JP3958963B2 - Reusable digital camera collection method and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reusable digital camera collection method and a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, reusable digital cameras have begun to be sold on a trial basis. The reusable digital camera is not intended to be “disposable” in which the customer disposes of the used camera body, but is intended to reuse the camera body corresponding to a resource recycling society. Therefore, the problem of the reusable digital camera is how to collect the camera body.
[0003]
In the case of a reusable silver halide camera, the camera is structured so that it cannot be replaced, and the camera itself must be brought into the store to develop the photograph. Thereby, the camera body can be reliably collected.
[0004]
In this way, in the process of acquiring a photo, if there is no need to return the camera body, the return of the camera body by the customer cannot be expected. Therefore, the reusable digital camera currently sold on a trial basis also employs a structure in which the internal storage device cannot be exchanged and data cannot be output to an external recording medium. Specifically, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal for external connection is covered with a casing, and a USB terminal with a shape different from the standard is adopted so that images cannot be used even if the casing is disassembled. . Thus, in order to develop a photograph, it is essential to use a printer attached to a reception machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, and the return of the camera body by the customer is promoted.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the print service performed in association with the reusable digital camera sold on a trial basis, the captured image data is not provided to the customer even after the customer acquires the photograph. Then, since the data does not remain at the customer's hand, it is not possible to take advantage of the advantages inherent in digital data, such as the customer personally taking the digital data into a personal computer and storing it as image data or transferring it to a remote location.
[0006]
Further, since the customer cannot receive the digital image data by any medium, the customer can receive the print service for developing the photo only when the camera body is brought into the store. After the day when the camera body is brought into the store, so-called reprinting is impossible.
[0007]
On the other hand, since the purpose of the reusable digital camera called resource recovery has already been achieved after the camera body is collected, there is no problem even if the digital image data is provided to the customer. Rather, it is desirable to provide digital image data to the customer after collection of the camera body. This is because it is possible to place an additional print order as described above, and a new profit can be obtained for the camera seller.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a reusable digital camera collecting method and a recording medium that can eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art and can freely use digital image data taken by a customer and also can order additional prints. And
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a reusable digital camera collecting method for collecting a reusable digital camera brought from a customer to a store or other base, and recorded on the reusable digital camera. Providing the customer with the stored digital image data.
[0010]
Further, the present invention uses a recording medium on which digital image data recorded on the camera is recorded as means for providing digital image data to a customer in exchange for collection of a reusable digital camera. The medium includes software read into an information processing terminal. The software includes processing for displaying digital image data, processing for selecting digital image data desired to be reprinted, and processing the selected digital image data on the Internet or other media. This process allows the customer to place additional orders from the information processing terminal.
[0011]
According to the present invention, the customer can freely use the provided digital image data. Further, even after the day when the reusable digital camera is brought into the base, the customer can place a reprint order at any base or from the customer's house or other remote place.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of a reusable digital camera collection method and a recording medium according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted, and similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, the signal is displayed using the reference symbol of the signal line on which it appears, and the circulating item is displayed using the reference symbol of the article channel through which it flows.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a physical distribution diagram in a store to which the reusable digital camera collection method according to the present invention is applied. The store 10 is a manned store where a customer returns a used digital camera for reuse and requests a photo print service. Hereinafter, the reusable digital camera returned to the store 10 from the customer is referred to as a digital camera 12 to be collected.
[0014]
The store 10 is provided with a reception machine 14. The accepting device 14 is a device that outputs the digital image data 40 recorded in the digital camera 12 to be collected to the customer providing medium 16. The accepting machine 14 includes a digital data processing unit 18. The processing unit 18 is a device that has structures 22 and 23 into which the digital camera 12 to be collected and the ordering medium 20 can be mounted, respectively, and acquires digital image data recorded on these.
[0015]
Here, the reusable digital cameras 12 and 36 distributed in the present embodiment will be described. Although not shown, the cameras 12 and 36 include, for example, a lens and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) having 2 million pixels or more as an optical system, and a non-volatile memory that records captured digital image data. The number of pixels is not limited to 2 million pixels or more, but it is preferable to prepare a number of pixels larger than that in order to obtain a photograph equivalent to a silver salt camera. Although a liquid crystal display device may be provided, it is not necessary, and the number of images that can be taken may be 27, 36, or 12 as in the case of a silver halide camera. Although no strobe is required, it may be sold as an option.
[0016]
The signal line 22 that detachably connects the camera 12 and the processing unit 18 may use a USB terminal having a shape different from the standard. This is because the collection of the camera 12 is promoted by adopting a structure in which the photo print service cannot be received unless the camera 12 is brought to the store 10. The signal line 22 may use IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 as another serial bus standard, and is similarly configured in a terminal format different from the standard. Further, a wireless (electromagnetic wave) method for performing communication in a desired frequency band or a method for performing communication using infrared rays may be employed.
[0017]
The collected digital camera 12 whose data has been dropped on the medium 16 by the processing unit 18 is stored in the processing unit 18, then is transported to the lab 70 described later through the material flow path 25, and undergoes a reproduction process. In the store 10, the camera subjected to the reproduction processing in this way is carried from the laboratory 70 through the material flow path 21 and sold as a new digital camera 36 for sale.
[0018]
The digital data processing unit 18 also includes a slot 23. This is a slot for the order media 20 that the customer brought back as the customer-provided media 16 and brought back again by the customer for additional printing. Various types of slots 23 may be provided depending on the type of media.
[0019]
The accepting machine 14 further includes a display device 24, an input device 26, a printer 28, and a communication device 30. The display device 24 is a device that displays the digital image data 32 acquired by the digital data processing unit 18, and may be, for example, a CRT display or a liquid crystal display. The input device 26 is a device that inputs the images displayed as thumbnails on the display device 24 and the number of sheets to be printed through the signal line 27. For example, a keyboard, mouse, or other pointing device may be used.
[0020]
The printer 28 is a device that receives an image selected by the input device 26 through a signal line 29 and prints a predetermined number of sheets. In this embodiment, the printer 28 prints an image by a thermoautography (TA) method. This is a kind of thermal development method, and irradiates ultraviolet rays with different temperatures in three times on a dedicated thermal transfer paper. According to this method, a photograph comparable to that of a silver halide camera can be obtained, and the quality is not deteriorated. Needless to say, printers using other development methods may be used.
[0021]
The photograph 31 printed by the printer 28 is handed directly to the customer who brought the digital camera 12 to be collected. On the other hand, as shown in the figure, it may be mailed to the customer's home 39 by a store clerk.
[0022]
The communication device 30 is a device that receives the image data 34 from the digital data processing unit 18 and transmits the image data 34 from the output line 35 to the remote laboratory 70 via the Internet 80 when a customer requests a higher quality photograph. Although not shown, the lab 70 is provided with a lab print developing machine whose trade name is called “frontier”. According to Frontier, photographs are printed by liquid processing using laser paper, resulting in higher quality photographs than thermoautography. The high-quality photo 71 printed in the lab 70 is mailed to the customer's home 39 or other place desired by the customer.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a collaboration diagram of the customer providing medium shown in FIG. 1 which is an embodiment of the recording medium according to the present invention and a customer terminal. Customer-provided media 16 includes CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), CD-R (Compact Disk Recordable), CD-RW (Compact Disk ReWritable), MD (Mini Disk), DVD (Digital Video Disk), DVD-R (Digital Video Disk Recordable), DVD-RAM (Digital Video Disk-Random Access Memory), DVD-ROM (Digital Video Disk-Read Only Memory) and other digital data recording media. It can be read from the slot 43.
[0024]
The medium 16 may be a read-only medium or a writable / rewritable medium as in the above specific example. The recording method may typically be an optical disc method as in the above specific example, but is not limited to this, and any recording method medium capable of reproducing digital data may be used. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the media 16 is provided to the customer in exchange for the collection of the collected digital camera 12 brought from the customer to the store 10 or other base.
[0025]
The medium 16 is a recording medium on which the digital image data 40 recorded on the camera 12 is recorded. As shown in FIG. 1, the medium 16 is automatically created when the collected digital camera 12 is inserted into the accepting device 14 and can be acquired from the take-out port 41. Such automatic creation of the media 16 can be performed by known equipment. While the media 16 containing the data 40 is delivered to the customer, the collected digital camera 12 is collected. Thus, the media 16 is provided as a developed film corresponding to a silver salt camera. The photographed image data 40 is attached to the terminal 38 of the customer, or the media 20 that the customer brings back to the store 10 as the media 16 and puts the media 20 again in the store 10 on the reception device 14 of the store 10 You can browse.
[0026]
The media 16 is formatted so that at least order data including the customer's name, address, telephone number and image data can be recorded. These order data are input by the customer guided by the reception software 42 included in the media 16. The reception software 42 is software that automatically starts when the media 16 is loaded into the customer terminal 38.
[0027]
The customer terminal 38 is, for example, a personal information processing terminal owned by the customer, and is a device that selects a photo to be reprinted from the data 40 and transmits a reprint order to the store 10 or other bases. The customer terminal 38 may be a personal handy-phone system (PHS), a mobile phone or other portable information processing terminal in addition to the personal computer at the customer's home 39. In this case, the media 16 can be read from the portable information processing terminal. Shall.
[0028]
The customer terminal 38 includes a memory 44 that reads data 40 and software 42 from the media 16 attached to the terminal 38. The customer terminal 38 also displays a processor 46 that reads the data 40 and software 42 read into the memory 44 and performs various software processing, a display device 48 that displays the data 40 through the signal line 49, and a thumbnail display on the display device 48. And an input device 50 for selecting the image to be printed and inputting the number of sheets to be printed through the signal line 51. Further, the customer terminal 38 includes a communication device 52 that receives the reprint order signal 45 with the selected image data and transmits it from the communication line 47 to the store 10 and other locations via the Internet 80. Any of the devices included in the customer terminal 38 as described above may be used for the customer terminal 38.
[0029]
The software 42 includes at least a process 60 for displaying the digital image data 40 on the display device 48, a process 62 for selecting the digital image data desired to be reprinted, and the selected digital image data via the Internet 80 or other network. And processing 68 to be transmitted to the store 10 and other bases. With this software 42, the customer can place a reprint order from the customer terminal 38.
[0030]
Based on the system configured as described above, each step of the reusable digital camera collection method according to the present invention will be described below. According to the system shown in FIG. 1, digital image data recorded in a reusable digital camera brought from a customer to the store 10 or other base can be provided to the customer. The customer brings the digital camera 12 to be collected into the store 10, and the store clerk or the customer installs the digital camera 12 on the reception device 14 with a predetermined mounting terminal 22. Then, the digital image processing unit 18 can output the digital image data recorded in the camera 12 to the customer providing medium 16 and provide the medium 16 to the customer.
[0031]
On the other hand, the image data acquired by the processing unit 18 is displayed as a thumbnail on the display device 24, and by selecting the image and the number of images to be printed from the input device 26, a print service can be received on the spot. The photograph printed by the printer 28 may be taken home by the customer, or may be received for delivery to the customer's home 39 or other location desired by the customer.
[0032]
If the customer desires a higher quality photograph, the customer can input the delivery destination from the input device 26 and send the print order to the lab 70 via the communication device 30. Higher-quality photos printed by the frontier in the lab 70 will be delivered to the customer's home 39 or other customers desired delivery destination at a later date.
[0033]
The point of the present invention is that the customer can return the camera 12 and receive the customer providing medium 16. As described with reference to FIG. 2, the media 16 is installed with the digital image data 40 and reception software 42 that accepts the customer's reprint order and transmits the order to the store 10 and other locations via the Internet 80 and other networks. It is. With this software 42, the customer can make a reprint order from the customer terminal 38 desired by the customer.
[0034]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the reception software recorded on the customer-provided medium which is an embodiment of the recording medium according to the present invention. The reception software 42 automatically starts the operation shown in FIG. 3 at the same time as being read into the customer terminal 38. First, in step 60, the digital image is displayed as a thumbnail on the display device. Next, in step 62, an image to be printed is selected by the input device 50, and the number of images is input. Next, in step 64, a method for receiving the reprinted photo is selected, and the receiving location is input. The receiving method is a method of mailing or whether the customer goes directly to one of the stores, and the receiving place is the name of one of the stores 10 to which the mailing destination or the customer goes. This is because when there are a plurality of stores 10, a store that is convenient for the customer may be designated.
[0035]
Next, in step 66, the service usage fee is displayed on the display device 48, and a payment method is selected. Charges are calculated automatically. In addition, as a payment method, it is possible to select a method such as bank transfer or direct cash payment when going to a store. Finally, in step 68, the order is transmitted. As a result, the contents of the extra print order are transmitted to the print server 72 described later together with the selected image data.
[0036]
As described above, since the customer terminal 38 may be a personal information processing terminal such as a PHS, a mobile phone, or the like as well as a personal computer in the customer's home 39, the customer can place a reprint order from any place.
[0037]
Of course, the reprinting print service as described above is possible by bringing the ordering media 20 into the store 10 in addition to the customer terminal 38. The order medium 20 is the medium that the customer brought back as the customer-providing medium 16 and is brought back again by the customer for additional printing. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to accept a reprint order even after the date when the camera 12 is brought into the store 10. In addition, a service for collecting a plurality of order media 20 collected by customers into one media is also provided.
[0038]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a print service system associated with the reusable digital camera collection method according to the present invention. In addition to the store 10, the customer terminal 38, and the lab 70 that have already been described, the system includes a print server 72 that receives a reprint order from the customer terminal 38, and a street unmanned store 74 that has a reception device equivalent to the store 10. . These elements 10, 38, 70, 72 and 74 are all connected to the Internet 80 via communication lines 35, 47, 75, 77 and 79. In this embodiment, the Internet 80 is used. However, other wide area networks may be used, and they may be connected to each other by a dedicated line.
[0039]
The print server 72 is a device that receives a reprint order from the customer terminal 38, transfers the order to a predetermined store or lab 70, and gives a mail or store delivery instruction. Street unmanned store 74 is an unmanned store that has the same reception machine as reception machine 14, but has no store clerk, and is a store where customers return their cameras, request print services, and order additional prints. is there. As an example, the unmanned store 74 may use the ID photo system installed on the street shown in FIG. 5 as it is. This is a device handled by the applicant of the present application under the trade name “CITY PHOTO STATION” and the model name “DIPS (Digital ID Photo Station)”. The ID photograph system may be provided with the same equipment as the store 10 shown in FIG.
[0040]
The camera to be collected accumulated in the unmanned store 74 is also carried to the laboratory 70 through the material flow path 81. Then, the sales camera that has been subjected to the reproduction process is also sold at the street unmanned store 74 through the material flow path 83.
[0041]
As described above, the present system includes a plurality of manned / unmanned stores 10 and 74, and these stores are also connected to each other via the Internet 80. Therefore, the order data can be transmitted from the reception device 14 installed in the manned / unmanned store 10 or 74 or the customer terminal 38 of the customer residence 39. If you want a higher quality photo, you can forward your order to Lab 70. Therefore, the customer can receive a photo at any location at a later date, regardless of the location at which the customer places an order, and can have the photo mailed to a location desired by the customer, such as the customer's home 39.
[0042]
All orders spanning between remote locations, such as when the location where the reprint is ordered and the location where the photo is received, are different, or when the reprint is ordered from the lab and sent to home later are sent to the print server 72 described above. It is done. The print server 72 sends the order to the customer's desired laboratory 70 or manned store 10 via the Internet 80 and gives instructions.
[0043]
By the way, in the methods introduced so far, digital image data is provided to the customer in the form of the media 16 in exchange for the collection of the camera 12, but a service that does not require the media 16 can be provided as follows. In other words, the digital image data can be directly transmitted from the store 10 to the customer terminal 38 desired by the customer via the Internet 80 and other networks by mutual connection via the Internet 80. Alternatively, the image data obtained at the stores 10 and 74 may be transmitted to the print server 72 so that the customer can access the server 72 and download the image data. In this case, the customer receives some identification information in advance, and accesses the server 72 by inputting the identification information.
[0044]
As described above, the reusable digital camera collection method according to the present invention has been proposed by taking the business model of providing digital image data of a reusable digital camera to customers using media and other means. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments. As long as the basic idea of the present invention of providing data to a customer is provided, any data providing means may be used. Further, the present invention is not limited to a mere photo print service, but can be applied to a system for creating all kinds of postcards such as a postcard using a photograph taken.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the customer can freely use the recording medium on which the image data recorded in the reusable digital camera is recorded, and place a reprint order. Further, a reprint order can be made by bringing a recording medium into manned and unmanned stores, and can also be ordered from a customer terminal at a customer's house. Moreover, since the customer terminal may be a PHS, a mobile phone or other portable information processing terminal, the customer can place a reprint order from the place he desires.
[0046]
Furthermore, since the stores are connected to each other via the Internet and other networks, high-quality services are provided. That is, the customer can receive a photo at any store. If desired, the order can also be forwarded to a specific lab that prints high-quality photos. In addition, the printed photos can be mailed to the customer's desired location.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a physical distribution diagram in a store to which a reusable digital camera collection method according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a collaboration diagram of the customer providing medium and the customer terminal shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of reception software recorded on the customer providing medium shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a print service system associated with a reusable digital camera collection method according to the present invention.
5 is a diagram showing an example of the street unmanned store shown in FIG. 4. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 stores
12 Collected digital camera
14 Reception machine
16 Customer-provided media
18 Digital data processor
38 Customer terminal
42 Reception software
70 Lab
72 Print server
74 Street unmanned store

Claims (4)

In a reusable digital camera collecting method for collecting a reusable digital camera brought from a customer to a store or other base, the method uses the digital image data recorded in the reusable digital camera to the customer. And providing digital image data to a recording medium, further receiving a reprint order of the customer, and transmitting the order to a store or other base via the Internet or other network. Install the reception software,
A reusable digital camera collection method, characterized in that a customer can order a reprint from an information processing terminal desired by the customer by the software. In a recording medium for recording digital image data recorded in the camera, provided to the customer in exchange for the collection of the reusable digital camera brought from the customer to the store or other base, the medium further includes:
Including software loaded into an information processing terminal,
Processing for displaying the digital image data;
Processing to select digital image data desired to be reprinted;
Processing the selected digital image data to a store or other base via the Internet or other network,
A recording medium which allows a customer to place a reprint order from an information processing terminal using the software. 3. The recording medium according to claim 2 , wherein the recording medium is a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a CD-R (Compact Disk Recordable), a CD-RW (Compact Disk ReWritable), or an MD (Mini Disk). , DVD (Digital Video Disk), DVD-R (Digital Video Disk Recordable), DVD-RAM (Digital Video Disk-Random Access Memory), DVD-ROM (Digital Video Disk-Read Only Memory), and other information processing terminals A recording medium which is a readable digital data recording medium. 3. The recording medium according to claim 2 , wherein the information processing terminal is a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), a mobile phone or other portable information processing terminal, and the recording medium can be read from the portable information processing terminal. A recording medium characterized by being a thing.

Images