a computer to execute a process of generating a structured storage file having image information as a component and recording the structured storage file on the image information recording medium, The program
A process that allows specification of image data;
Processing for displaying a list of image processing items that can be applied to the image data on a display device;
A process of taking an item designated as a process to be performed on the image data based on the list display as a designated item;
In order for a photofinishing system connected to a network to obtain and execute an image processing program for executing the image processing indicated by each item from any of the systems connected to the network including the photofinishing system Processing for searching for image processing information corresponding to the specified item from item-specific image processing information stored in advance as necessary information for
Processing for generating a structured storage file including the image data and the searched image processing information as components;
It is a program that causes a computer to execute processing for recording a generated structured storage file on an image information recording medium.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
The image information recording medium of the present invention is a digital photo service for reproducing an image from an image file. Image processing information indicating the storage location of an image processing program for image processing to be applied to image data by a photofinishing system is stored in the image data. It is recorded on the recording medium as incidental information. The recording medium storing the program of the present invention is a recording medium on which a program for generating the image information recording medium is recorded.
[0025]
As a result, the photofinishing system that reproduces an image from this image file can always obtain the necessary program according to the image processing information even when requested to perform unknown image processing. Image processing services can be provided to customers.
[0026]
In addition, the photofinishing system of the present invention includes a program existence confirmation unit and a program acquisition unit, so that even when requested image processing is unknown, it is automatically performed without requiring the intervention of the system operator. Downloading the necessary programs to execute image processing and playback processing, so that the system operator can always provide the latest image processing services to customers without having to worry about frequent software upgrades Can do. Also, the customer can request a service without worrying about whether each laboratory can provide a desired image processing service.
[0027]
If the image processing information is information including ID information for specifying the image processing program and link information indicating the image processing program, a more general digital photo system can be realized without any particular limitation on the storage location of the program. can do. In addition, by including processing parameters for image processing in this image processing information, it is possible to perform brightness correction that requires parameter input from the customer, and the range of image processing services that can be provided is expanded.
[0028]
Note that, as described above, the photofinishing system software version upgrade is different from commercially available software version upgrades and may not be performed for the convenience of the software user (laboratory). Therefore, in the case of a photofinishing system, the burden of frequent version upgrades on the lab is greater than the burden on general users of software upgrades on the software users. That is, the practical effect brought about by the present invention in digital photo services is extremely large.
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an image information recording medium and a photofinishing system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a structured storage file recorded on an image information recording medium as an embodiment of the image information recording medium of the present invention.
[0030]
The structured storage file in FIG. 1 describes one image data storage 2 (Source FlashPix image object) for storing image data and various attributes of the image below the root storage 1 (FlashPix Image view object root). It has attribute streams 3a-3c. The image data storage 2 includes six resolution-specific storages 4a to 4f from Resolution 0 to Resolution 5 for each image resolution, and each resolution-specific storage 4 includes a header stream 5 (Subimage Header Stream) and a data stream 6 (Subimage Data Stream) is stored. Various attributes related to the other image data are stored in the image data storage 2 as attribute streams 3d to 3g.
[0031]
In this embodiment, the resolution of the image data stored in the Resoution 5 (resolution-specific storage 4f) is the highest, and the resolutions of the resolution 4 and the resolution 3 are lower, and the resolution of the image data stored in the Resolution 0 is the lowest. Resolution5 and Resolution4 are for print output, and others are for monitor display. The monitor display image has different resolutions depending on whether it is displayed on a general screen or a list of a plurality of images displayed on the screen. Therefore, four types of image data by resolution are used depending on the display form.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, the above storage and stream are assumed to conform to the FlashPix standard, and detailed description thereof is omitted. However, the file of the present invention does not necessarily conform to the FlashPix standard, and may be a structured storage file according to another standard.
[0033]
Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the structured storage file proposed by the present invention includes information related to image processing executed in a laboratory system when reproducing the image data in addition to the image data and the attribute stream ( It includes a stream describing image processing information 7). In the present embodiment, the image processing information 7 includes ID information that specifies the type (program) of image processing, a URL that indicates the storage location of the image processing program, and processing parameters of the image processing program.
[0034]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of an image information recording medium generation program for generating the structured storage file of FIG. 1 and recording it on a medium. For example, when a customer requests a digital output service for a photograph recorded on a film, the program is recorded on the same medium as image data representing the photograph and provided to the customer.
[0035]
When this program is executed on a personal computer, a screen for designating image data appears first. This may be similar to a known file selection screen in various personal computer software. The designated image data is accepted by this program as an object to be recorded in the structured storage file (step 101). The next program displays, on the screen, a list of image processing service items that can be provided by the service provider, such as brightness adjustment, color balance, sepia tone finishing, and red-eye correction (step 102). However, what a service provider can provide is that a program that executes such image processing is stored in any system owned by the service provider, and not all laboratories provide this service. It does not mean that it can be provided.
[0036]
Items designated on the screen by the customer are fetched as designated items in step 103. Here, the program uses the image processing item as an internal table or an external table, ID information for specifying the item, a storage location of the image processing program for executing the image processing, and the number and types of parameters necessary for the processing. Is stored in the table. When the specified item is fetched in step 103, the table is searched next, and the ID information and the program storage location are associated with the specified item (step 104). Further, when the designated item requires a parameter, a process parameter input acceptance screen appears, and the customer can input the necessary parameter (step 105).
[0037]
The ID information, program storage location (URL), and processing parameters acquired by the above processing are configured as a structured storage file as shown in FIG.
[0038]
The generated structured storage file is recorded on a medium such as MO or Zip (step 107) and transferred to the photo finishing system of the laboratory. Alternatively, it is recorded as it is on the hard disk of a personal computer and transferred to the laboratory system via the network.
[0039]
The image information recording medium generation program is not necessarily a program that performs only the above processing, and may be realized as a function of an order processing program that inputs various order information such as the number of prints and sizes.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the photofinishing system of the present invention. This photofinishing system includes an image handling device 9 having a media drive and the like, and a photographic printer 10 that creates a photographic print from an image file, and can communicate with other systems via a network 13. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there is a program server 11 that stores all programs from the first version to the latest version as one of the other systems.
[0041]
The image handling device 9 takes in the image data 4, the ID information 7a, the link information 7b of the image processing program, and the processing parameters 7c from the structured storage file 12 recorded in the image information recording medium 8, and performs processing on the image data. After performing the image processing specified by the ID information 7a, the photo printer 10 reproduces it as a photo print.
[0042]
At this time, the image handling device 9 first checks whether or not the image processing program designated by the ID information 7a is held. In this embodiment, when each image processing program is installed in the image handling device 9, an ID information list of installed programs is generated, so it is confirmed whether or not the specified ID information is included in this list. It can be performed.
[0043]
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the processing code having an ID of 10020 does not exist in the image handling device 9. Therefore, in this case, the image handling apparatus accesses the program server 11 based on the captured link information 7b, and downloads the processing code whose ID is 10020. By giving the processing parameters to the downloaded image processing program and executing the program, the image processing as instructed by the customer is performed on the image data.
[0044]
As described above, this photofinishing system can obtain the necessary program according to the image processing information even when it is requested to perform unknown image processing. Can be provided. Or, conversely, even if a customer requests image processing that is supported only by an older version of software, a past version can be downloaded, so there is no need to perform software version control in the lab.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image information recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of an image information recording medium generating program stored in the recording medium of the present invention. Figure showing an embodiment of a photofinishing system.
1 Root Storage 2 Image Data Storage 3 Attribute Information Stream 4 Resolution-Specific Storage 5 Header Stream 6 Data Stream 7 Image Processing Information 8 Image Information Recording Medium 9 Image Handling Device
10 Photo printer
11 Program server
12 structured storage files
13 network

Claims (12)

In a computer-readable image information recording medium in which a structured storage file having image information as a component is recorded,
The structured storage file is the component,
Image data,
When the image data is reproduced as a visible image by a photofinishing system connected to a network, the photofinishing system is information for designating image processing to be performed on the image data, and the photofinishing system Image processing information necessary for obtaining and executing an image processing program for executing the image processing from any system including the photofinishing system among the systems connected to the network. Image information recording medium.   The lab's photofinishing system captures a file created on the customer's personal computer and reproduces the image data requested by the customer as a visible image. The computer-readable image information record used for delivery of the file A medium,
  As the file, a structured storage file having image information as a component is recorded,
  The structured storage file is the component,
  Image data,
  When the image data is reproduced as a visible image by a photofinishing system connected to a network, the photofinishing system is information for designating image processing to be performed on the image data, and the photofinishing system Image processing information necessary for obtaining and executing an image processing program for executing the image processing from any system including the photofinishing system among the systems connected to the network. Image information recording medium. The image processing information is
ID information for specifying the image processing program;
Image information recording medium according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the including the link information pointing to the image processing program. 4. The image information recording medium according to claim 3 , wherein the image processing information further includes a processing parameter input to the image processing program. A photofinishing system for reproducing image data as a visible image,
A communication means for exchanging information over a network with other systems providing photo services;
Image data and information for specifying image processing to be performed on the image data when the image data is reproduced as a visible image, and the photo finishing system in a system in which the photo finishing system is connected to the network From the image information recording medium in which the structured storage file having the image processing information necessary for obtaining and executing the image processing program for executing the image processing from any system including the system is recorded Data capturing means for capturing image data and the image processing information;
Program existence confirmation means for confirming whether the photofinishing system has the image processing program based on the image processing information;
When the photofinishing system does not have the image processing program, the image processing is executed from any system other than the photofinishing system in the system connected to the network based on the image processing information. A program obtaining means for obtaining an image processing program to be performed;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data using an image processing program obtained from any one of the systems connected to the network including the photofinishing system;
A photofinishing system comprising image reproduction means for reproducing the image data subjected to the image processing as a visible image.   A photo finishing system that is installed in a lab and plays back image data requested by a customer as a visible image by importing a file created on the customer's computer.
  A communication means for exchanging information over a network with other systems providing photo services;
  Image data and information for specifying image processing to be performed on the image data when the image data is reproduced as a visible image, and the photo finishing system in a system in which the photo finishing system is connected to the network From the image information recording medium in which the structured storage file having the image processing information necessary for obtaining and executing the image processing program for executing the image processing from any system including the system is recorded Data capturing means for capturing image data and the image processing information;
  Program existence confirmation means for confirming whether the photofinishing system has the image processing program based on the image processing information;
  When the photofinishing system does not have the image processing program, the image processing is executed from any system other than the photofinishing system in the system connected to the network based on the image processing information. A program obtaining means for obtaining an image processing program to be performed;
  Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data using an image processing program obtained from any one of the systems connected to the network including the photofinishing system;
  A photofinishing system comprising image reproduction means for reproducing the image data subjected to the image processing as a visible image. The image processing information includes ID information for identifying the image processing program and link information indicating the image processing program;
The program existence confirmation means performs the confirmation by comparing the ID information with the ID information of the image processing program held by the photofinishing system,
7. The photofinishing system according to claim 5 , wherein the program obtaining unit obtains the program based on the link information. The image processing information further includes processing parameters to be input to the image processing program;
8. The photofinishing system according to claim 7 , wherein the image processing means performs the image processing on the image data by inputting the processing parameters to the image processing program. A computer-readable recording medium storing an image information recording medium generating program for causing a computer to execute a process of generating a structured storage file having image information as a component and recording the structured storage file on the image information recording medium, ,
A process that allows specification of image data;
Processing for displaying a list of image processing items that can be applied to the image data on a display device;
A process of taking an item designated as a process to be performed on the image data based on the list display as a designated item;
In order for a photofinishing system connected to a network to obtain and execute an image processing program for executing the image processing indicated by each item from any of the systems connected to the network including the photofinishing system Processing for searching for image processing information corresponding to the specified item from item-specific image processing information stored in advance as necessary information for
Processing for generating a structured storage file including the image data and the searched image processing information as components;
A computer-readable recording medium storing an image information recording medium generating program, wherein the computer executes a process of recording the generated structured storage file on the image information recording medium.   The photo finishing system of the lab is a system that reproduces the image data requested by the customer as a visible image by taking in the file created on the customer's personal computer. A computer-readable recording medium storing an image information recording medium generation program for causing a computer to execute a process of generating a structured storage file having image information as a component and recording the structured storage file on the image information recording medium, the program But,
  A process that allows specification of image data;
  Processing for displaying a list of image processing items that can be applied to the image data on a display device;
  A process of taking an item designated as a process to be performed on the image data based on the list display as a designated item;
  In order for a photofinishing system connected to a network to obtain and execute an image processing program for executing the image processing indicated by each item from any of the systems connected to the network including the photofinishing system Processing for searching for image processing information corresponding to the specified item from item-specific image processing information stored in advance as necessary information for
  Processing for generating a structured storage file including the image data and the searched image processing information as components;
  A computer-readable recording medium storing an image information recording medium generating program, wherein the computer executes a process of recording the generated structured storage file on the image information recording medium. The image processing information is
ID information for specifying the image processing program;
11. A computer-readable recording medium storing an image information recording medium generating program according to claim 9 or 10 , further comprising link information indicating the image processing program. 12. The computer-readable recording medium storing an image information recording medium generating program according to claim 11 , wherein the image processing information further includes a processing parameter input to the image processing program.

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