JP4626538B2 - Photo sticker providing system, portable telephone, image receiving method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a photo sticker providing system, a portable phone, an image receiving method, and a program, and more particularly to a photo sticker providing system, a portable phone, an image receiving method, and a program capable of improving user satisfaction. Regarding the program.

  Conventionally, the subject image obtained by photographing the user (subject) is edited with a frame image, stamp image, or handwritten line image graffiti input image, and printed on sticker paper. A photo sticker provided to a user is known. Such a photo sticker is installed in a downtown area, for example.

  In recent years, there is also a photo sticker that does not complete one captured image by one shooting but completes one captured image by two or more shootings. In such a photo sticker, for example, as a background to be combined with a photographed image, photographing is performed using a background on which the character “LO” is displayed, and then a background on which the character “VE” is displayed. Use to shoot. Then, these two captured images are arranged in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction to complete a captured image in which the characters “LOVE” are displayed on the background. In the following description, a captured image in which a plurality of images are displayed side by side is also referred to as a connection pre. Note that this is referred to as a photographed image connected image pre-configured of a plurality of images.

  Some photo stickers not only provide edited images to users as stickers, but also send them as image data to a user's mobile phone (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

JP 2001-309108 A

  By the way, when a captured image completed in one shooting is transmitted and provided as image data to the user's mobile phone, the size of the transmitted captured image is the size of the screen of the mobile phone. Since this is the same, there is no problem when the captured image is displayed on the mobile phone. However, when the captured image completed by two or more shootings is transmitted and provided to the mobile phone, the captured image is displayed. Since (Connecting Pre) is composed of a plurality of images, it is difficult to display the entire captured image on the mobile phone.

  Conversely, using the fact that the entire connection pre cannot be displayed on the mobile phone, each of the paired images constituting the connection pre is displayed on each of the two mobile phones. Some users play side-by-side mobile phones. For example, a user may have a mobile phone displaying an image A talking on a thread phone constituting a splicing pre and a mobile phone displaying an image B listening on a thread telephone composing a splicing pre. By displaying the images side by side, you can complete and play a photo with the theme of “thread phone”.

  However, a user who plays side-by-side with a mobile phone on which images constituting the splicing pre are displayed is a user who has considerable knowledge about the splicing pre, and many users do not know how to play in this way.

  Moreover, the friend who plays a user and a portable telephone side by side does not necessarily have the other image which makes a pair with the image which a user owns among the images which comprise a connection pre. Further, a user who does not have knowledge about the connection pre cannot recognize that the received image is an image constituting the connection pre.

  In such a situation, it is not possible to effectively utilize a new element of play called a bridging pre, and as a result, the opportunity to provide new enjoyment to the user is missed. That is, even if the image forming the splicing pre is transmitted to the user's mobile phone, the user may not be able to fully enjoy the same image as the image printed on the photo sticker.

  Further, when a photographed image photographed by the photo sticker is transmitted to the user's mobile phone, the photographed image is once transmitted from the photograph sticker to the server and recorded, and owned by the user from the server. Sent to mobile phone.

  In order to send the captured image to the user's mobile phone, the user must operate the photo sticker and enter the e-mail address of the user's mobile phone as the destination for the captured image. However, if the e-mail address is not correctly input due to an input error or the like, the user's mobile phone cannot receive the captured image. In such a case, the user cannot display the photographed image on the mobile phone for viewing, and there is a possibility that the user cannot enjoy the photographed image taken at the corner.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, and enables it to improve a user's satisfaction.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, as a photo sticker creation game, a user is input a shooting operation with the user as a subject, and editing information for the user image obtained by the shooting operation. A photo sticker that performs an edit input operation, prints the obtained edited user image on a predetermined sticker sheet, discharges the printed sticker sheet, and provides it to the user as a photo sticker An image providing device for providing an image of the edited user created in the photo sticker creating device to a first mobile phone owned by the user, and the first mobile phone; A photo sticker providing system, wherein the image providing device is a concatenated image in which a plurality of images are concatenated so as to be displayed as a single image. Recording means for recording the connected image that is the edited user image created in step 1, first information for specifying the first image constituting the connected image, and second information for configuring the connected image. Generating means for generating first data including second information indicating an instruction to transmit an image of the image to a second mobile phone different from the first mobile phone, and the first data First transmitting means for transmitting the first information to the first portable telephone, and first receiving means for receiving the first information or the second information transmitted from the first portable telephone. When the second information is received from the first mobile phone, the generation unit generates second data including third information for specifying the second image, and The first transmission means, when the first information is received, The first image is transmitted to the first mobile phone, and when the second information is received, the generated second data is transmitted to the second mobile phone, The first mobile phone includes: a second receiving unit configured to receive the first data; and the first information or the second information included in the first data according to an operation of the user. Selecting means for selecting the first information or the second transmitting means for transmitting the selected second information to the image providing apparatus, and the second receiving means further comprises: A photographic sticker providing system for receiving the first image transmitted from an image providing apparatus.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the image providing apparatus is a linked image in which a plurality of images are linked so as to be displayed as a single image, and the edited image created by the photo sticker creating apparatus. A connected image, which is an image of the user who has already been recorded, is recorded, and the first information specifying the first image constituting the connected image and the first mobile phone of the second image constituting the connected image First data including second information indicating an instruction to transmit to a second portable telephone different from the portable telephone is generated, and the first data is transmitted to the first portable telephone. The first information or the second information transmitted from the first mobile phone is received. When the first information is received, the first image is transmitted to the first mobile phone, and when the second information is received from the first mobile phone, Second data including third information specifying the second image is generated, and the generated second data is transmitted to the second mobile phone. The first mobile phone receives the first data, and the first information or the second information included in the first data is selected according to the operation of the user. Then, the selected first information or second information is transmitted to the image providing apparatus, and further, the first image transmitted from the image providing apparatus is received.

  Therefore, the photo sticker providing system can cause the images constituting the linked image to be transmitted to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone owned by the user. Thereby, the user can display and enjoy the connected image with more friends, and the satisfaction of the user can be improved.

  The recording unit of the image providing apparatus is configured by, for example, an image storage unit, the generation unit is configured by, for example, a generation unit, and the first transmission unit is configured by, for example, a transmission unit, and the first reception unit. Is configured by a receiving unit, for example. In addition, the second receiving unit of the first mobile phone is configured by, for example, a receiving unit, the selecting unit is configured by, for example, an image processing unit, and the second transmitting unit is configured by, for example, a transmitting unit. Is done.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image for providing an image of the user created in a photo sticker creating apparatus that provides the user with a sticker sheet on which an image of the user as a subject is printed as a photo sticker. A mobile phone owned by the user that receives an image transmitted from a providing device, and is a linked image in which a plurality of images are linked so as to be displayed as a single image, First information for specifying a first image constituting a linked image that is an image of the edited user created in the photo sticker creating apparatus, and the portable type of the second image constituting the linked image Receiving means for receiving data including second information indicating an instruction to transmit to another mobile phone different from the telephone; and the first information included in the data according to an operation of the user Information Comprises a selection means for selecting the second information, and a transmission means for transmitting the selected first information or the second information to the image providing device, wherein the reception means comprises the first information The portable telephone further receives the first image transmitted from the image providing apparatus that has received the information.

  In the mobile phone according to the second aspect of the present invention, first information for specifying a first image constituting a connected image that is an image of the edited user created in the photo sticker creating device, and , Data including second information indicating an instruction to transmit the second image constituting the connection image to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone is received, and the user's operation In response, the first information or the second information included in the data is selected, and the selected first information or the second information is transmitted to the image providing apparatus, and the first information The first image transmitted from the image providing apparatus that has received the information is further received.

  Therefore, the mobile phone can transmit an image constituting the connection image to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone owned by the user. Thereby, the user can display and enjoy the connected image with more friends, and the satisfaction of the user can be improved.

  The receiving unit of the portable telephone is configured by, for example, a receiving unit, the selecting unit is configured by, for example, an image processing unit, and the transmitting unit is configured by, for example, a transmitting unit.

  The selection means selects second information indicating an instruction to transmit one second image of the plurality of second images to the other mobile phone according to the operation of the user. To be able to.

  Thereby, the user can select a desired image among the plurality of images as an image to be transmitted to another mobile phone owned by the user's friend.

  The data further includes third information for specifying a thumbnail image of the second image, and the selection unit selects the third information included in the data. be able to.

  Thereby, the user can display the thumbnail image specified by the third information, and can confirm in advance the image to be transmitted to another mobile phone owned by the user's friend.

  The transmitting means may further transmit an e-mail address of the other portable telephone as a transmission destination of the second image to the image providing apparatus.

  As a result, the image providing apparatus can transmit an e-mail including information for specifying an image to the e-mail address of another transmitted mobile phone. Therefore, in another mobile phone, by selecting the information, the image can be received and displayed, and the user can display and enjoy the connected image with more friends.

  The mobile phone can further be provided with display means for displaying the first image.

  This display means is composed of a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). By providing the display unit in this way, the mobile phone can display the first image received from the image providing apparatus.

  Based on the data, a message indicating that the first image is transmitted to the mobile phone and a message indicating that the second image is transmitted to the other mobile phone are displayed on the mobile phone. Display means for displaying the displayed screen can be further provided.

  This display means is composed of a display unit composed of, for example, an LCD. By providing the display means in this manner, a user operating the mobile phone can transmit the first image to the mobile phone while viewing the message displayed on the display means, or the second The process of transmitting the image of the above to the other portable telephone can be selected.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image for providing an image of the user created in a photo sticker creating apparatus that provides the user with a sticker sheet on which an image of the user as a subject is printed as a photo sticker. An image receiving method for a mobile phone owned by the user, which receives an image transmitted from a providing device, and is a concatenated image in which a plurality of images are concatenated so as to be displayed as one image. The first information for specifying the first image constituting the linked image that is the edited user image created by the photo sticker creating apparatus, and the second image constituting the linked image Receiving data including second information indicating an instruction to transmit to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone, and according to an operation of the user, the first data included in the data is received. Information Alternatively, the second information is selected, the selected first information or the second information is transmitted to the image providing apparatus, and the first information is received from the image providing apparatus. An image receiving method including the step of receiving the first image.

  In the image receiving method of the second aspect of the present invention, a combined image in which a plurality of images are concatenated so as to be displayed as a single image, which has been edited by the photo sticker creating apparatus. The first information for identifying the first image constituting the connected image that is the user's image and the second image constituting the connected image to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone. The data including the second information indicating the transmission instruction is received, and the first information or the second information included in the data is selected and selected according to the operation of the user The first information or the second information is transmitted to the image providing apparatus, and the first image transmitted from the image providing apparatus that has received the first information is received.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image for providing an image of the user created in a photo sticker creating apparatus that provides the user with a sticker sheet on which an image of the user as a subject is printed as a photo sticker. A program for causing a mobile phone owned by the user to execute a reception process for receiving an image transmitted from a providing device, wherein a plurality of images are connected so as to be displayed as a single image. 1st information which specifies the 1st picture which is a connected picture, and constitutes the connected picture which is the edited picture of the user created in the above-mentioned photo sticker creation device, and the 1st which constitutes the above-mentioned connected picture Receiving data including second information indicating an instruction to transmit the image of 2 to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone, and included in the data according to the operation of the user The first information or the second information is selected, the selected first information or the second information is transmitted to the image providing device, and the first information is received. A program including a step of receiving the first image transmitted from an apparatus.

  This program is recorded on a predetermined recording medium, read by, for example, a drive, and installed in a mobile phone. Recording media include magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks, optical disks including CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk), MD (Mini Disk) (registered trademark), etc. And a removable medium such as a semiconductor memory.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image can be received. Moreover, according to the 1st side surface of this invention, a user's satisfaction can be improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, an image can be received. Moreover, according to the 2nd side surface of this invention, a user's satisfaction can be improved.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a photo sticker providing system to which the present invention is applied.

  The photo sticker providing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 enhances the amusement of work such as shooting and editing, allows the user to perform such work as a game (play service), and takes the shot and edited images as photo stickers. A server 2 that is a game system that receives a price from the user instead of providing it to the user as a data, operates as an image providing device, and provides a service for providing an image created by the user as data to the user, Photo sticker creation device 3 for photographing and editing by the user, network 4 to which the photo sticker creation device 3 and the server 2 are connected, connected to the network 4, and receiving the user image transmitted from the server 2 Mobile phones 5-1 to 5-3.

  The server 2 obtains and stores image data created (photographed and edited) by the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 and supplied from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 via the network 4. A user who has created (photographed or edited) the image data uses his / her own portable telephone 5-1, portable telephone 5-2, or portable telephone 5-3 via the network 4. When the server 2 is accessed, the server 2 reads out the requested image data, and the display unit (display area) of the requesting portable telephone 5-1, portable telephone 5-2, or portable telephone 5-3. The image is edited according to the size of the mobile phone, and the edited image is provided to the requesting mobile phone 5-1, the mobile phone 5-2, or the mobile phone 5-3 via the network 4. .

  The photo sticker creating apparatus 3 allows the user to play a photo sticker making game for creating a photo sticker, and provides the photo sticker as a product. That is, the photo sticker creating device 3 is a game device (play service providing device), and is usually installed in a game center, a store such as a sightseeing spot, or the like. In the photo sticker creation game, the user (mainly a group of multiple people) takes a picture of himself / herself with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera installed in the housing after the coin is inserted and recorded. The user's image is edited by writing predetermined or arbitrary characters or figures on the liquid crystal panel using the attached pen or the like, creating a unique image and printing it separately on the sticker paper. The sticker paper thus created and provided to the user is exchanged with a friend or acquaintance of the user by the user, pasted in a notebook, like an album, or pasted on a postcard, for example. The

  Further, the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 transmits (uploads) the created image and related information as image data to the server 2 via the network 4.

  The network 4 is configured by one or a plurality of networks that are wired or wireless, such as the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or a public network.

  The portable telephones 5-1 to 5-3 are telephones owned by the user who has played the photo sticker creation game in the photo sticker creation device 3, for example. Each of the portable telephones 5-1 to 5-3 communicates with another telephone by performing wireless communication with a base station (not shown), or other information processing apparatus (for example, the server 2). And packet communication (communication data transmission / reception). In FIG. 1, the mobile phone 5-1 to the mobile phone 5-3 are shown as being connected to the network 4, but this is the same as the mobile phone 5-1 to the mobile phone 5 -3 indicates that the wireless communication with the base station connected to the network 4 is established and is connected to the network 4 (communication can be performed via the network 4). In the following description, the mobile phone 5-1 to the mobile phone 5-3 are referred to as a mobile phone 5 when it is not necessary to distinguish between them.

  In FIG. 1, one photo sticker creating apparatus 3 is connected to the server 2, but a plurality of photo sticker creating apparatuses 3 may be connected to the server 2. That is, the server 2 can correspond to a plurality of photo sticker creating apparatuses 3 and can acquire and store image data supplied from the plurality of photo sticker creating apparatuses 3. Also, the number of networks 4 is not limited, and the number of networks 4 to which the server 2 is connected may be one or plural. That is, for example, the server 2 may be connected to each of a plurality of photo sticker creation apparatuses 3 via each of a plurality of different networks 4.

  The same applies to the portable telephone 5, and any number of portable telephones 5 may be connected to the network 4 if the convenience of facilities is not taken into consideration.

  In such a photo sticker providing system 1, as described above, the server 2 supplies (downloads) the image created by the photo sticker creating device 3 as image data to the user's portable telephone 5 for display. Let That is, the user who created the photo sticker in the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 not only obtains the photo sticker from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 as a product of the photo sticker creating game played in the photo sticker creating apparatus 3, but also the server 2 Further, the photographed image (image on which graffiti editing or the like has been performed) can be downloaded and displayed on the mobile phone 5.

  In addition, the user of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 operates the portable telephone 5 owned by the user, so that the user among the plurality of images constituting the photographed image (connecting pre) is displayed on the server 2. Images that are not owned can be transmitted to the mobile phone 5 owned by a friend.

  For example, a user A who owns the portable phone 5-1 and a user B who owns the portable phone 5-2 take a picture of the joint pre composed of the images A and B in the photo sticker creating apparatus 3. , Image A and image B are supplied from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 to the server 2 via the network 4, and are further transmitted from the server 2 to the portable telephone 5-1 and the portable telephone 5-2 via the network 4, respectively. Assume that images A and B are transmitted. In this case, since the images A and B are transmitted to the mobile phone 5-1 and the mobile phone 5-2, respectively, the owners of the image A and the image B are the user A and the user B, respectively. .

  At this time, the user A operates the cellular phone 5-1, and the cellular phone 5-3 owned by the friend of the user A from the server 2 of the image B paired with the image A owned by the user A. Sending to can be instructed. Then, the server 2 transmits the image B recorded in response to the instruction to the mobile phone 5-3 via the network 4.

  In this way, the user A operates the mobile phone 5-1 to transmit the image B that is paired with the image A owned by the user among the images constituting the connection pre, to the user. A is a mobile phone 5-1 displaying the image A owned by the user, a mobile phone 5-2 owned by the user B displaying the image B, or a mobile phone 5-3 owned by a friend. Can be enjoyed side by side and completed.

  As described above, the photo sticker providing system 1 uses the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 to simply provide the photo sticker created, and to the user's mobile phone 5 using the photographed image from the server 2 as image data. Therefore, the satisfaction of the user can be further improved, the so-called repeater rate of repeatedly playing the photo sticker creation game can be increased, and the improvement of the profit rate can be expected.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration example of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3.

  The casing 10 of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 in FIG. 2 is configured by a plurality of units or the like. The first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are separated from each other by a predetermined distance from the frame 14A, the frame 14B, and the floor portion. 13 to be connected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, of the four side surfaces perpendicular to the ground surface (the upper surface of the floor 13) of the first unit 11 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, the surface facing the second unit 12 is the front surface 11-1. The side surface adjacent to the right side of the front surface 11-1 is referred to as the right side surface 11-2, the side surface facing the front surface 11-1 is referred to as the back surface 11-3, and the side surface adjacent to the left side of the front surface 11-1 ( The side surface facing the right side surface 11-2) is referred to as the left side surface 11-4. The configuration of each surface will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are coupled at their upper left and right sides so as to maintain a predetermined distance by a frame 14 </ b> A and a frame 14 </ b> B. Moreover, the 1st unit 11 and the 2nd unit 12 are connected so that a fixed distance may be maintained by the floor part 13 in the lower part. The floor portion 13 is a member that becomes a floor (a floor of the photographing space) when the user performs photographing between the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 as described later. The floor 13 stores, for example, a cable that electrically connects the first unit 11 and the second unit 12.

  Of course, the shape of the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 may not be a rectangular parallelepiped. Of course, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 may be configured as one unit (one housing).

  FIG. 3 is an external view showing an installation example of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3.

  In FIG. 3, on the upper part of the first unit 11 and the second unit 12, the closing property of the photographing space that is the space (the space on the floor portion 13) between the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 is improved. Therefore, in addition to the case of FIG. 2, the ceiling portion 21 is provided on the frames 14A and 14B so as to cover the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 by the ceiling portion 21 together with the frames 14A and 14B. Are connected. In addition, from the left and right of the ceiling portion 21 (the side surface serving as the entrance / exit of the shooting space), it is possible not only to improve the closing property and form a shooting space with a stable environment, but also from a person located outside the shooting space. A curtain 23 is suspended in order to suppress browsing of the shooting state.

  A U-shaped curtain frame 22 is provided on the upper portion of the first unit 11 on the back surface 11-3 side. An edit space is provided near the front surface of the back surface 11-3 as will be described later, and curtains 23-1 to 23-4 are provided so as to surround the edit space. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the contents of the editing work from being peeped by others located outside the editing space.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the front surface 11-1 of the first unit 11 of the photographic sticker creating apparatus 3.

  On the front surface 11-1, for example, an illumination unit 31A, an illumination unit 31B, an illumination unit 31C, an imaging unit 32, a CCD camera 33, a captured image display monitor 34, an imaging monitor 35, an audio output unit 36A, and an audio output unit 36B. , And a coin insertion / exhaust port 37, etc., are provided with functions relating to the photographing process.

  The illuminating units 31A to 31C are configured by an illuminating device capable of stroboscopic light emission, and stroboscopically emit light at a predetermined timing when the user shoots with the CCD camera 33, and irradiates the user who performs the shoot. Note that the number of the illumination units 31 is not limited to three, that is, the illumination units 31A to 31C, and may be one or two, or four or more. Moreover, the light emission timing of each illumination part may not be mutually simultaneous. In the following, each of the illumination units 31A to 31C is referred to as the illumination unit 31 when it is not necessary to individually distinguish them.

  A photographing unit 32 for photographing a user is provided in the approximate center of the front surface 11-1. The photographing unit 32 is provided with a CCD camera 33 and a captured image display monitor 34.

  The CCD camera 33 is configured by a photographing element using a CCD for photographing a user and obtaining an image. Instead of the CCD camera 33, for example, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor camera may be used. Further, any image can be used as long as it can photograph a user and obtain digital image data.

  The captured image display monitor 34 near the CCD camera 33 on the lower side in the figure is constituted by a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The captured image display monitor 34 displays a user's live view image (captured moving image) captured by the CCD camera 33. Specific description of the live view image will be described later. The user can check his / her own image immediately before shooting without significantly shifting his / her line of sight from the image displayed on the captured image display monitor 34 provided in the vicinity of the CCD camera 33. .

  The photographing monitor 35 is configured by a CRT display or LCD, and displays a screen for setting photographing work, a confirmation screen for setting contents, and the like. As will be described later, a colorless and transparent pressure-sensitive touch panel is superimposed on the display surface of the photographing monitor 35, and the user taps (contacts) the screen with a finger or the like, thereby the photographing monitor 35. The GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen displayed on the screen can be operated. In place of the pressure-sensitive touch panel described above, an electromagnetic induction touch pen and touch panel may be used, and an input device such as a switch is provided in the vicinity of the photographing monitor 35 separately from the photographing monitor 35. You may make it provide. Of course, other input devices may be used.

  The audio output unit 36A and the audio output unit 36B are configured by speakers, and output audio of two left and right channels (channels different from each other) (for example, shooting work guidance audio and BGM (Back Ground Music)). In the following, when there is no need to distinguish between the audio output unit 36A and the audio output unit 36B, they are collectively referred to as the audio output unit 36. The coin input / output port 37 has an input port for inputting coins and an output port for discharging coins. The user inserts coins having a predetermined charge into the insertion slot of the coin insertion / extraction slot 37, thereby creating a photo sticker creation game (photo sticker for photo sticker creation apparatus such as shooting work and editing work). Play of a series of work until 3) is provided. Of course, the coin insertion / exhaust port 37 may be provided on a surface other than the front surface 11-1.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the right side surface 11-2 of the first unit 11.

  In FIG. 5, a post-service customer unit 40 is provided on the right side surface 11-2. The post-service customer unit 40 is provided with a post-service monitor 41, an audio output unit 42-1, and an audio output unit 42-2. The post-service monitor 41 has a colorless and pressure-sensitive touch panel superimposed on its display surface, displays a GUI image related to input of personal settings for games and additional services, and accepts input thereto. The audio output unit 42-1 and the audio output unit 42-2 are configured by speakers, and output audio of two left and right channels (channels different from each other) (for example, post-service audio and BGM). In the following, when there is no need to distinguish between the audio output unit 42-1 and the audio output unit 42-2, they are collectively referred to as the audio output unit 42.

  By providing such a post-service unit 40, a user who completes the editing operation and waits until the printing process is finished and the sticker sheet is discharged can be processed by the post-service unit 40 (game). And additional services such as access destination notifications), so you can spend time without getting bored. This improves user satisfaction. In addition, since it can be expected that the improvement of the satisfaction level of the user will lead to an increase in the number of customers, the store side can expect an improvement in profitability.

  A maintenance door 43 is provided below the customer service unit 40 on the right side surface 11-2. The maintenance door 43 opens and closes so as to rotate about the hinges 44-1 and 44-2. The maintenance door 43 is also provided with a door knob 45. The maintenance door 43 is further provided with a seal paper discharge port 46. The seal paper discharge port 46 is also provided with a stopper 47 that prevents the sticker paper discharged after printing by an internal printer (not shown) from jumping out of the seal paper discharge port 46.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the back surface 11-3 of the first unit 11 of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3.

  In FIG. 6, an editing unit 51-1 and an editing unit 51-2 in which items used when a user performs editing work are arranged on the back surface 11-3. The editing unit 51-1 has an editing input monitor 52-1, two touch pens 53-1 and a touch pen 53-2, and two sound output units 54-1 and 54-2. . Similarly to the editing unit 51-1, the editing unit 51-2 also includes an editing input monitor 52-2, two touch pens 53-3 and a touch pen 53-4, and two audio output units 54-3 and An audio output unit 54-4 is provided.

  In the following, when there is no need to distinguish between the editing unit 51-1 and the editing unit 51-2, they are collectively referred to as the editing unit 51.

  The edit input monitor 52-1 is configured by a CRT display or LCD, and displays an edit screen or the like that is a GUI image for editing a captured image obtained by a shooting operation in the shooting space. A colorless and transparent touch panel (for example, an electromagnetic induction type) is superimposed on the screen of the edit input monitor 52-1. Further, in the vicinity of the left and right of the editing input monitor 52-1, a touch pen 53-1 and a touch pen 53-2 corresponding to the touch panel can be attached to and detached from the editing unit 51-1 by a predetermined attachment one by one on the left and right. It is fixed. The edit input monitor 52-1, for example, displays an image in which two edit screens are arranged so that a plurality of users can simultaneously perform an edit operation. In this case, the editing screens correspond to different ones of the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2 so that the user will not be confused. The touch pen does not allow editing operations.

  The edit input monitor 52-2 is the same as the edit input monitor 52-1, and is configured by a CRT display or LCD, and a colorless and transparent touch panel (for example, electromagnetic induction type) is superimposed on the screen. . Further, in the vicinity of the left and right of the editing input monitor 52-2, a touch pen 53-3 and a touch pen 53-4 corresponding to the touch panel can be attached to and detached from the editing unit 51-2 by a predetermined attachment one by one on the left and right. It is fixed.

  Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the edit input monitor 52-1 and the edit input monitor 52-2, they are collectively referred to as an edit input monitor 52.

  The touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2 are (electrically) connected to the editing unit 51-1 by wire (or wireless). The touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2 operate in cooperation with a touch panel (for example, an electromagnetic induction type) on the screen of the edit input monitor 52-1. When the user operates the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2 and taps the touch panel (the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2 and the touch panel are brought into contact (or close proximity)), Operates as input means for receiving input from the user. Note that different signals are input from the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2 via, for example, a touch panel, as described later. Thereby, the photo sticker creation apparatus 3 can identify where the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2 are tapped on the touch panel. That is, the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 can acquire not only the position information of the position where the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2 are tapped, but also the identification information of the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2.

  Similarly to the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2, the touch pen 53-3 and the touch pen 53-4 are also (electrically) connected to the editing unit 51-2 by wire (or wirelessly). The touch pen 53-3 and the touch pen 53-4 operate in cooperation with a touch panel (for example, an electromagnetic induction type) on the screen of the edit input monitor 52-2. In other words, when the user operates and taps the touch panel, the touch pen 53-3 and the touch pen 53-4 also receive input from the user as in the case of the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2. Operates as a receiving input means. Note that the touch pen 53-3 and the touch pen 53-4 also input different signals via a touch panel, for example, in order to be able to identify each other, as in the case of the touch pen 53-1 and the touch pen 53-2.

  In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the touch pens 53-1 to 53-4 and describe them, they are collectively referred to as the touch pen 53.

  In addition, an audio output unit 54-1 and an audio output unit 54-2 are provided in the vicinity of the lower side of the edit input monitor 52-1, so as to be arranged side by side. The audio output unit 54-1 and the audio output unit 54-2 are each configured by a speaker, and output audio of two left and right channels (channels different from each other) (for example, audio for editing work guidance and BGM).

  Similarly to the case of the audio output unit 54-1 and the audio output unit 54-2, the audio output unit 54-3 and the audio output unit 54-4 are arranged side by side in the vicinity of the lower side of the edit input monitor 52-2. It is provided as follows. Each of the audio output unit 54-3 and the audio output unit 54-4 is configured by a speaker, and outputs audio of two left and right channels (channels different from each other) (for example, editing work guidance audio and BGM).

  In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the audio output units 54-1 to 54-4 and describe them, they are collectively referred to as the audio output unit 54.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how the user moves in the space of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 during the game.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 has a photographing space 61, an editing space 62, and a post-service area 63.

  The photographing space 61 is a space where the user performs photographing work for photographing himself / herself using the CCD camera 33. The editing space 62 is a space for a user who has performed a photographing operation in the photographing space 61 to perform a graffiti editing input operation on the photographed image using the editing unit 51 installed on the back surface 11-3. The post-service space 63 is a space in the vicinity of the right side surface 11-2 of the first unit 11, and the post-processing performed by the user who has performed the graffiti editing work in the editing space 62 until the printing of the photo sticker is completed. It is a space for working on customer service. For example, information on the destination of an e-mail (for example, a mobile phone) for selecting a mini-game for killing a user's time or a captured image to be uploaded to the server 2 or notifying access destination information for downloading the captured image. For example, an e-mail address of the telephone 5 is entered. In FIG. 3, the post-service space 63 is not separated from the outside by using a curtain or the like. However, the post-service space 63 is separated from the external space by a curtain or the like as in the editing space 62 (simple Of course, you may make it partition.

  Next, with reference to this FIG. 7, a mode that a user is guided (a customer service method of the photograph sticker production apparatus 3) is demonstrated.

  As described above, one game is roughly divided into a photographing operation for photographing a user, an editing operation for editing a user image obtained by the photographing operation, and a user image edited by the editing operation. It consists of three steps of printing work to print on paper (including subsequent customer service during the waiting time).

  First, the two users (A0 and B0) in the first set enter the shooting space 61 by following the guidance, etc., when the turn turns, start the game, and the shooting unit 32 (CCD camera 33). Take a picture of yourself by using (A1 and B1). When the photographing work is completed, the photograph sticker creating apparatus 3 displays an image of moving guidance to the editing space 62 for the users (A1 and B1) of the photographing space 61, and outputs a voice message prompting the user to move. Or In accordance with the guidance, the user leaves the shooting space 61 and moves to the editing space 62. The users (A2 and B2) who enter the editing space 62 use the editing unit 51 to perform editing work on the captured image. When the editing work is completed, the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 guides the user (A2 and B2) of the editing space 62 to move to the vicinity of the sticker paper outlet 46 (near the post-service unit 40) (image display and (Guidance of movement by voice output). In accordance with the guidance, the user leaves the editing space 62 and moves to the post-service space 63 (A3 and B3). The user (A3 and B3) who has moved to the post-service area 63 operates the post-service unit 40 and inputs a mini game, information, etc., and the photo sticker (sticker paper on which the image is printed) is discharged. Wait until. When the photo sticker is ejected, the user receives the photo sticker and the game ends.

  When the first set of users leave the shooting space 61 and move to the editing space 62, the shooting space 61 becomes empty. At that time, the next users (A0 and B0) waiting for the turn The player can enter the shooting space 61 and start the game (A1 and B1). The second set of users also plays the photo sticker creation game in the same procedure as the first set of users.

  In this way, in the photo sticker creating apparatus 3, two sets of users can simultaneously perform a shooting operation and an editing operation using the shooting space 61 and the editing space 62 (two sets of two sets of users performing two operations). The game can be run in parallel). That is, the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 can serve a maximum of two users at the same time. This is hereinafter referred to as “double customer service”. It should be noted that the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 can accurately receive three sets of users at the same time if the users of the post-service space 63 are included, but here, the description will be continued assuming that they are not included in the number of simultaneous customers. .

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected about the same part as the part demonstrated above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  8, the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 includes a control unit 71, a control information storage unit 72, an image data holding unit 73, a play information storage unit 74, a user information storage unit 75, which are connected to each other via a bus 100. A coin unit 81, a photographing unit 82, a first editing unit 83A, a second editing unit 83B, a printing unit 84, a subsequent customer service unit 85, a communication unit 86, and a drive 87 are configured.

  The control unit 71 is a processing unit that controls the entire apparatus of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3, and includes a game management unit 91, a coin processing unit 92, a photographing processing unit 93, an editing processing unit 94, a printing processing unit 95, and a post-service processing unit. 96, a time measuring unit 97, and a management unit 98.

  The game management unit 91 creates a photo sticker and executes processing related to management control such as the progress of a game (photo sticker creation game) to be provided to the user. The coin processing unit 92 performs control processing related to coin insertion by the user. The imaging processing unit 93 mainly controls each unit provided on the front surface 11-1 of the first unit 11 and executes processing related to the user's imaging operation during game processing. The editing processing unit 94 mainly controls the first editing unit 83A and the second editing unit 83B, and executes processing related to the editing operation of the user during the game processing. The print processing unit 95 controls processing related to the printing work during the photo sticker creation game by controlling the printing unit 84 or the like. The subsequent customer service processing unit 96 executes processing related to a mini game and additional services that are performed while the user is waiting until the end of printing. The time measuring unit 97 performs processing related to time control, such as generating and supplying all time information based on the request of each unit. The management unit 98 mainly controls the communication unit 86 to perform a process for transmitting (uploading) a part or all of the edited photographed image created by playing the photo sticker creation game to the server 2. Do.

  The control information storage unit 72 includes, for example, a hard disk, a flash memory, and the like, and stores a program (for example, a program for executing a photo sticker creation game) for controlling the entire photo sticker creation device 3, data, and the like. The image data holding unit 73 is configured by, for example, a hard disk, a flash memory, or a RAM (Random Access Memory), and holds image data obtained by photographing with the CCD camera 33. The play information storage unit 74 includes, for example, a hard disk, a flash memory, or a RAM, and various types of information (for example, image brightness set by the user) generated during execution (during play) of the photo sticker creation game. The setting information regarding sheath size etc.) is stored and managed as play information for each play. That is, the play information storage unit 74 stores information (play information) indicating what kind of play is being performed, and setting information necessary for each play (setting information managed for each piece of play information). . The user information storage unit 75 includes, for example, a hard disk, a flash memory, or a RAM, and securely stores personal information such as an e-mail address input by the user in the post-service processing.

  Of course, some or all of these storage units may be configured by a single storage medium, or each of the storage units described above may be configured by a plurality of storage media.

  The coin unit 81 is mainly controlled by the coin processing unit 92 and executes processing such as coin insertion and coin discharge at the coin insertion / exhaust port 37. The photographing unit 82 includes the photographing unit 32 and is mainly controlled by the photographing processing unit 93 to perform photographing processing by the CCD camera 33, display image data obtained by photographing, and obtained image data. Are supplied to the image data holding unit 73 via the bus 100. The first editing unit 83A includes an editing unit 51-1, and is mainly controlled by the editing processing unit 94 to perform processing related to editing input for image data obtained by shooting. The configuration of the second editing unit 83B includes an editing unit 51-2, which is mainly controlled by the editing processing unit 94 and performs processing related to editing input for image data obtained by shooting.

  In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the first editing unit 83A and the second editing unit 83B, they are collectively referred to as an editing unit 83.

  The printing unit 84 includes a printer, and is controlled mainly by the print processing unit 95 and the like, and performs processing for printing printing data including a supplied edited image and the like on a predetermined sticker sheet. . The post-service unit 85 includes the post-service unit 40 and is mainly controlled by the post-service unit 96, and provides a game, additional services, and the like to a user who is waiting during printing of sticker paper. The communication unit 86 is connected to the external network 4 and performs communication processing with the server 2 and the mobile phone 5. The drive 87 includes a removable medium such as a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), a magneto-optical disk, and a semiconductor memory. The computer program 102 and the data read from them are stored or installed in the control information storage unit 72 as necessary.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the imaging processing unit 93.

  The imaging processing unit 93 includes an imaging control unit 111, a connection pattern selection processing unit 112, a connection imaging processing unit 113, a normal imaging processing unit 114, and a keep image selection processing unit 115.

  The shooting control unit 111 controls each unit constituting the shooting processing unit 93, and controls the progress of processing for shooting work for shooting the user himself / herself during a series of processing of the photo sticker creation game.

  The connection pattern selection processing unit 112 is controlled by the imaging control unit 111, controls the imaging unit 82 via the bus 100, and executes processes related to various selected connection patterns. Here, the connection means that a plurality of captured images are displayed side by side. When this connection is performed, the photograph sticker creating apparatus 3 may combine the respective photographed image data into one (that is, compose the images to create one image data), or each photographed image data. Create information that does not summarize data but associates them with each other (defines an arrangement pattern) (for example, adds such information to the header of each data, or creates new definition data that defines the relationship between each data) You may do it. In other words, this connected image (connected image), i.e., the stitching pre, only needs to be connected and displayed as a single image when displayed. It may be a thing.

  Further, the connection pattern defines a connection method such as the number of images to be connected (images constituting the connection pre), the size and shape of each image, or the arrangement (arrangement pattern) of each image. In the following description, for example, a connection pattern is identified only by the number of images, such as two-sheet connection or three-sheet connection, and a single (that is, non-connection) may be regarded as one of the connection patterns. . Note that the imaging process in the connection mode refers to a process of imaging a plurality of images (image groups constituting the connection pre) for joining.

  For example, the connection pattern selection processing unit 112 displays a connection pattern selection image (a GUI image that allows the user to select a connection pattern (imaging method)) via the imaging monitor 35, and the connection control unit selects the connection pattern selection image. 111.

  The linked shooting processing unit 113 performs shooting processing in the linked mode. In this connection mode, the captured image display monitor 34 displays the current captured moving image and the captured image (still image) captured (adopted) up to the previous time as a live view image. The In other words, the live view image is displayed on the captured image display monitor 34 in a state of pseudo connection (to date). Note that, in this connection mode, the preview image is also displayed side by side with the previously captured still image and the current captured still image. That is, the preview image is displayed on the photographing monitor 35 (and the captured image display monitor 34) in a pre-connected state (to date). The linked shooting processing unit 113 repeats such shooting processing, holds the shot images, and connects the shot image data when the planned number of linked images (the number of linked shot images) is complete (linked). Information on the image) and supplies the information to the keep image selection processing unit 115.

  The normal imaging processing unit 114 is controlled by the imaging control unit 111, controls the imaging unit 82 via the bus 100, and executes processing related to normal imaging. For example, the normal imaging processing unit 114 captures a captured image using the CCD camera 33, displays a live view image on the captured image display monitor 34, accepts a user instruction, and captures the captured image. The captured photographed image is displayed on the photographing monitor 35 and supplied to the photographing control unit 111.

  The keep image selection processing unit 115 holds the captured image supplied from the linked shooting processing unit 113 and the normal shooting processing unit 114, accepts a user instruction, and takes the shot image according to the user instruction as an image data holding unit 73. Supply to (keep).

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the imaging unit 82.

  In FIG. 10, an imaging unit 82 includes an audio output control unit 131, an illumination control unit 132, a display control unit 133, a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) 134, a touch panel 135, a touch panel control unit 136, an illumination unit 31, an imaging unit 32, The photographing monitor 35 and the sound output unit 36 are included.

  The audio output control unit 131 generates an analog audio signal from the audio data and supplies it to the audio output unit 36 so that the audio output unit 36 outputs audio. The illumination control unit 132 controls light emission and power storage of the illumination unit 31, and causes the illumination unit 31 to emit strobe light at a predetermined timing according to the shooting timing (timing for capturing a frame image).

  The display control unit 133 appropriately performs image processing such as concatenation on the GUI image data, the captured image data, or the captured moving image data supplied from the CCD camera 33 using the VRAM 134 and obtains the image processing by the image processing. The obtained display image is displayed on the photographing monitor 35. A touch panel 135 is superimposed on the screen of the photographing monitor 35. A touch panel control unit 136 that controls the touch panel 135 detects a position designated by the user on the touch panel 135 and supplies the position information to the imaging processing unit 93 and the display control unit 133. The display control unit 133 processes the image data held in the VRAM 134 based on the supplied position information or the control by the imaging processing unit 93 performed based on the position information, and displays the user's input as a display image. To reflect.

  The photographing unit 32 includes a CCD camera control unit 141, a CCD camera 33, a display control unit 142, a VRAM 143, and a captured image display monitor 34.

  The CCD camera control unit 141 controls the operation of the CCD camera 33, controls the focus position, captures an image frame by frame, and sequentially supplies the captured frame image to the display control unit 142 as a moving image, or specifies The frame image is supplied to the image data holding unit 73 via the bus 100 as a still image obtained by photographing.

  The display control unit 142 controls the display on the captured image display monitor 34. At this time, the display control unit 142 accumulates the image data supplied from the CCD camera 33 via the bus 100 in the VRAM 143 frame by frame, and the connection moving image data supplied from the imaging processing unit 93 as necessary. One frame image is linked, and the linked image is captured as a live view and displayed on the image display monitor 34. Further, the display control unit 142 may further capture a captured image (preview image) immediately after shooting and display the captured image on the image display monitor 34.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the edit processing unit 94.

  In FIG. 11, the editing processing unit 94 includes an editing control unit 161, an editing screen display processing unit 162, an input reception processing unit 163, an editing target image switching processing unit 164, an image processing unit 165, and a division number selection processing unit 166. Is done.

  The editing control unit 161 controls each part of the editing processing unit 94, and controls the progress of the processing for the shot image editing work performed by the user in a series of processes for creating a photo sticker.

  The edit screen display processing unit 162 performs processing related to display of an edit screen in which the user performs graffiti editing or the like on the captured image. For example, the editing screen display processing unit 162 creates a GUI part for editing included in the editing screen, such as a pen tool selection button and a stamp tool selection button, acquires a keep image from the image data holding unit 73, and keeps the keep image. Thumbnail images of the images are created, and they are supplied to the editing unit 83 together with the captured images supplied by the control of the editing target image switching processing unit 164 and displayed on the editing input monitor 52 as an editing screen.

  The input reception processing unit 163 controls the editing unit 83 to receive input from the user and perform processing for the input.

  The editing target image switching processing unit 164 performs processing related to switching of the display of the editing target image included in the editing screen displayed by the editing screen display processing unit 162. For example, when a photographed image desired to be edited is displayed at a predetermined position on the editing screen, the user uses a touch pen 53 or the like to display thumbnail images included in the editing screen displayed on the editing input monitor 52. Select one of them. When the input reception processing unit 163 receives this selection instruction, the editing target image switching processing unit 164 controls the image data holding unit 73 based on the instruction, and edits the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail image. To supply. The edit screen display processing unit 162 controls the captured image to be displayed on the edit screen as an image to be edited.

  The image processing unit 165 reflects the graffiti editing on the captured image performed on the editing screen in the captured image data.

  The division number selection processing unit 166 outputs a message prompting selection of the division number for dividing the printing area of the sticker paper from the voice output unit 54, and displays a division number selection screen for allowing the user to select the division pattern. To display. The user determines the layout pattern of the image printed on the photo sticker by selecting this division pattern. The division number selection processing unit 166 sets the division number at the time of printing based on this division number selection instruction input via the touch panel 175.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the first editing unit 83A. The editing unit 83A includes an interface processing unit 171, an audio output control unit 172, a display control unit 173, a VRAM 174, a touch panel 175, a touch panel control unit 176, an edit input monitor 52, a touch pen 53-1, a touch pen 53-2, and an audio output. A portion 54 is provided. Note that the configuration example of the second editing unit 83B is the same as the configuration example of the first editing unit 83A, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The interface processing unit 171 is connected to the bus 100 and executes interface processing of each unit in the first editing unit 51-1. The audio output control unit 172 generates an analog audio signal based on the audio data supplied from the editing processing unit 94 via the interface processing unit 171, and supplies the analog audio signal to the audio output unit 54 for output.

  The display control unit 173 appropriately receives the GUI image data supplied from the editing processing unit 94 via the interface processing unit 171 or the captured image data (image to be edited) supplied from the image data holding unit 73 as appropriate in the VRAM 174. And the display image is displayed on the edit input monitor 52. A touch panel 175 is superimposed on the screen of the edit input monitor 52. An instruction from the user input by the touch panel 175 and the touch pen 53 (touch pen 53-1 and touch pen 53-2) is supplied to the touch panel control unit 176. The touch panel control unit 176 detects a position designated by the user by tapping the touch pen 53 on the touch panel 175, and the position information, identification information of the touch pen 53, and the like are passed through the interface processing unit 171 as necessary. The instruction information input to the editing processing unit 94 and input by the user is reflected in the image displayed on the editing input monitor 52.

  In addition, the touch panel control unit 176 displays the position information input by the user when the information controlled by the position information input by the user is only simple image processing such as movement of a cursor. Alternatively, it can be directly supplied to the display control unit 173. In this case, the display control unit 173 processes the image data held in the VRAM 174 based on the supplied position information, and displays an image that easily reflects the user input on the editing input monitor 52. Let

  The captured image data (edited image data) edited based on the user's input in this way is supplied from the VRAM 174 to the image data holding unit 73 and temporarily edited in the image data holding unit 73. As will be described later, the image data is subsequently used for printing processing and the like.

  Next, an example of the photo sticker creation game process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This photo sticker creation game process is started when a coin of a predetermined price is inserted into the insertion slot of the coin insertion / extraction slot 37.

  In step S11, the photographing processing unit 93 performs a photographing process. Although details of the shooting process will be described later, in the shooting process, the shooting processing unit 93 performs a process of shooting a user as a subject.

  When the photographing process is completed, in step S12, the editing processing unit 94 performs an editing process for editing the photographed image obtained by the photographing process.

  For example, the editing screen display processing unit 162 of the editing processing unit 94 causes the editing input monitor 52 to display the editing screen shown in FIG.

  The editing screen shown in FIG. 14 displays a graffiti tool display unit 211 provided with various GUI button groups for selecting a graffiti tool for a photographed image, such as a pen and a stamp, and information regarding the photographed image on which the graffiti editing is performed. An image information display field 212, a remaining time display unit 214 indicating the remaining time of editing processing, an end button 215 for ending the graffiti editing work, and a graffiti target image display area 216 for displaying a captured image to be subjected to graffiti editing are arranged. Is done. The graffiti tool display unit 211 includes a graffiti tool display unit 211A for selecting a pen tool type and a stamp tool type, and a graffiti tool display unit 211B for selecting a color and fill.

  In the image information display field 212, thumbnail images 213A to 213D for image designation in which images are displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216 are provided. In practice, thumbnail images 213A to 213D are displayed by reducing images corresponding to image numbers (graffiti target images). Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish the thumbnail images 213A to 213D, they are simply referred to as thumbnail images 213.

  For each thumbnail image 213, images shot in the shooting space 61 are assigned one by one in accordance with, for example, the shooting order. When the user operates the thumbnail image 213 (for example, the thumbnail image 213 is operated as a button by touching the thumbnail image 213 with the touch pen 53), the captured image corresponding to the operated thumbnail image 213 is displayed as a graffiti target image. Displayed in area 216.

  For the image displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216, the user operates the graffiti tool display unit 211 using the touch pen 53 to select the graffiti tool, and then performs graffiti editing input. The graffiti target image display area 216 has two areas, a graffiti target image display area 216A and a graffiti target image display area 216B. For example, an image selected using the touch pen 53-1 is displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216A, and an image selected using the touch pen 53-2 is displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216B. . At this time, when performing the doodle editing on the editing target image displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216A, the user needs to use the touch pen 53-1, and the touch pen 53-2 uses the graffiti target image display area. Graffiti editing cannot be input to the editing target image displayed on 216A. On the other hand, for the editing target image displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216B, the user can input graffiti editing only by using the touch pen 53-2.

  It should be noted that the connection pre may be arranged such that the connection photographed images are arranged into thumbnails as one image, and the user may select each connection image for connection as one connection pre. For example, when a spliced image that connects two captured images is selected, one captured image is displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216A, and the other captured image is displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216B. The In the case of this linked photographed image, the user can display the photographed image displayed in the graffiti target image display area 216A and the graffiti target image display area 216B using either the touch pen 53-1 or the touch pen 53-2. Graffiti editing can be input to both captured images. In other words, in the case of graffiti editing for the linked photographed image, for example, a scribble across each image can be performed as in the character string “HAPPY!” In FIG.

  As described above, when the editing screen is displayed on the editing input monitor 52, the editing target image switching processing unit 164 controls the input receiving processing unit 163 to receive an instruction to select an editing target image, and to the selection instruction. Based on this, the editing screen display processing unit 162 is controlled to display the selected image in the graffiti target image display area 216. Then, the input reception processing unit 163 receives an editing input corresponding to the operation of the touch pen 53, and the editing screen display processing unit 162 displays an image edited based on the received editing input in the graffiti target image display area 216. Let

  Further, the image processing unit 165 reflects the editing result on the editing screen display processing unit 162 (that is, the input graffiti data (editing data)) in the image data (captured image). When the editing time exceeds the time limit or when the editing process is instructed, the division number selection processing unit 166 accepts selection of the division mode (photo sticker layout) by the user, The setting is saved (stored) in the play information storage unit 74. When the number of divisions is stored, the editing control unit 161 performs a movement guide screen display process, notifies the editing input monitor 52 of the end of the editing work to the user and moves to the post-service space 63. A prompting guide screen is displayed. The user leaves the editing space 62 and moves to the post-service space 63 according to the guidance screen.

  Thus, when each part of the edit processing unit 94 performs the edit process, in step S13, the control unit 71 performs the print process, and the photo sticker creation game process ends. Although details of the printing process will be described later, in the printing process, an image that has been shot and edited is printed on a sticker sheet and discharged. In more detail, until the end of the print processing, the post-service processing is performed by the post-service processing unit 96 to allow the user to play a predetermined mini game or the like in parallel with the print processing. Each unit of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 executes the photo sticker creating game process as described above for each set of users independently of each other.

  Next, the details of the photographing process executed in step S11 of FIG. 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the imaging process is started, the connection pattern selection processing unit 112 displays a connection pattern selection screen on the imaging monitor 35 in step S41, and a plurality of connection patterns indicating how many images are to be connected. Present it and let the user select one of the patterns. Note that this connection pattern includes a pattern in which connection is not performed. That is, the user can instruct to perform normal shooting without performing linked shooting on the connection pattern selection screen.

  In step S42, the connection pattern selection processing unit 112 performs an instruction reception process for receiving a user's pattern selection instruction input for the connection pattern selection screen displayed in step S41. In step S43, the connection pattern selection processing unit 112 determines whether or not to perform connection shooting based on an input from the user. If it is determined that connection shooting is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S44. In step S <b> 44, the linked shooting processing unit 113 performs a linked shooting process that is a shooting process for obtaining a shot image for connecting pre (a plurality of shot images linked to each other). When the linked shooting process ends, the linked shooting processing unit 113 advances the process to step S46.

  In Step S43, when it is determined that the user performs normal shooting, the connection pattern selection processing unit 112 advances the process to Step S45. In step S45, the normal photographing processing unit 114 performs normal photographing processing that is photographing processing for obtaining individual photographed images one by one. When the normal shooting process is completed, the normal shooting process unit 114 proceeds with the process to step S46.

  In step S46, the shooting control unit 111 determines whether or not the number of shots exceeds the limit number of shots (for example, four). If it is determined that the number of shots does not exceed the limit of shots, the process is performed in step S47. Proceed to In step S47, the imaging control unit 111 refers to the information supplied from the time measuring unit 97, and determines whether a time limit (for example, 120 seconds) has elapsed or whether the user has instructed the end of imaging. If it is determined that the time limit has not elapsed and the end of shooting has not been instructed, the shooting control unit 111 returns the process to step S41 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined that the time limit has elapsed or the end of shooting has been instructed, the shooting control unit 111 advances the process to step S48. If it is determined in step S46 that the number of shots has exceeded the limit of shots, the shooting control unit 111 advances the process to step S48.

  In step S <b> 48, the keep image selection processing unit 115 performs a keep image selection process that allows the user to select a keep image to be kept for graffiti editing and printing from the photographed images obtained by the photographing work. The keep image selection processing unit 115 displays a keep image selection screen on the photographing monitor 35, and allows the user to select a predetermined number of keep images. In step S49, the keep image selection processing unit 115 causes the image data holding unit 73 to store the captured image selected by the user as a keep image.

  When the keep image is stored, the photographing control unit 111 captures a movement guide screen including a message and a pattern prompting the user to move to the editing space 62 in step S50, and displays the image display monitor 34 and the photographing monitor 35. To display. When step S50 ends, the imaging control unit 111 proceeds to step S12 in FIG. 13 and performs the subsequent processing.

  Next, an example of the linked photographing process executed in step S44 in FIG. 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  When the linked shooting process is started, the linked shooting processing unit 113 displays the shooting instruction reception screen on the shooting monitor 35 in step S71, and the linked image is displayed on the captured image display monitor 34 in step S72. Connect to display the live view image.

  The shooting instruction reception screen is a GUI screen that receives a shooting instruction from a user, and is provided with a shooting button for inputting a shooting instruction. In addition, in this shooting instruction reception screen, in order to indicate the number of shots of linked shooting (indicating the number of shots), a message to that effect, a preview image shot so far, and the current capture An image is displayed. Note that a predetermined number of still images corresponding to the number of shootings may be displayed instead of the preview image or the captured image.

  Note that, for example, in the case of the first shooting, a shot image does not yet exist. Accordingly, in this case, the linked photographing processing unit 113 displays a photographing instruction reception screen that does not include a preview image (including a current captured image) on the photographing monitor 35 and presents the current capturing on the captured image display monitor 34. A live view image display screen composed only of images (live view images) is displayed.

  On the other hand, in the second and subsequent shootings, there are linked shooting images obtained in previous shootings. Therefore, in this case, the linked shooting processing unit 113 causes the shooting monitor 35 to display a shooting instruction reception screen in which both the linked shooting images (preview images) shot so far and the current captured image are arranged and captured. The image display monitor 34 displays a live view image display screen in which both the linked captured image (preview image) and the current captured image (live view image) are arranged.

  As a result, the user poses while viewing both the past captured still image displayed on the captured image display monitor 34 and the current captured moving image of the user captured by the CCD camera 33. can do. Therefore, the user can easily and more accurately take a pose (photographing posture) in cooperation with each other during each photographing.

  In step S <b> 73, the linked shooting processing unit 113 determines whether a shooting instruction from the user has been accepted, and waits until it is determined that a shooting instruction has been received. For example, when the operation of the button for performing shooting displayed on the shooting monitor 35 by the user is detected and it is determined that the shooting instruction is received, the linked shooting processing unit 113 advances the process to step S74, and the CCD Shooting with the camera 33 is performed. The captured image is a still image captured by the CCD camera 33, but an image as intended by the user (substantially the same image as the live view image) can be captured as a still image.

  In step S75, the linked shooting processing unit 113 causes the shooting monitor 35 to display a preview image of the still image (the frame image extracted from the captured image at the shooting timing) obtained by the shooting process in step S74. As a result, the user can check his / her own still image captured by the CCD camera 33 displayed on the capturing monitor 35. The user inputs an instruction as to whether or not to retake the preview image.

  In step S76, the linked photographing processing unit 113 determines whether or not to perform the re-taking based on the user's request, and when it is determined that the re-taking is to be performed, the captured image data obtained by the current shooting is discarded. The process returns to step S71, and the subsequent processes are repeated. If it is determined in step S76 that re-taking is not performed, the linked photographing processing unit 113 advances the processing to step S77.

  In step S77, the linked photographing processing unit 113 determines whether or not the number of linked shots has reached the planned number of linked images. For example, the linked photographing processing unit 113 determines this by counting how many times the processing in steps S71 to S76 has been repeated. The linked photographing processing unit 113 may determine this by checking how many photographed images are stored in the image data holding unit 73. If it is determined that the number of linked shots has not reached the scheduled number of shots, the linked shot processing unit 113 returns the process to step S71 and repeats the subsequent processes. If it is determined in step S77 that the number of linked shots has reached the scheduled number of shots, the linked shot processing unit 113 advances the process to step S78.

  In step S <b> 78, the linked photographing processing unit 113 performs a coupling process for coupling (combining or associating) a plurality of images obtained in the coupled shooting. When the link process is completed, the link shooting processing unit 113 ends the link shooting process, proceeds to step S46 in FIG. 15, and performs the subsequent processes.

  Here, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of a shooting instruction reception screen displayed on the shooting monitor 35 in the process of step S71 of FIG. FIG. 17A is an example of a shooting instruction reception screen for the first shooting operation in a series of linked shooting operations. As shown in FIG. 17A, the current captured image (live view image) is displayed on the photographing instruction reception screen in this case, along with a message “I will shoot the first picture!”. The shooting instruction reception screen is provided with a shooting button at the lower right, and the user inputs a shooting instruction by operating the shooting button.

  FIG. 17B is an example of a shooting instruction reception screen for the second shooting operation in a series of linked shooting operations. As shown in FIG. 17B, the shooting instruction reception screen in this case includes the message “I will shoot the second shot!” And the linked shooting image (preview image) that is the first shooting result and the current Captured images (live view images) are arranged and displayed according to the connection pattern settings. Thereby, the user can perform the photographing operation while confirming the positional relationship of the poses between the respective photographed images.

  FIG. 17C is an example of a shooting instruction reception screen for the third shooting operation in a series of linked shooting operations. As shown in FIG. 17C, on the shooting instruction reception screen in this case, two linked shooting images (the first and second shooting results) are displayed together with the message “Take the third shot!” A total of three images (one of which is a moving image) of the preview image) and the current captured image (live view image) are arranged and displayed according to the setting of the connection pattern. Thereby, the user can perform the photographing operation while confirming the positional relationship of the poses between the respective photographed images.

  That is, in the second and subsequent shootings, the user can make a pose after confirming the content of the still image obtained in the previous shooting displayed on the shooting monitor 35.

  Note that the number of times of shooting in this linked shooting is determined according to the number of images to be linked. Therefore, of course, the number of shootings may be four or more. In the above description, the preview image and the live view image have been described so as to be arranged and displayed in the same manner as the connection pattern setting (connection pattern selected by the user). Arbitrary and may be arranged in an arrangement different from the setting of the connection pattern. For example, as shown in FIG. 17C, the images may be displayed side by side in the horizontal direction in the order of shooting, may be displayed side by side from the right, or may be displayed side by side in the vertical direction. Alternatively, some or all of the images may be displayed so as to overlap each other.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a preview image display screen displayed in the process of step S75 of FIG. The shooting monitor 35 displays the linked shooting images (preview images) obtained in the linked shooting so far, arranged according to the setting of the linked pattern, together with the message “Is this a good idea?” Yes. In other words, the user can confirm the quality of the linked photography so far by using the preview image. The preview image display screen further includes a “OK!” Button, which is a GUI button with a “OK!” Character, and a “NO !!” button, which is a GUI button with a “NO!” Character. "Button is provided. When the user is satisfied with the quality of the linked shooting image, the user operates the “OK!” Button. When the user is not satisfied with the quality of the linked shooting image, the user operates the “No!” Button.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a live view image display screen displayed on the captured image display monitor 34 in the process of step S72 of FIG. FIG. 19A is an example of a live view image display screen for the first shooting operation in a series of linked shooting operations. Since the preview image does not exist in the first shooting, only the current live view image (moving image) is displayed on the live view image display screen.

  FIG. 19B is an example of a live view image display screen for a second shooting operation in a series of linked shooting operations. In the second shooting, since there is a connection image (preview image) obtained in the first shooting, the connection shooting image and the current live view image (moving image) are displayed on the live view image display screen. Are displayed side by side according to the connection pattern settings.

  FIG. 19C is an example of a live view image display screen for the third shooting operation in a series of linked shooting operations. In the third shooting, since there are two connection images (preview images) obtained in the first and second shootings, the two connection shooting images and the connection image are displayed on the live view image display screen. The current live view image (moving image) is displayed side by side according to the connection pattern setting.

  By displaying the live view image in this way, in the second and subsequent shootings, the user can pause while referring to the shooting images obtained in the previous shootings displayed on the captured image display monitor 34. You can make a photo work.

  In the above description, it has been described that the past photographed image and the current captured image are displayed on the photographing instruction reception screen, the preview image display screen, and the live view image display screen. A predetermined still image prepared in advance may be displayed in an unphotographed portion of the pattern.

  Further, in the above description, it has been described that the user gives a shooting instruction for each linked shooting. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of shootings performed in linked shooting are automatically performed continuously. Also good. In this case, the user confirms the photographing result after all the series of photographing operations in the coupled photographing are completed.

  Next, a printing process corresponding to the process in step S13 in FIG. 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  In step S <b> 101, the print processing unit 95 supplies the edited image to be printed to the printing unit 84. That is, the print processing unit 95 reads the division mode stored in the play information storage unit 74 and further reads the image data of the edited image from the image data holding unit 73. Then, the print processing unit 95 allocates the edited image to the printing area of the sticker sheet according to the read division mode, and supplies the edited image to the printing unit 84.

  Further, the post-service customer processing unit 96 displays a GUI image for selecting whether to transmit (upload) the created photographed image (edited image) to the server 2 on the post-service monitor 41 to create it for the user. It is selected whether to send the captured image to the server 2.

  In step S <b> 102, the post-service processing unit 96 determines whether or not to transmit the edited image to the server 2 based on a signal supplied from the post-service unit 85 in response to a user operation.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the edited image is to be transmitted to the server 2, the process proceeds to step S103, where the post-service processing unit 96 causes the user to select an image to be transmitted to the server 2 from the edited image. Is displayed on the post-service monitor 41.

  Thereby, for example, the transmission selection screen shown in FIG. The transmission selection screen 241 shown in FIG. 21 includes a list of created captured images (edited images) (for example, thumbnail images), a message “Which image to use on your mobile phone” that prompts you to select an image, and a selection. The characters “Remaining: *” indicating the remaining number of sheets are displayed. On the transmission selection screen, the user selects the image to be transmitted to the server 2 by tapping the thumbnail image of the captured image. For example, when the user selects an image, the periphery of the image is highlighted, the brightness of the image is changed, or a predetermined pattern is added, indicating that the image has been selected.

  In the display of the characters “remaining: * sheets”, the maximum selectable number is displayed as an initial value, and the value of the number decreases by one each time the user selects one image. As shown in FIG. 21, when the remaining number becomes 0, no more images can be selected.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 20, when the transmission selection screen is displayed in step S103, the post-service processing unit 96 in step S104, the user operation (for example, in the transmission image selection screen 241 shown in FIG. 21). The image to be transmitted to the server 2 is selected according to (selection of image) (to be transmitted). When there are a plurality of users, the post-service processing unit 96 may select which edited image is transmitted to which user (the mobile phone 5 owned by the user).

  When an image to be transmitted to the mobile phone 5 is selected, the post-service processing unit 96 displays a mail address input screen on the post-service monitor 41 that is a GUI image that allows the user to input the e-mail address of the mobile phone 5. Let

  Thus, for example, the post-service monitor 41 displays the mail address input screen shown in FIG. The mail address input screen 242 shown in FIG. 22 displays an address input field 251 for inputting an e-mail address, and an input character / symbol list 252 used for inputting the e-mail address. The user can display the character in the address input field 251 by tapping the character displayed on the input character symbol list 252 on the mail address input screen 242. The user inputs the e-mail address of the mobile phone 5 in this way.

  Of the e-mail addresses to be entered in the address entry field 251, characters below the at sign (characters (or numbers) entered in the entry field to the right of the symbol “@” in the address entry field 251 in FIG. 22) are: You may make it input by selecting the communication company and kind (model) of the portable telephone 5. FIG. In this case, when the user inputs a part of the e-mail address (the character before the at sign) in the input field on the left side of the symbol “@” in the address input field 251, the post-service monitor 41 has, for example, The screen shown in FIG. 23 is displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 23, a telecommunications company selection screen 261 for selecting a telecommunications company of the mobile phone 5 is displayed on the right side in the figure, and the left side of the telecommunications company selection screen 261 is displayed on the left side of the mobile phone 5. A model selection screen 262 for selecting a type (model) is displayed.

  On the communication company selection screen 261, the characters “Please select the company name of the mobile phone you have” are displayed, and a plurality of communication company names are displayed below the characters in the figure. In addition, on the model selection screen 262, the characters “Please select the type of mobile phone you have” are displayed, and the model names of a plurality of mobile phones are displayed below the characters in the figure. .

  The user taps one of a plurality of communication company names displayed on the communication company selection screen 261 to select the communication company name of the mobile phone 5 owned by the user, and further, the model selection screen. By tapping any one of the model names of the plurality of mobile phones displayed on 262, the type of the mobile phone 5 owned by the user is selected.

  When the user selects the telecommunications company and type of the mobile phone 5, the mobile phone selected by the user in the input field to the right of the symbol “@” in the address input field 251 of the mail address input screen 242 (FIG. 22). A character string corresponding to the communication company and type of the type telephone 5 is input.

  In this way, by allowing the user to select the telecommunications company name and model name of the mobile phone 5 that he / she owns, by inputting part of the user's e-mail address, the user can No need to enter all email addresses.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 20, when the e-mail address of the mobile phone 5 is input, the post-service customer processing unit 96 acquires the e-mail address input from the post-service unit 85 in step S105.

  When the post-service processing section 96 acquires the e-mail address, the acquired e-mail address of the mobile phone 5 and the edited image (image data) selected by the user to be transmitted to the server 2 are sent to the communication section 86. Supply. In more detail, the post-service processing unit 96 adds information such as the shooting date of the image to be transmitted to the server 2 and the image theme to the image and supplies the image to the communication unit 86.

  In step S106, the communication unit 86 transmits the image and e-mail address supplied from the post-service processing unit 96 to the server 2 via the network 4, and the process proceeds to step S107.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the image is not to be transmitted, the edited image is not transmitted to the server 2. Therefore, the processing from step S103 to step S106 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S107.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the image is not to be transmitted, or if the image and the e-mail address are transmitted to the server 2 in step S106, in step S107, the printing unit 84 starts from the print processing unit 95 according to the print area allocation. Print the supplied edited image on sticker paper.

  In step S108, the printing unit 84 discharges the photographic sticker, which is sticker paper on which the edited image or the like is printed, from the sticker paper discharge port 46, and the process ends.

  Next, the configuration of the server 2 and the mobile phone 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the server 2.

  The server 2 includes a communication unit 301, a GUI processing unit 302, an image processing unit 303, a distribution unit 304, a management unit 305, an input reception unit 306, an authentication unit 307, a generation unit 308, a control unit 309, an image storage unit 310, an attribute The information recording unit 311, the browsing group information recording unit 312, the mail address storage unit 313, and the password storage unit 314 are configured.

  In the server 2, the communication unit 301, GUI processing unit 302, image processing unit 303, distribution unit 304, management unit 305, input reception unit 306, authentication unit 307, generation unit 308, image storage unit 310, attribute information Each of the recording unit 311, the browsing group information recording unit 312, the mail address storage unit 313, and the password storage unit 314 is connected to each other via the control unit 309.

  The communication unit 301 communicates with the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 or the mobile phone 5 via the network 4. The communication unit 301 includes a receiving unit 321 and a transmitting unit 322. The receiving unit 321 receives various data transmitted from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 or the portable telephone 5 via the network 4 and performs control. To the unit 309. In addition, the transmission unit 322 transmits various data supplied from the control unit 309 to the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 or the mobile phone 5 via the network 4.

  The GUI processing unit 302 generates a screen to be displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 5. The image processing unit 303 performs processing for registering the image received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 in one viewing group. Further, the image processing unit 303 generates a thumbnail image of the image received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3.

  Further, the image processing unit 303 includes a search unit 323. A search unit 323 of the image processing unit 303 searches for an image satisfying a predetermined condition from images stored (recorded) in the image storage unit 310.

  The allocating unit 304 associates the browsing ID (Identification) set for each image received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 with the e-mail address received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3. The e-mail address is supplied to the e-mail address storage unit 313.

  The management unit 305 sets a viewing ID for each image received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3. Also, the management unit 305 manages the attribute information of each image received from the photo sticker creation apparatus 3 recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311. Here, the attribute information includes, for example, a thumbnail image of the image paired with each image (the other image constituting the splicing pre), a viewing group to which the image belongs (registered), a viewing ID of the image, and an image. Friend transmission flag indicating whether or not the terminal identification information for identifying the mobile phone 5 that can be browsed, the image paired with the image (the other image constituting the splicing pre) has been transmitted to the friend of the owner of the image, etc. It is included. Further, the terminal specifying information included in the attribute information is, for example, model information or a serial number of the mobile phone 5.

  The input reception unit 306 performs processing for receiving an operation of the server 2 by an administrator of the server 2. The authentication unit 307 performs various authentication processes, and the generation unit 308 generates an e-mail. The image storage unit 310 records each image received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 and thumbnail images of those images.

  The attribute information recording unit 311 records attribute information, and the browsing group information recording unit 312 records browsing group information that is information about each browsing group. The viewing group information includes information such as images registered (belonging) to each viewing group, themes of those images, and shooting dates.

  The email address storage unit 313 records (stores) the email address of the mobile phone 5 associated with the browsing ID set for each image. The mail address storage unit 313 records the email address of the user registered as a member (the portable phone 5 owned by the user). The password storage unit 314 records (stores) a password set corresponding to the browsing ID.

  FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile phone 5.

  The mobile phone 5 includes a communication unit 351, a display unit 352, an image processing unit 353, a bus 354, an input unit 356, a control unit 357, and a recording unit 358. Each of the communication unit 351, the display unit 352, the image processing unit 353, the input unit 356, the control unit 357, and the recording unit 358 is connected to each other via a bus 354.

  The communication unit 351 communicates with the server 2 via the network 4. The communication unit 351 includes a reception unit 371 and a transmission unit 372. The receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives various data transmitted from the server 2 via the network 4. The transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits various data supplied from each unit of the mobile phone 5 via the bus 354 to the server 2 via the network 4.

  The display unit 352 is composed of, for example, an LCD and displays various images. The image processing unit 353 extracts (acquires) predetermined information from the image displayed on the display unit 352. The input unit 356 includes, for example, a mouse, a button, a keyboard, and the like, and supplies a command corresponding to a user operation to the control unit 357. The control unit 357 controls the entire mobile phone 5. The recording unit 358 records various data, received electronic mail, terminal specifying information for specifying the mobile phone 5, and the like.

  By the way, when the photographed image creation apparatus 3 receives a photographed image (a joint pre composed of two images) and an email address, the server 2 receives the photographed image and the email address, and receives a URL (Uniform A process of transmitting an e-mail including information (information specifying an image) indicating an image address (hereinafter, simply referred to as an image URL) described in a (Resource Locator) method is performed.

  Hereinafter, the mail transmission processing by the server 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 151, the receiving unit 321 receives an image (connection pre) and an e-mail address transmitted from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 via the network 4 and supplies them to the control unit 309.

  In step S152, the image processing unit 303 registers the received image in the viewing group. That is, the image processing unit 303 registers a plurality of received images as images belonging to one viewing group, and includes a viewing group including information such as the registered image, the shooting date of the image added to the image, and the image theme. Generate information. The image processing unit 303 supplies the generated browsing group information to the browsing group information recording unit 312 for recording.

  In step S153, the image processing unit 303 generates a thumbnail image of the received image, and supplies the received image and the generated thumbnail image to the image storage unit 310. For example, when the image A and the image B constituting the splicing pre are received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3, the image processing unit 303 generates a thumbnail image a of the image A and a thumbnail image b of the image B.

  In step S154, the image storage unit 310 records the images and thumbnail images supplied from the image processing unit 303 in association with each other. That is, the image storage unit 310 records an image registered in one viewing group and a thumbnail image of another image registered in the viewing group in association with each other. Therefore, for example, if the images registered in one viewing group are the image A and the image B, the image storage unit 310 records the image A and the thumbnail image b of the image B in association with each other, and B and thumbnail image a of image A are recorded in association with each other.

  In step S155, the management unit 305 sets a viewing ID and a password for each received image. For example, when the image A and the image B constituting the connection pre are received, the management unit 305 sets a viewing ID and a password for the viewing ID for each of the image A and the image B. When the viewing ID and password are set for each image, the management unit 305 supplies the password for the set viewing ID to the password storage unit 314 via the control unit 309 for recording.

  In step S156, the distribution unit 304 associates the received ID of each image with the received e-mail address. That is, the allocating unit 304 determines which image is transmitted to which electronic mail address. The allocating unit 304 associates the browsing ID and the e-mail address, and supplies the e-mail address to the e-mail address storage unit 313 via the control unit 309 for recording.

  In step S157, the management unit 305 generates attribute information of each received image, and supplies the generated attribute information to the attribute information recording unit 311 via the control unit 309. The attribute information recording unit 311 records the attribute information supplied from the management unit 305.

  For example, when the image A and the image B constituting the splicing pre are received, the management unit 305 transmits the image B to the friend of the user who owns the thumbnail image b of the image B and the image A as the attribute information of the image A. A friend transmission flag indicating whether or not the image A has been registered, a viewing group in which the image A is registered (belonging to), and information indicating the browsing ID set in the image A are generated.

  In step S <b> 158, the generation unit 308 sends the URL of the image with the browse ID set to the e-mail address associated with the browse ID set by the management unit 305, and the thumbnail image associated with the image. And an e-mail including a URL of a mailer that is a program for sending and receiving e-mails, a browsing ID, and a password for the browsing ID. The generation unit 308 supplies the generated electronic mail to the communication unit 301 via the control unit 309.

  For example, when the image A and the image B constituting the connection pre are registered in one viewing group, the generation unit 308 uses the email address of the user A associated with the viewing ID of the image A as a destination, An email including the URL of the image A, the URL of the thumbnail image b, the URL of the mailer, the browsing ID set in the image A, and the password for the browsing ID is generated. Further, the generation unit 308 uses the email address of the user B associated with the browsing ID of the image B as the destination, the URL of the image B, the URL of the thumbnail image a, the URL of the mailer, and the browsing set in the image B. An e-mail including an ID and a password for the browsing ID is also generated.

  In step S159, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the electronic mail supplied from the generation unit 308 to the destination of the electronic mail (that is, the mobile phone 5) via the network 4, and mail transmission processing Ends.

  In this way, the server 2 receives the image and the e-mail address transmitted from the photo sticker creation device 3, and generates an e-mail including the URL of the image with the received e-mail address as the destination. Send.

  Thus, by generating and transmitting an e-mail including the URL of the image, the mobile phone 5 that has received the e-mail can download and display the image. In addition, although it has been described that the image constituting the splicing pre is transmitted from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 to the server 2, an image that is not a splicing pre created in the photo sticker creating game may be transmitted. . In such a case, for example, the image is managed by adding information indicating whether or not each image is an image constituting the splicing pre.

  When an e-mail including the URL of the image generated in this way is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5, the mobile phone 5 receives the transmitted e-mail and browses the image. The image browsing process which is the process to perform is performed.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 27, the image browsing process by the mobile phone 5 will be described.

  In step S <b> 191, the reception unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the email transmitted from the server 2 via the network 4 and supplies the received email to the control unit 357. The control unit 357 supplies the electronic mail supplied from the communication unit 351 to the display unit 352 and causes the display unit 352 to display the received electronic mail. Thereby, for example, the e-mail shown in FIG. 28 is displayed on the display unit 352.

  In the example of FIG. 28, the e-mail address of the mobile phone 5 is displayed as the e-mail destination, the e-mail address recorded in the server 2 as the sender, and the image taken by the photo sticker creation device 3 can be viewed. The website name for 5 (website name) is displayed.

  In the figure, below the website name, click the following if you want to see the letter “E-mail message” that was previously taken with a photo sticker. 3 days) ”is displayed. Further, below the message, a browsing ID for browsing an image owned by a user who owns the mobile phone 5 among images constituting the connection pre, and a password for authentication with respect to the browsing ID are displayed. Has been.

  Further below that, a button 381 for browsing an image owned by the user (an image specified by the browsing ID), and a thumbnail image associated with the image owned by the user (connecting pre are configured. Among the images, a button 382 for browsing a thumbnail image of the image not owned by the user) and an image paired with the image owned by the user (the other image constituting the connection pre) are used. A button 383 for sending to a friend of the person is displayed. The buttons 381 to 383 respectively display the characters “image for you”, “image to send to a friend”, and “send one of these tethered pres to a friend”. By manipulating 356 and selecting (manipulating) these buttons, it is possible to view an image or send an image to a friend.

  The button 381 and the button 382 are associated with the URL of the image (or thumbnail image) as information for specifying the image (or thumbnail image). Further, the URL of the mailer is associated with the button 383 as information indicating an instruction to transmit an image to the mobile phone 5 owned by a friend. In addition, instead of these buttons 381 to 383, each of the URL of the image, the URL of the thumbnail image, and the URL of the mailer may be displayed in the e-mail, or the image or thumbnail image may be directly displayed. It may be.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 27, in step S192, the control unit 357 determines whether or not an instruction to display an image has been issued. For example, when the button 381 or the button 382 in FIG. 28 is selected (operated) and an image display (browsing) is instructed, the control unit 357 determines that an image display is instructed.

  If it is determined in step S192 that display of the image has been instructed, the instructed image is browsed, and thus the process proceeds to step S193, where the image processing unit 353 selects the URL of the image according to the user's operation, The URL of the selected image is acquired from the e-mail displayed on the display unit 352. For example, the button 381 and the button 382 in FIG. 28 are associated with the URL of the image and the URL of the thumbnail image included in the e-mail, respectively, and when the button 381 is selected, the image processing unit 353 The URL of the image associated with 381 is selected and acquired (extracted) from the e-mail.

  When the URL of the image (or the URL of the thumbnail image) is acquired, the control unit 357 specifies the URL of the image acquired by the image processing unit 353 and the mobile phone 5 recorded in the recording unit 358. Terminal identification information is supplied to the communication unit 351.

  In step S 194, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the image and the terminal identification information supplied from the control unit 357 to the server 2 via the network 4.

  When the URL of the image and the terminal identification information are transmitted to the server 2, the browsing ID input for inputting the browsing ID and password set in the image specified by the URL of the transmitted image is sent from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5. The screen is sent.

  In step S <b> 195, the receiving unit 371 receives the browsing ID input screen transmitted from the server 2 and supplies it to the control unit 357. And the control part 357 supplies the browsing ID input screen supplied from the receiving part 371 to the display part 352, and displays a browsing ID input screen. Thereby, the browsing ID input screen shown in FIG. 29 is displayed on the display unit 352, for example.

  In the browsing ID input screen shown in FIG. 29, the characters “Please enter ID” are displayed on the upper side of the screen, and a browsing ID input field for inputting the browsing ID is provided below the screen. . Further, the characters “Please enter the authentication password” are displayed below the browsing ID input field, and further below that, a password input field for inputting a password for the browsing ID is provided. The user operates the input unit 356 to input the browsing ID and password displayed in the email shown in FIG. 28 in the browsing ID input field and the password input field.

  When the user inputs the browsing ID and password, the control unit 357 acquires the input browsing ID and password from the input unit 356 and supplies them to the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 27, in step S <b> 196, the transmission unit 372 transmits the browsing ID and password supplied from the control unit 357 to the server 2 via the network 4.

  Then, since an image is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5, the reception unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the image transmitted from the server 2 and supplies it to the control unit 357 in step S 197. To do. Then, the control unit 357 supplies the image supplied from the communication unit 351 to the display unit 352.

  In step S198, the display unit 352 displays the image supplied from the control unit 357, and the image browsing process ends. At this time, the display unit 352 displays the supplied image so that the image just fits on the display screen of the display unit 352 (so that the image has the size of the display screen). Thereby, for example, the display unit 352 displays the image shown in FIG. 30 (one image forming the splicing pre).

  The display screen of the display unit 352 shown in FIG. 30 displays an image in which a user facing rightward in the figure is talking to the synthesized telephone as a background.

  In addition, when the image displayed on the display unit 352 is a thumbnail image of an image forming the connection pre, for example, the display unit 352 has an image shown in FIG. 31 (a thumbnail image of one image forming the connection pre). Is displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 31, as thumbnail images, images are displayed together with the users who have taken a picture in the photo sticker creation apparatus 3 and are listening to the conversation with a thread telephone synthesized by another user as a background. . In addition, a message “You can send this image to a friend” is displayed on the lower side of the thumbnail image to the effect that the image corresponding to this thumbnail image can be sent to the user's friend. . Further, a button displaying the characters “OK” is displayed below the message, and when this button is selected by the user, the screen displaying the thumbnail image shown in FIG. 31 is closed. .

  In this way, by displaying the thumbnail image of the image that is paired with the image owned by the user (the other image constituting the splicing pre), the user can confirm in advance the image to be transmitted to the friend. Further, not only the image owned by the user but also the thumbnail image of the image paired with the image is displayed, so that the displayed image (or thumbnail image) is the image that forms the connection pre-image. Can be easily recognized.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 27, if no image display is instructed in step S <b> 192, the process proceeds to step S <b> 199, and the control unit 357 determines whether or not an instruction to transmit an image to a friend is instructed. For example, when the button 383 shown in FIG. 28 is selected and transmission of an image that is not owned by the user to the friend of the user is instructed among the images constituting the splicing pre, the control unit 357 It is determined that transmission of an image to a friend is instructed. Further, for example, when the user instructs to end the display of the e-mail, the control unit 357 determines that the image transmission to the friend is not instructed.

  If it is determined in step S199 that an instruction to send an image to a friend has not been given, the image is not sent to the user's friend, so the mobile phone 5 performs processing according to the user's operation and browses the image. The process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S199 that transmission of an image to a friend has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S200, the other image selection process is performed, and the image browsing process ends. Although the details of the other image selection process will be described later, in this other image selection process, the mobile phone 5 is not owned by the user among the images constituting the splicing pre, which is transmitted to the user's friend. A process of selecting an image, that is, an image that is paired with an image owned by the user is performed.

  In this way, the mobile phone 5 receives the electronic mail transmitted from the server 2 and designates an image to be displayed. Then, the mobile phone 5 receives the designated image from the server 2 and displays it.

  Thus, by receiving the designated image from the server 2 and displaying it, the user can display and enjoy the captured image on his / her mobile phone 5. Thereby, for example, in the photo sticker creating apparatus 3, the user A and the user B who have performed the photographing work respectively store the images A and B that they own among the images constituting the splicing prephone 5 The mobile phone 5 displaying the image A and the mobile phone 5 displaying the image B can be arranged side by side to complete one connection pre-playing, and the entertainment can be further improved. .

  Next, the other image selection process corresponding to the process of step S200 of FIG. 27 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When an image that is not owned by the user is instructed to be transmitted to a friend of the user among the images constituting the splicing pre, in step S231, the image processing unit 353 determines the mailer's operation according to the user's operation. The URL is selected, and the URL of the selected mailer is acquired from the e-mail displayed on the display unit 352. For example, the URL of the mailer included in the email is associated with the button 383 in FIG. 28, and when the button 383 is selected, the image processing unit 353 is related to the button 383 from the email. Get (extract) the mailer URL.

  When the mailer URL is acquired, the control unit 357 transmits the URL of the mailer acquired by the image processing unit 353 and the terminal specifying information for specifying the mobile phone 5 recorded in the recording unit 358 to the communication unit 351. To supply.

  In step S 232, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the mailer and terminal identification information supplied from the control unit 357 to the server 2 via the network 4. Thereafter, the process of step S233 and the process of step S234 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the process of step S195 and the process of step S196 in FIG. 27, the description thereof is omitted.

  In addition, when the mobile phone 5 transmits the browsing ID and password to the server 2, the user has already transmitted an image that is owned by the user and that is paired with the image specified by the browsing ID to the friend. Is not yet registered as a member of the website for the mobile phone 5 published by the server 2, the server 2 displays a message prompting member registration on the mobile phone 5. The member registration screen will be sent. When the member registration screen is transmitted, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the member registration screen transmitted from the server 2 and supplies it to the control unit 357.

  In step S235, the control unit 357 determines whether or not the communication unit 351 has received the member registration screen. If it is determined in step S235 that the message has not been received, the process proceeds to step S239.

  In contrast, if it is determined in step S235 that the information has been received, the control unit 357 supplies the member registration screen supplied from the communication unit 351 to the display unit 352 for display. Thereby, the member registration screen shown in FIG. 33 is displayed on the display unit 352, for example.

  In the member registration screen shown in FIG. 33, an image that is about to be sent to a friend is a message that “already sent to another friend. This image has already been sent to a friend. If you want to do so, please register as a member. ”If you register as a member, a message stating that you can also view images that you want to send to your friends as a special benefit“ Now register now If you do, you can see the images you want to send to your friends ".

  Furthermore, in the figure of the member registration screen, a button 411 for starting the member registration process and a button 412 for returning to the browsing ID input screen without performing the member registration process are provided below the message. Yes. On the button 411 and the button 412, the characters “member registration” and “return” are displayed, respectively.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 32, in step S236, the control unit 357 determines whether or not to register as a member. For example, when the button 411 is selected on the member registration screen of FIG. 33, the control unit 357 determines to register as a member, and when the button 412 is selected, determines to not register as a member.

  If it is determined in step S 236 that membership registration is to be performed, the control unit 357 generates a signal indicating membership registration, and the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the generated signal indicating membership registration to the server 2. To do. Then, since the personal information input screen for inputting the personal information of the user who is the owner of the mobile phone 5 is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 This is received and supplied to the control unit 357.

  The control unit 357 supplies the personal information input screen supplied from the communication unit 351 to the display unit 352 for display. When the user operates the input unit 356 to input personal information such as the user's name, address, contact information, and e-mail address on the personal information input screen, the control unit 357 uses the input unit 356 to use the personal information. The personal information input by the person is acquired and supplied to the communication unit 351, and the process proceeds to step S237.

  In step S 237, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the personal information supplied from the control unit 357 to the server 2 via the network 4.

  Then, an e-mail indicating that membership registration is completed is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5, so that the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the e-mail transmitted from the server 2 in step S 238. The process proceeds to step S239. For example, when the control unit 357 supplies the electronic mail to the display unit 352 for display, the electronic mail illustrated in FIG. 34 is displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 34, the e-mail address of the mobile phone 5 is displayed as an e-mail destination, and the name of the website for the mobile phone 5 disclosed by the server 2 is displayed as the sender. Also, in the figure, below the website name, the text as an e-mail message “Thank you for registering as a member this time. As a registration benefit, we will send you the other image of Tsunagi Pre. "Is displayed. Further, below the message, a button 431 for browsing an image that can be browsed as a member registration benefit is displayed. The button 431 displays a character “connection pre-image”. The user can display an image by selecting this button 431.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 32, if it is determined in step S236 that membership registration is not to be performed, the processing for membership registration is not performed, so the control unit 357 generates a signal indicating that membership registration is not to be performed, and the communication unit The transmission unit 372 of 351 transmits the generated signal indicating that the member is not registered to the server 2. Since the image cannot be transmitted to a friend until the user registers as a member, the processing from step S237 to step S240 is skipped and the processing ends.

  If it is determined in step S235 that the member registration screen has not been received, or if an e-mail from the server 2 is received in step S238, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 is transmitted from the server 2 in step S239. The received mail address input screen is received and supplied to the control unit 357.

  The control unit 357 supplies the mail address input screen supplied from the communication unit 351 to the display unit 352 for display. Thereby, for example, a mail address input screen shown in FIG. 35 is displayed on the display unit 352.

  In the e-mail address input screen shown in FIG. 35, the messages “Enter the e-mail address of the friend you want to send” and “Enter your e-mail address” are displayed. Below each message , A destination input field for inputting an e-mail address of a friend (a mobile phone 5 owned by a friend) as an address to which an image is to be transmitted, and an e-mail address of a user (a mobile phone 5 owned by a user) An introducer input field is provided.

  The user operates the input unit 356 to input e-mail addresses in the transmission destination input field and the introducer input field, respectively. In the figure, the character “OK” displayed on the lower side of the mail address input screen is displayed. By selecting (operating) the displayed button, the input e-mail address can be transmitted to the server 2.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 32, when the email addresses of the user and the friend are input, the control unit 357 acquires the input email address from the input unit 356 and supplies it to the communication unit 351.

  In step S240, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the email address supplied from the control unit 357 to the server 2 via the network 4, and the process ends.

  In this way, the mobile phone 5 acquires the URL of the mailer as information for instructing transmission to the friend (the mobile phone 5 owned by the other user) of the other image that forms the spliced pre from the e-mail. The mailer URL and terminal identification information are transmitted to the server 2 via the network 4. In addition, the mobile phone 5 transmits the e-mail address of a friend as an image transmission destination and the e-mail address of a user as an introducer to the server 2.

  Thus, by acquiring the URL of the mailer as information for instructing transmission of the other image constituting the connection pre to a friend, and transmitting the acquired mailer URL and the terminal specifying information to the server 2, the server 2 The image can be transmitted to the mobile phone 5 owned by the friend.

  Therefore, for example, the user and his friend display the image A owned by the user and the image B received from the server 2 on the mobile phone 5 owned by each of the images constituting the connection pre- The mobile phone 5 displaying A and the mobile phone 5 displaying the image B can be arranged side by side to complete one connection pre-play and the user's satisfaction can be further improved.

  When the user operates the input unit 356 and selects any one of the buttons 381 to 383 in a state where the electronic mail shown in FIG. 28 is displayed on the mobile phone 5, the mobile phone 5 The URL of the image or the URL of the mailer is transmitted to the server 2.

  When the URL of the image or the URL of the mailer is transmitted from the mobile phone 5, the server 2 transmits the image to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user or the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend. An image transmission process is performed.

  Hereinafter, the image transmission processing by the server 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S281, the control unit 309 determines whether or not the mobile phone 5 has instructed transmission of an image to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user. That is, the control unit 309 determines whether an image URL has been transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  If it is determined in step S281 that image transmission has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S282, and the reception unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the image URL and terminal identification information transmitted from the mobile phone 5. To the control unit 309.

  In step S283, the server 2 performs ID authentication processing. Although details of the ID authentication processing will be described later, in the ID authentication processing, the server 2 authenticates the browsing ID and password transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  In step S284, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits an image (image or thumbnail image) to the mobile phone 5 via the network 4, and the image transmission process ends.

  More specifically, when the browsing ID is authenticated, the image processing unit 303 acquires an image from the image storage unit 310 based on the received browsing ID and the URL of the image, and supplies the acquired image to the communication unit 301.

  For example, when the URL of the received image is information for specifying the image A (in the case of a URL indicating the address of the image A), the image processing unit 303 uses the image storage unit based on the browsing ID and the URL of the image. Image A is acquired from 310. For example, when the URL of the received image is information for specifying the thumbnail image b of the image B (when the URL indicates the address of the thumbnail image b), the image processing unit 303 displays the browsing ID and the thumbnail image. Based on the URL, the thumbnail image b associated with the image A specified by the browsing ID is acquired from the image storage unit 310.

  When an image is supplied to the communication unit 301, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image (image or thumbnail image) supplied from the image processing unit 303 to the mobile phone 5 via the network 4. To do.

  If it is determined in step S281 that the image transmission is not instructed, the process proceeds to step S285, and the control unit 309 determines whether the portable telephone 5 has instructed the image transmission to the user's friend. Determine. That is, the control unit 309 determines whether or not a mailer URL is transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  If it is determined in step S285 that transmission of an image to a friend has been instructed, the mobile phone 5 transmits a mailer URL and terminal identification information. In step S286, the receiving unit of the communication unit 301 Reference numeral 321 receives the mailer URL and the terminal identification information transmitted from the mobile phone 5 and supplies them to the control unit 309. When the mailer URL is received, the generation unit 308 activates the mailer.

  In step S287, the server 2 performs an ID authentication process similar to the process in step S283. Although details of the ID authentication processing will be described later, in the ID authentication processing, the server 2 authenticates the browsing ID and password transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  In step S288, the server 2 performs the other image transmission process, and the image transmission process ends. Although the details of the other image transmission process will be described later, in the other image transmission process, the server 2 uses an image that is a pair of images specified by the received browsing ID (the other image constituting the splicing pre). To another mobile phone 5 owned by a friend of the person.

  If it is determined in step S285 that transmission of an image to a friend has not been instructed, the user's mobile phone 5 has not instructed transmission of an image to the user or friend. Performs processing in response to the request from the portable telephone 5, and the image transmission processing ends.

  In this way, when the server 2 is instructed to transmit an image, the server 2 transmits the image specified by the URL of the image to the mobile phone 5.

  In this way, by transmitting the image specified by the URL of the image to the mobile phone 5, the user displays the image constituting the connection pre owned by the user on the mobile phone 5 owned by the user. The mobile phone 5 on which the image is displayed and the mobile phone 5 on which the other image of the binder pre owned by a friend is displayed side by side can be completed and played. It is possible to improve user satisfaction. As a result, the profitability of the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 can be improved.

  Next, the ID authentication process corresponding to the process of step S283 or the process of step S287 of FIG. 36 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 291, the GUI processing unit 302 supplies the browsing ID input screen recorded in advance to the communication unit 301. Then, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the browsing ID input screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5 via the network 4. Thereby, for example, the browsing ID input screen shown in FIG. 29 is transmitted to the mobile phone 5.

  When the browsing ID input screen is transmitted, since the browsing ID and the password for the browsing ID are transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, in step S292, the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the portable ID. The browsing ID and password transmitted from the telephone 5 are received and supplied to the control unit 309.

  In step S293, the authentication unit 307 authenticates the received browsing ID and password using the password associated with the browsing ID recorded in the password storage unit 314. In step S293, if the authentication fails, for example, the mobile phone 5 is again transmitted with the browsing ID and password to perform authentication. If the authentication fails continuously for a predetermined number of times (for example, the number determined by the operator of the server 2), the server 2 determines that the mobile phone 5 is not a legitimate user, The image specified by may be deleted.

  In step S294, the search unit 323 of the image processing unit 303 refers to the attribute information of each image recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311 and searches for an image specified by the received browsing ID.

  In step S295, the image processing unit 303 determines whether the received terminal identification information is set as the terminal identification information of the searched image. For example, when the terminal attribute information for specifying the mobile phone 5 is included in the attribute information of the image searched by the search unit 323, the image processing unit 303 determines that the terminal information is set as the terminal information of the image. To do.

  If it is determined in step S295 that the terminal identification information is not set as the image terminal identification information, the process proceeds to step S296, and the management unit 305 determines that the received terminal identification information is included in the searched image attribute information. By updating the information (by adding the terminal identification information to the attribute information), the received terminal identification information is set as the terminal identification information of the searched image, and the process ends. If the attribute information of the searched image already includes terminal specifying information for specifying another mobile phone 5, the image has already been registered as an image of the owner of the other mobile phone 5. Therefore, the received terminal identification information is not set as the terminal identification information of the searched image, and the image transmission process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S295 that the terminal identification information has been set for the image, the process in step S296 is skipped and the process ends.

  In this way, the server 2 authenticates the received browsing ID and password, and sets the received terminal identification information as the terminal identification information of the searched image.

  In this way, by setting the terminal specifying information for each image, it is possible to specify a user who can view each image, and it is possible to manage browsing of images more easily.

  Next, the other image transmission process corresponding to the process of step S288 of FIG. 36 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S321, the management unit 305 determines whether the user who owns the mobile phone 5 is registered as a member. For example, the management unit 305 refers to the email address recorded in the email address storage unit 313 and searches for the user's email address associated with the browsing ID received from the mobile phone 5. If the retrieved e-mail address is recorded in the e-mail address storage unit 313 as the e-mail address of the member, the management unit 305 determines that the user is registered as a member.

  If it is determined in step S321 that the member is not registered, the process advances to step S322, and the management unit 305 refers to the attribute information of the image specified by the browsing ID and is included in the attribute information of the image. It is determined whether or not the friend transmission flag is set.

  Here, the friend transmission flag is reset in the initial state (for example, set to “0”), and among the images constituting the splicing pre, an image not owned by the user (owned by the user) When an image paired with the image to be transmitted is transmitted to the user's friend even once, the friend transmission flag included in the attribute information of the image owned by the user is set (for example, “1” is set) )

  If it is determined in step S322 that the friend transmission flag is set, the process proceeds to step S323, and the server 2 performs a member registration guidance process. Although details of the member registration guidance process will be described later, in this member registration guidance process, the server 2 prompts the user for member registration and performs a process of registering the applicant as a member.

  In step S324, the management unit 305 determines whether the user has registered as a member. If it is determined in step S324 that the member is registered, the process proceeds to step S326.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S324 that the user has not registered as a member, the user has already transmitted an image paired with his own image to a friend and has not registered as a member. Since the same image cannot be transmitted to another friend, the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S322 that the friend transmission flag is not set, the user has not transmitted an image paired with the image owned by the user to the friend, so the process proceeds to step S325 and management is performed. The unit 305 sets a friend transmission flag included in the attribute information of the image specified by the browsing ID (image URL) received from the mobile phone 5, and the process proceeds to step S326.

  Furthermore, if it is determined in step S321 that the member is registered, the user who is a member can transmit the same image to a friend any number of times, and the process proceeds to step S326.

  If it is determined that the member is registered in step S324, the friend transmission flag is set in step S325, or it is determined that the member is registered in step S321, in step S326, the search unit 323 displays the viewing group. With reference to the information (and attribute information as necessary), the other image belonging to (registered in) the viewing group of the image searched in the process of step S294 in FIG. 37 is searched. In other words, the search unit 323 searches for images paired with the image specified by the browsing ID (image URL) from among the images constituting the connection pre.

  For example, when the image A and the image B constituting the connection pre are registered in the viewing group A and the image specified by the viewing ID received from the mobile phone 5 is the image A, the search unit 323 By referring to the information (or attribute information), an image B registered in the viewing group A and paired with the image A (another image B constituting the splicing pre) is searched.

  When the other image belonging to the viewing group is searched, the GUI processing unit 302 supplies a pre-recorded mail address input screen to the communication unit 301.

  In step S <b> 327, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the mail address input screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. For example, the transmission unit 322 transmits the mail address input screen shown in FIG. If the user is registered as a member, for example, the user's e-mail address may be displayed in advance in the introducer input field of FIG. This eliminates the need for the user to input his / her e-mail address.

  When the e-mail address input screen is transmitted, from the mobile phone 5, the e-mail address of the user's mobile phone 5 who is the friend's introducer and the mobile phone owned by the friend who is the image transmission destination 5 e-mail addresses are sent.

  In step S <b> 328, the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives these e-mail addresses transmitted from the mobile phone 5 and supplies them to the control unit 309.

  In step S329, the generation unit 308 searches for the email address of the user who is the introducer, whose destination is the email address of the received friend (the mobile phone 5 owned by the friend), and the processing in step S326. Then, an e-mail including the URL of the image paired with the image owned by the user is generated. The generation unit 308 supplies the generated electronic mail to the communication unit 301 via the control unit 309.

  In step S330, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the electronic mail supplied from the generation unit 308 to the mobile phone 5 owned by the friend of the user, and the process ends.

  As a result, since the electronic mail is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend, the receiving unit 371 of the friend's mobile phone 5 receives the electronic mail transmitted from the server 2. Receive. When the control unit 357 supplies the received e-mail to the display unit 352 for display, for example, the e-mail shown in FIG. 39 is displayed on the display unit 352.

  In the example of FIG. 39, the e-mail address of the mobile phone 5 owned by a friend is displayed as the e-mail destination, and the name of the website for the mobile phone 5 published by the server 2 is displayed as the sender. Yes. Also, below the website name in the figure, an e-mail message “Your friend has taken a picture of the connection pre-installed. Please line up the picture with your friend side by side." Has been. Furthermore, the e-mail address of the user as an introducer is displayed below the message. Below the e-mail address, a button 461 for viewing an image transmitted to the user's friend is displayed. The button 461 displays a character “connection pre-image”. The user's friend can display an image by selecting this button 461.

  The e-mail received by the friend displays a message that the received image is an image that forms a spliced image and can be played side by side with the user's mobile phone 5. Can recognize that the image transmitted from the user (more specifically, the server 2) is an image constituting the splicing pre, and play effectively utilizing a new element of play called the splicing pre. Can do.

  In this way, the server 2 searches for an image paired with the image owned by the user, which constitutes the connection pre, generates an e-mail including the URL of the searched image, and the friend of the user It transmits to the portable telephone 5 which it owns.

  In this way, a mobile phone that searches for an image paired with an image owned by the user and forms an e-mail that includes the URL of the searched image and that is owned by a user's friend By transmitting to 5, the user can enjoy the pre-connection with more friends, and the user's satisfaction can be improved.

  Conventionally, in the photo sticker creating apparatus, the photographed image can be transmitted only to the user who input the e-mail address. However, by using the photo sticker creating apparatus 3 shown in FIG. The user can transmit an image paired with the image owned by the user to the friend, and can improve the user's intention to play with the friend by arranging the images constituting the splicing pre. Thereby, a user's satisfaction can be improved.

  Next, the member registration guidance process corresponding to the process of step S323 of FIG. 38 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S361, the GUI processing unit 302 supplies a pre-recorded member registration screen to the communication unit 301. Then, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the member registration screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5.

  When the member registration screen is transmitted, a signal indicating that the member is registered or a signal indicating that the member is not registered is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, so that the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives this signal. Is supplied to the control unit 309.

  In step S362, the control unit 309 determines whether or not the user who owns the mobile phone 5 desires member registration. For example, the control unit 309 determines that the member registration is desired when receiving a signal indicating that the member is registered, and determines that the member registration is not desired when receiving the signal indicating that the member is not registered.

  If it is determined in step S362 that the user does not wish to register as a member, the user does not register as a member, and the process proceeds to step S324 in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S362 that membership registration is desired, the GUI processing unit 302 supplies a personal information input screen recorded in advance to the communication unit 301, and the process proceeds to step S363.

  In step S 363, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the personal information input screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. Then, since the personal information of the user is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the personal information transmitted from the mobile phone 5 in step S364. Then, the data is supplied to the control unit 309.

  The management unit 305 acquires the received personal information from the control unit 309, supplies the received personal information to the mail address storage unit 313, and causes the mail address storage unit 313 to record the personal information. Also, the management unit 305 extracts (acquires) the user's e-mail address included in the acquired personal information, and the member's e-mail address recorded in the e-mail address storage unit 313 is extracted. Add to your email address.

  In step S365, the search unit 323 searches for the other image belonging to (registered in) the browse group of the image searched from the browse ID in the process of step S294 in FIG.

  In step S366, the management unit 305 sets the terminal identification information of the user registered as a member in the terminal identification information included in the attribute information of the other image that has been searched. That is, the management unit 305 adds the terminal identification information of the mobile phone 5 owned by the newly registered user (terminal identification information received in the process of step S286 in FIG. 36) to the attribute information of the other image that has been searched. ) Is added.

  In this way, by adding the terminal identification information of the user's mobile phone 5 to the attribute information of the other image searched for, the user can not only own the image but also the image owned by the user. The other image paired with can be browsed.

  In step S367, the generation unit 308 generates and generates an e-mail indicating that the membership registration is completed, including the user's e-mail address included in the received personal information and the URL of the other image. The electronic mail is supplied to the communication unit 301.

  In step S368, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the e-mail supplied from the generation unit 308 to the user's e-mail address (that is, to the user's mobile phone 5). The process proceeds to step S324.

  Although it has been described that the e-mail including the URL of the other image is transmitted, not only the e-mail but also a web page including the URL of the other image is generated and transmitted to the mobile phone 5. Also good.

  In this way, the server 2 receives the user's personal information, performs membership registration, and transmits an e-mail containing the URL of the other image to the user's e-mail address.

  Thus, the number of members can be increased by allowing the registered user to view the other image as a privilege, and the administrator of the server 2 refers to the personal information of the member. Profitability can be improved.

  Further, when an email containing the URL of the other image paired with the image owned by the user is transmitted from the server 2 to the portable phone 5 owned by the friend of the user, the friend's portable phone 5 For example, the e-mail shown in FIG. 39 is displayed. When a friend operates the mobile phone 5 and selects the button 461, the mobile phone 5 owned by the friend starts a friend browsing process for displaying an image constituting the connection pre.

  Note that the same friend browsing process is also performed when the registered user operates the mobile phone 5 and selects the button 431 shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the friend browsing process by the mobile phone 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 391, the image processing unit 353 selects the URL of the image according to the user's operation, and acquires the URL of the selected image from the electronic mail displayed on the display unit 352. For example, the button 461 in FIG. 39 is associated with the URL of the image included in the e-mail as information for specifying the image, and when the button 461 is selected, the image processing unit 353 determines from the e-mail. The URL of the image associated with the button 461 is acquired (extracted).

  When the URL of the image is acquired, the control unit 357 transmits the URL of the image acquired by the image processing unit 353 and the terminal specifying information for specifying the mobile phone 5 recorded in the recording unit 358 to the communication unit 351. To supply.

  In step S392, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the image and the terminal identification information supplied from the control unit 357 to the server 2. Then, an image is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5. In step S 393, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the image transmitted from the server 2 and supplies the image to the control unit 357. To do. Then, the control unit 357 supplies the image supplied from the communication unit 351 to the display unit 352.

  In step S394, the display unit 352 displays the image supplied from the control unit 357, and the friend browsing process ends.

  In this way, the mobile phone 5 receives the image from the server 2 and displays it.

  By the way, when the friend browsing process is started and the URL of the image and the terminal identification information are transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, the server 2 transmits the image specified by the URL of the image to the mobile phone 5. The friend image transmission process that is the process to start is started.

  Hereinafter, the friend image transmission process by the server 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 431, the reception unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the URL of the image and the terminal identification information transmitted from the mobile phone 5 and supplies them to the control unit 309.

  In step S432, the image processing unit 303 determines whether or not the received terminal specifying information is set as the terminal specifying information of the image specified by the URL of the image. For example, when the terminal specification information for specifying the received mobile phone 5 is included in the attribute information of the image specified by the URL of the image recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311, the image processing unit 303 It is determined that the terminal identification information is set for the image.

  When it is determined in step S432 that the image is not set as the terminal identification information of the image, the image (identified by the URL of the image) is displayed by the user (friend) of the mobile phone 5 identified by the received terminal identification information. Since the image is not owned, the process proceeds to step S433, and the search unit 323 sets the received terminal identification information among other images of the viewing group in which the image identified by the URL of the image is registered. Search for.

  In step S434, the image processing unit 303 determines whether there is an image in which the received terminal identification information is set as terminal identification information as a result of the retrieval by the retrieval unit 323. If it is determined in step S434 that there is no image set as the terminal identification information, the process proceeds to step S435.

  If it is determined in step S434 that there is no image set as the terminal identification information, or if it is determined in step S432 that the image is set as the terminal identification information, the image processing unit 303 displays the URL of the image. The image specified by the above is acquired from the image storage unit 310 and supplied to the communication unit 301. In step S435, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image supplied from the image processing unit 303 to the mobile phone 5, and the friend image transmission process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S434 that there is an image set as the terminal identification information, the person who is browsing the image specified by the URL of the image is a pair of images ( The owner of the other image constituting the splicing pre), that is, the user who performed the photographing work of the image group of the viewing group in which the image specified by the URL of the image is registered, and the user introduced Since it is not a friend (a friend who is not shooting), the GUI processing unit 302 supplies a pre-recorded browsing prohibition screen on which a message indicating that the image cannot be browsed is displayed to the communication unit 301. The process proceeds to step S436.

  In step S436, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the browsing prohibition screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5, and the friend image transmission process ends.

  When the browsing prohibition screen is transmitted from the server 2, the mobile phone 5 receives the browsing prohibition screen in step S393 in FIG. 41, and displays the browsing prohibition screen shown in FIG. 43 in step S394, for example.

  In the browsing prohibition screen shown in FIG. 43, a message that the image cannot be viewed in the center of the screen, “You cannot acquire an image because you are the photographer of this stitching pre-image. Cannot get another image "is displayed.

  In addition, a button displaying the character “OK” is provided below the message, and when this button is operated, the browsing prohibition screen is closed.

  In this way, when receiving the image URL from the mobile phone 5, the server 2 transmits the image specified by the URL of the image to the mobile phone 5.

  As described above, by transmitting the image specified by the URL of the image to the mobile phone 5, a friend of the user who is not performing the photographing work can also display and enjoy the image.

  Further, when a friend of the user browses an image, the friend takes a picture based on whether or not the terminal identification information of the friend's mobile phone 5 is set in the image of the viewing group to which the image to be browsed belongs. Since it is determined whether or not it is the user who performed the work, someone out of the multiple users who performed the shooting work can correctly register the image that he wants to own due to an input error of e-mail address etc. Even when there is not, the other user makes the user who could not register the image a friend and instructs the user to transmit the other image that is paired with the image owned by the other user. The user can view the image that he / she was trying to register.

  In addition, when there are three or more images constituting the splicing pre, the user may be able to select an image that the user wants to send to a friend. Hereinafter, the other image selection process corresponding to the process of step S200 of FIG. 27 performed in such a case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Since each of the processing from step S461 to step S467 is the same as the processing from step S231 to step S237 in FIG. 32, the description thereof is omitted.

  When personal information is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, an image selection screen for selecting an image that can be viewed by the user as a privilege is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5. In S468, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the image selection screen transmitted from the server 2, and the display unit 352 displays the received image selection screen.

  When the user selects an image he / she wants to browse while viewing the image selection screen, the image processing unit 353 selects the URL of the image according to the user's operation, and displays the URL of the selected image on the display unit 352. Acquired from the selected image selection screen and supplied to the communication unit 351.

  In step S469, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the selected image supplied from the image processing unit 353 to the server 2. Thereafter, in step S470, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the e-mail indicating that the member registration is completed transmitted from the server 2, and proceeds to step S471.

  When it is determined in step S470 that an e-mail has been received or in step S465 that the member registration screen has not been received, an image for selecting an image to be transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5 to a friend. Since the selection screen is transmitted, in step S471, the reception unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the image selection screen transmitted from the server 2, and the display unit 352 displays the received image selection screen.

  Thereby, for example, an image selection screen shown in FIG. 45 is displayed on the display unit 352. In the image selection screen shown in FIG. 45A, a message urging the user to select an image to be sent “Please select an image you want to send to a friend” is displayed. A button 491 and a button 492 for selecting one of them are displayed.

  The characters “middle image” and “left image” are displayed on the button 491 and the button 492, respectively, so that it can be easily understood which image is transmitted when the user selects which button. Has been made. The user can send a desired image to a friend by operating the input unit 356 and selecting the button 491 or the button 492.

  The image selection screen received and displayed in the process of step S468 is, for example, that the message in the image selection screen shown in FIG. 45A is “Please select an image you want to own” or the like. Can do.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 45B, thumbnail images of images that the user can send to friends may be displayed on the image selection screen, and the displayed thumbnail images may be selected.

  In the image selection screen shown in FIG. 45B, a message “Please select an image you want to send to a friend” prompting the user to select an image to be sent is displayed at the center of the screen. Also, below the message, an image owned by the user, and thumbnail images 501 and thumbnail images 502 of other images constituting the connection pre are displayed. The user can transmit a desired image to a friend by operating the input unit 356 and moving the cursor displayed on the image selection screen to select the thumbnail image 501 or the thumbnail image 502.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart in FIG. 44, when the user selects an image to be transmitted, the image processing unit 353 selects the URL of the image according to the user's operation, and the URL of the selected image is displayed on the display unit 352. Obtained from the displayed image selection screen and supplied to the communication unit 351.

  In step S472, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the selected image supplied from the image processing unit 353 to the server 2. Thereafter, the process of step S473 and the process of step S474 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the process of step S239 and the process of step S240 in FIG. 32, the description thereof is omitted.

  In addition, the other image transmission process corresponding to the process of step S288 of FIG. 36, which is performed when there are three or more images constituting the connection pre, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Note that the processing from step S501 to step S505 is the same as the processing from step S321 to step S325 in FIG. 38, and a description thereof will be omitted. Although details will be described later, in the member registration guidance process in step S503, an image selection screen for selecting an image that the user wants to view as a privilege is transmitted to the mobile phone 5.

  In step S506, the search unit 323 searches for other images belonging to (registered in) the viewing group of the image searched in the process of step S294 in FIG. For example, when the connection pre is composed of three images, the search unit 323 searches for the other two images constituting the connection pre.

  When another image belonging to the viewing group is searched, the GUI processing unit 302 generates an image selection screen including the URL of the searched image and supplies it to the communication unit 301 in step S507.

  In addition, although it demonstrated that an image selection screen was produced | generated in order to select the searched image, when there exists an image in which terminal specific information is not yet set among other searched images, the image to transmit is selected. You may make it select the image in which the terminal specific information is not set among the other images searched by the image process part 303, without making a user select.

  In step S <b> 508, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image selection screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. When the user who owns the cellular phone 5 selects an image to be transmitted, the URL of the selected image is transmitted from the cellular phone 5 to the server 2, so that the communication unit 301 receives the URL in step S 509. The unit 321 receives the URL of the image transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  Thereafter, the processing from step S510 to step S513 is performed. Since these processing are the same as the processing from step S327 to step S330 in FIG. 38, the description thereof is omitted.

  In this way, the server 2 generates an e-mail including the URL of the selected image and transmits it to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend.

  Next, the member registration guidance process corresponding to the process of step S503 of FIG. 46 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the processing from step S541 to step S544 is the same as the processing from step S361 to step S364 in FIG. 40, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In step S545, the search unit 323, in the process of step S294 in FIG. 37, includes other images (other images that form the connection pre) belonging to (registered) the browse group of the image searched from the browse ID. Search for.

  In step S <b> 546, the GUI processing unit 302 generates an image selection screen including the URL of the searched image (another image forming the connection pre) and supplies the image selection screen to the communication unit 301. In step S547, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image selection screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. When the user who owns the cellular phone 5 selects an image to be transmitted, the URL of the selected image is transmitted from the cellular phone 5 to the server 2, so that the reception of the communication unit 301 is received in step S548. The unit 321 receives the URL of the image transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  In step S549, the management unit 305 sets the terminal specifying information of the user registered as a member in the terminal specifying information included in the attribute information of the selected image (the image specified by the URL of the received image).

  In step S550, the generation unit 308 generates and generates an e-mail indicating that membership registration is completed, including the URL of the selected image, with the e-mail address of the user included in the received personal information as a destination. The sent e-mail is supplied to the communication unit 301.

  In step S551, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits an e-mail to the mobile phone 5, and the process proceeds to step S504 in FIG.

  In this way, the server 2 receives the user's personal information, performs membership registration, and transmits an e-mail including the URL of the selected image to the user's e-mail address. In addition, as a privilege for member registration, it is possible not to be able to view one image but to be able to browse all images constituting the splicing pre. In this case, the image selection screen is not transmitted to the mobile phone 5, and the terminal identification information is set for all other searched images.

  Further, a plurality of images shot in one shooting operation may be managed by a group ID that specifies a browsing group, and a browsing ID may be set for an image selected by the user. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 48 to 66, a case where captured images are managed by group ID will be described.

  In such a case, the server 2 is configured as shown in FIG. 48, for example. In FIG. 48, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 24 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  The server 2 shown in FIG. 48 is provided with a new comprehensive reception operation unit 531 in addition to the server 2 shown in FIG. The general reception operation unit 531 performs processing according to various IDs input on the general reception screen, which is the top page (website entrance) of the website for the mobile phone 5 disclosed by the server 2. Each part of the server 2 is made to perform.

  Further, the attribute information of each image recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311 further includes a friend ID set for the user's friend to view the image specified by the attribute information. Each browsing group information recorded in the browsing group information recording unit 312 further includes a group ID that identifies the browsing group.

  By the way, when the photographed image and the e-mail address are transmitted from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3, the server 2 receives the photographed image and the e-mail address, and transmits the e-mail including the URL of the general reception screen. Process.

  Hereinafter, the mail transmission process by the server 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the processing in step S581 and the processing in step S582 are the same as the processing in step S151 and the processing in step S152 in FIG.

  In step S583, the management unit 305 sets a group ID and a password for the group ID for the viewing group in which the received image is registered. That is, the management unit 305 determines a group ID that identifies a viewing group in which the received image is registered, and further determines a password for the group ID.

  Then, the management unit 305 supplies the set group ID to the browsing group information recording unit 312 and sets the supplied group ID so that the browsing group information of the browsing group specified by the group ID is included in the group ID. Let them be added. In addition, the management unit 305 supplies the password for the set group ID to the password storage unit 314 for recording.

  Thereafter, the process of step S584 and the process of step S585 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the process of step S153 and the process of step S154 in FIG. 26, the description thereof is omitted.

  In step S586, the management unit 305 generates attribute information of each received image and supplies the generated attribute information to the attribute information recording unit 311. The attribute information recording unit 311 records the attribute information supplied from the management unit 305.

  For example, when the image A and the image B constituting the splicing pre are received, the management unit 305 registers the thumbnail image b of the image B, the friend transmission flag, and the image A as the attribute information of the image A (belongs to ) Generate information indicating the viewing group.

  In step S587, the generation unit 308 generates an e-mail including the URL of the general reception screen, the set group ID, and the password for the group ID, with the received e-mail address as the destination, and sends the e-mail to the communication unit 301. Supply.

  In step S588, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the electronic mail supplied from the generation unit 308 to the destination of the electronic mail (that is, the mobile phone 5) via the network 4, and mail transmission processing Ends.

  In this way, the server 2 receives the image and the e-mail address transmitted from the photo sticker creating apparatus 3, and generates an e-mail including the URL of the general reception screen, with the received e-mail address as the destination. Then send.

  Thus, by generating and transmitting an e-mail including the URL of the general reception screen, the mobile phone 5 that has received this can access the general reception screen and display the captured image.

  When the e-mail including the URL of the general reception screen generated in this way is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5, the mobile phone 5 receives the transmitted e-mail and displays an image. An image browsing process, which is a browsing process, is performed.

  Hereinafter, the image browsing process by the mobile phone 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 621, the reception unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the email transmitted from the server 2 via the network 4 and supplies the received email to the control unit 357. The control unit 357 supplies the electronic mail supplied from the communication unit 351 to the display unit 352 and causes the display unit 352 to display the received electronic mail. Thereby, for example, the e-mail shown in FIG. 51 is displayed on the display unit 352.

  In the example of FIG. 51, the e-mail address of the mobile phone 5 is displayed as an e-mail destination, and the name of the website for the mobile phone 5 published by the server 2 is displayed as the sender.

  Also, below the website name in the figure, click the following to see the e-mail message “Connecting pre that was taken with a photo sticker machine or sending it to a friend. 3 days) ”is displayed. Furthermore, a button 551 for accessing the general reception screen is provided below the message. The button 551 displays a character “overall acceptance screen”, and the user can display the overall acceptance screen by selecting the button 551.

  In the figure, below the button 551, a group ID and a password for the group ID are displayed.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 50, when the user operates the input unit 356 and selects the button 551 for accessing the general reception screen, the image processing unit 353 displays the image on the display unit 352 in step S622. Get the URL of the general reception screen from the e-mail. For example, the button 551 in FIG. 51 is associated with the URL of the general reception screen included in the e-mail, and when the button 551 is selected, the image processing unit 353 associates the button 551 with the e-mail. Get (extract) the URL of the received general reception screen.

  When the URL of the general reception screen is acquired, the control unit 357 supplies the URL of the general reception screen acquired by the image processing unit 353 and the terminal identification information recorded in the recording unit 358 to the communication unit 351.

  In step S <b> 622, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the general reception screen and the terminal identification information supplied from the control unit 357 to the server 2. Then, since the general reception screen is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5, in step S623, the reception unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the general reception screen transmitted from the server 2, It supplies to the control part 357. The control unit 357 supplies the general reception screen to the display unit 352 for display.

  Thereby, for example, the general reception screen illustrated in FIG. 52 is displayed on the display unit 352. In the example of FIG. 52, on the general reception screen, the site name of the website published by the server 2 is displayed on the upper side in the figure, and the characters “Please enter ID” are displayed below it. Below that, an ID input field for inputting an ID is provided. In addition, below the ID input field, the characters “Please enter your password” are displayed, and below that, a password input field for entering the password for the ID is provided. The user operates the input unit 356 to input the group ID and password displayed in the e-mail shown in FIG. 51 in the ID input field and password input field.

  When the user inputs the group ID and password, the control unit 357 acquires the input group ID and password from the input unit 356 and supplies them to the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 50, in step S624, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the group ID and the password to the server 2. Then, the server 2 transmits a registered image selection screen for selecting which of the images registered in the browsing group specified by the group ID is to be an image owned by the user. .

  In step S625, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the registered image selection screen transmitted from the server 2, and the display unit 352 displays the received registered image selection screen. Thereby, for example, a registered image selection screen shown in FIG. 53 is displayed on the display unit 352.

  In the example of FIG. 53, the registered image selection screen displays a message for urging to select an image “The photographed image is as follows. Please select the image you want to own.” Further, below the message, a button 571 and a button 572 for selecting one of the images constituting the connection pre are displayed.

  Characters “right image” and “left image” are displayed on the button 571 and the button 572, respectively. Also, below the button 572, an image that can be selected by the button 572 is already registered to a friend “a friend who has taken a picture with the user” "Is displayed. The button on which this message is displayed cannot be selected by the user.

  In the registered image selection screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 54, the image is displayed under the message “Select the image you want to own.” It is also possible to display images (thumbnail images) constituting the tethering pre so that the user can select a desired image from those images. In this case, for an image that has already been selected by another user, the character “registered” is displayed in the center of the image so that the user cannot select it.

  When the user operates the input unit 356 to select an image, the image processing unit 353 selects the URL of the image according to the user's operation, and displays the URL of the selected image on the display unit 352. Obtained from the registered image selection screen and supplied to the communication unit 351.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 50, in step S <b> 626, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the image supplied from the image processing unit 353 to the server 2. Then, since the mail address input screen is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5, the reception unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the mail address input screen transmitted from the server 2 in step S627. The display unit 352 displays the received mail address input screen.

  Thereby, for example, a mail address input screen shown in FIG. 55 is displayed on the display unit 352. On the e-mail address input screen shown in FIG. 55, a message “Please enter your e-mail address” prompting you to enter an e-mail address is displayed. Under the message, a message “Sending a new browsing ID and password. Please use them in the future.” Is displayed.

  Furthermore, in the figure of the mail address input screen, an address input field for inputting the e-mail address of the user (the mobile phone 5 owned by the user) is provided on the lower side. The user operates the input unit 356 to input an e-mail address in the address input field, and selects the button displaying the letter “OK” displayed at the bottom of the e-mail address input screen in the figure. By (operation), the input e-mail address can be transmitted to the server 2.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 50, when the user's e-mail address is input, the control unit 357 acquires the input e-mail address from the input unit 356 and supplies it to the communication unit 351.

  In step S628, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the electronic mail address supplied from the control unit 357 to the server 2. When the e-mail address is transmitted, the server 2 transmits to the mobile phone 5 an e-mail including a browsing ID set for the selected image and a password for the browsing ID.

  In step S <b> 629, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the e-mail that includes the browsing ID and password transmitted from the server 2. In addition, a process selection screen for selecting a process for an image owned by the user is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5 along with the electronic mail.

  In step S630, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the process selection screen transmitted from the server 2, and the display unit 352 displays the received process selection screen. Thereby, for example, a process selection screen shown in FIG. 56 is displayed on the display unit 352.

  In the process selection screen shown in FIG. 56, a message “Please select a processing method” prompting selection of a process for an image is displayed. In order to view an image owned by the user, the message is displayed. Button 591, a button 592 for browsing thumbnail images of images that are not owned by the user (thumbnail images associated with images owned by the user) among images constituting the connection pre, and the connection pre A button 593 for transmitting an image which is not owned by the user to the user's friend among the images constituting the image is displayed.

  The button 591 and the button 592 are associated with the URL of the image (or thumbnail image) as information for specifying the image (or thumbnail image). Further, a mailer URL is associated with the button 593 as information indicating an instruction to transmit an image to the mobile phone 5 owned by a friend.

  The buttons 591 to 593 display the characters “display image for yourself”, “display image to send to friend”, and “send another image to friend”, respectively. By operating the input unit 356 and selecting (manipulating) these buttons, the user can view images or send images to friends.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 50, in step S631, the control unit 357 determines whether an instruction to display an image has been issued. For example, when the button 591 or the button 592 in FIG. 56 is selected (operated) and an image display (browsing) is instructed, the control unit 357 determines that an image display is instructed.

  If it is determined in step S631 that the display of the image has been instructed, the instructed image is browsed. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S632, and the image processing unit 353 selects the URL of the image in accordance with the user operation, The URL of the selected image is acquired from the process selection screen displayed on the display unit 352 and supplied to the communication unit 351.

  In step S <b> 633, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the image supplied from the image processing unit 353 to the server 2. Then, since the image specified by the URL of the transmitted image is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5, the reception unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the image transmitted from the server 2 in step S634. In step S635, the display unit 352 displays the received image, and the image browsing process ends.

  On the other hand, if display of an image is not instructed in step S631, the process proceeds to step S636, and the control unit 357 determines whether transmission of an image to a friend is instructed. For example, when the button 593 shown in FIG. 56 is selected and transmission of an image that is not owned by the user to the friend of the user is instructed among the images constituting the splicing pre, the control unit 357 It is determined that transmission of an image to a friend is instructed. Further, for example, when the user instructs the end of the screen display, the control unit 357 determines that the transmission of the image to the friend is not instructed.

  If it is determined in step S636 that the transmission of an image to a friend has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S637, the other image selection process is performed, and the image browsing process ends. Although the details of the other image selection process will be described later, in this other image selection process, the mobile phone 5 performs a process of transmitting the email address of the friend of the user who owns the mobile phone 5 to the server 2. .

  If it is determined in step S636 that transmission of an image to a friend has not been instructed, the mobile phone 5 does not transmit an image to the user's friend, so the mobile phone 5 performs processing according to the user's operation, The image browsing process ends.

  In this way, the mobile phone 5 receives the electronic mail transmitted from the server 2 and selects an image that the user wants to own. When the display of the selected image is instructed, the mobile phone 5 receives the selected image from the server 2 and displays it.

  In this way, by receiving the e-mail transmitted from the server 2 and selecting an image that the user wants to own, a plurality of users who have performed one shooting operation can easily select a desired image. Can be selected. Also, by receiving the selected image from the server 2 and displaying it, the user can display and enjoy the captured image on his / her mobile phone 5.

  The group ID may be used only once by each user. In this case, the user performs authentication using the browsing ID and password transmitted from the server 2 when browsing the registered image (the image owned by himself / herself).

  Next, the other image selection process corresponding to the process of step S637 of FIG. 50 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When an image that is not owned by the user is transmitted to the user's friend among the images constituting the splicing pre, in step S661, the image processing unit 353 determines the mailer's operation according to the user's operation. The URL is selected, the URL of the selected mailer is acquired from the process selection screen displayed on the display unit 352, and supplied to the communication unit 351.

  In step S662, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the mailer URL supplied from the image processing unit 353 to the server 2. Thereafter, the process from step S663 to the process of step S668 is performed. Since these processes are the same as the process from step S235 to step S240 of FIG. 32, the description thereof is omitted.

  Note that the e-mail received in the process of step S666 includes the URL of an image that is not owned by the user among the images constituting the splicing pre, which can be viewed as a member registration benefit. Yes. The user can browse the image without having to input a browsing ID or password by simply selecting the URL of the image displayed as an e-mail message.

  In this way, the mobile phone 5 acquires the URL of the mailer from the process selection screen as information for instructing transmission of the other image constituting the splicing pre to a friend (the mobile phone 5 owned by the mobile phone 5). The URL of the acquired mailer is transmitted to the server 2. In addition, the mobile phone 5 transmits the e-mail address of a friend as an image transmission destination and the e-mail address of a user as an introducer to the server 2.

  Thus, by acquiring the URL of the mailer as information for instructing transmission to the friend of the other image constituting the connection pre, and transmitting it to the server 2, the cellular phone 5 owned by the friend is sent to the server 2. An image can be transmitted to the address.

  When the browsing ID is set for the image, the user enters the browsing ID included in the e-mail received in the process of step S629 in FIG. 50 in the ID input field and password input field of the general reception screen. Images can be browsed by entering the password.

  Hereinafter, the image browsing process performed by the mobile phone 5 when a browsing ID and a password are input will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Note that the processing in step S701 and the processing in step S702 are the same as the processing in step S622 and the processing in step S623 in FIG.

  When the general acceptance screen is displayed on the display unit 352 and the user operates the input unit 356 to input the browsing ID and password, the control unit 357 acquires the input browsing ID and password from the input unit 356. To the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351.

  In step S <b> 703, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the browsing ID and password to the server 2. Then, the server 2 transmits an image selection screen for selecting an image to be processed.

  In step S704, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the image selection screen transmitted from the server 2, and the display unit 352 displays the received image selection screen. Thereby, for example, the image selection screen shown in FIG. 59 is displayed on the display unit 352.

  In the image selection screen shown in FIG. 59, a message “Select an image to be processed” prompting selection of an image to be processed is displayed. Under the message, the message is specified by the transmitted viewing ID. The image theme and shooting date are displayed.

  Further, in the figure of the image selection screen, a button 621 for selecting an image is displayed on the lower side, and the character “right image” is displayed on the button 621. The user can browse the image or send the image to a friend by selecting (operating) the button 621 by operating the input unit 356. Note that instead of the button 621, a thumbnail image of an image to be processed may be displayed.

  When the user selects the button 621, the image processing unit 353 acquires the URL of the image related to the button 621 from the image selection screen displayed on the display unit 352 and supplies the URL to the communication unit 351.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 58, in step S705, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the image supplied from the image processing unit 353 to the server 2. Thereafter, the processing from step S706 to step S713 is performed. Since these processing are the same as the processing from step S630 to step S637 in FIG. 50, the description thereof is omitted.

  In this way, the mobile phone 5 transmits the browsing ID and password to the server 2 to display an image.

  In this way, by transmitting the browsing ID and password to the server 2 and displaying the image, the user can display and enjoy the captured image on his / her mobile phone 5, and the user is satisfied. The degree can be improved.

  Further, when the user operates the input unit 356 and selects the button 593 shown in FIG. 56, the URL of the general reception screen, the user enters the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend from the server 2. Includes a friend ID set to view an image sent to a friend (a pair of pre-images that are paired with a user-owned image) and a password for that friend ID An email is sent.

  When the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend receives the e-mail transmitted from the server 2, for example, the e-mail shown in FIG. 60 is displayed on the display unit 352 of the mobile phone 5.

  In the example of FIG. 60, the e-mail address of the mobile phone 5 owned by a friend is displayed as the e-mail destination, and the name of the website for the mobile phone 5 published by the server 2 is displayed as the sender. Yes. Also, under the website name in the figure, a message telling you how to play with the images that have been made available by using the images that you can view has been taken from your friends. Line up your mobile phone with your friends and connect the images. ”Is displayed. Furthermore, below the message, the friend ID set in the image that the user's friend can view and the password for the friend ID are displayed.

  In the figure, an email address of a user as an introducer is displayed below the friend ID and password, and a button 651 for accessing the general reception screen is displayed below the email address. Is provided. By selecting this button 651, the friend can display the general reception screen and view the image.

  When a friend operates the input unit 356 to select the button 651, the mobile phone 5 owned by the friend starts an image browsing process for displaying an image that can be browsed.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 61, the image browsing process by the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend will be described. Note that the processing in step S741 and the processing in step S742 are the same as the processing in step S701 and the processing in step S702 in FIG.

  When the general reception screen is displayed on the display unit 352 and the friend of the user operates the input unit 356 and inputs the friend ID and the password for the friend ID, the control unit 357 displays the friend ID input from the input unit 356. And the password are acquired and supplied to the communication unit 351.

  In step S743, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the friend ID and password to the server 2, and then the processing in step S744 and the processing in step S745 are performed. These processing are performed in step S710 in FIG. Since this is the same as the process in step S711 and the process in step S711, the description thereof is omitted. Note that if the server 2 fails to authenticate using the friend ID and password transmitted by the mobile phone 5, the server 2 cannot browse the browsing prohibition screen or image shown in FIG. 43, for example. In step S744, the browsing prohibition screen or message transmitted from the server 2 is received and displayed on the display unit 352.

  In this way, the mobile phone 5 owned by the friend receives the image from the server 2 and displays it.

  By the way, when the URL of the general reception screen and the terminal identification information are transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, the server 2 starts an image transmission process that is a process of transmitting an image to the mobile phone 5.

  Hereinafter, image transmission processing by the server 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S 771, the reception unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the URL of the general reception screen and the terminal identification information transmitted from the mobile phone 5 and supplies them to the control unit 309. In addition, the general reception operation unit 531 supplies a pre-recorded general reception screen to the communication unit 301.

  In step S 772, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the general reception screen supplied from the general reception operation unit 531 to the mobile phone 5. Then, since the group ID, the browsing ID, or the friend ID and the password for any of them are transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, in step S773, the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 The ID and password transmitted from the mobile phone 5 are received and supplied to the control unit 309.

  In step S774, the authentication unit 307 authenticates the received ID and password using the password associated with the ID (group ID, browsing ID, or friend ID) recorded in the password storage unit 314. .

  In step S775, the general reception operation unit 531 determines whether a group ID has been received. That is, the general reception operation unit 531 determines whether or not the received ID is a group ID.

  If it is determined in step S775 that the group ID has been received, the process proceeds to step S776, and the server 2 performs browsing image registration processing. Although details of the browse image registration process will be described later, in this browse image registration process, the server 2 sets a browse ID and a password for the image selected by the user. When the browse image registration process is performed, the process proceeds to step S781.

  If it is determined in step S775 that the group ID has not been received, the process advances to step S777, and the general reception operation unit 531 determines whether a browsing ID has been received. That is, the general reception operation unit 531 determines whether or not the received ID is a browsing ID.

  If it is determined in step S777 that the browsing ID has been received, the process proceeds to step S778, and the search unit 323 of the image processing unit 303 refers to the attribute information of each image recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311. The image specified by the received browsing ID is searched.

  In addition, the GUI processing unit 302 generates an image selection screen including the URL of the image specified by the received browsing ID, and supplies the image selection screen to the communication unit 301. In step S 779, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image selection screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. Thereby, for example, the image selection screen shown in FIG. 59 is transmitted to the mobile phone 5.

  When the image selection screen is transmitted, the URL of the image specified by the browsing ID is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, so in step S780 the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 The URL of the image transmitted from the telephone 5 is received and supplied to the control unit 309.

  When the URL of the image is received in step S780 or the browse image registration process is performed in step S776, the GUI processing unit 302 displays the URL of the image specified by the browse ID and the thumbnail associated with the image. A process selection screen including the URL of the image and the URL of the mailer is generated and supplied to the communication unit 301. Here, the thumbnail image associated with the image specified by the browsing ID is a thumbnail image indicated by information indicating the thumbnail image included in the attribute information of the image specified by the browsing ID. In other words, the thumbnail image of the other image that forms a pair with the image specified by the browsing ID among the images constituting the connection pre.

  In step S <b> 781, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the process selection screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. Thereby, for example, the process selection screen shown in FIG. 56 is transmitted to the mobile phone 5.

  When the process selection screen is transmitted, the URL of the image (or thumbnail image) included in the process selection screen or the URL of the mailer is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2.

  In step S <b> 782, the control unit 309 determines whether or not the mobile phone 5 has instructed transmission of an image to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user. That is, the control unit 309 determines whether an image URL has been transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  If it is determined in step S782 that an instruction to transmit an image has been given, the process proceeds to step S783, and the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the URL of the image (or thumbnail image) transmitted from the mobile phone 5. Then, the data is supplied to the control unit 309. Further, the image processing unit 303 acquires an image from the image storage unit 310 based on the URL of the received image and supplies the acquired image to the communication unit 301.

  In step S784, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image (image or thumbnail image) supplied from the image processing unit 303 to the mobile phone 5 via the network 4, and the image transmission process ends.

  If it is determined in step S782 that an instruction to transmit an image has not been given, the process proceeds to step S785. In step S785, the control unit 309 determines whether or not the mobile phone 5 has instructed transmission of an image to a user's friend. That is, the control unit 309 determines whether or not a mailer URL is transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  If it is determined in step S785 that an instruction to transmit an image to a user's friend has been given, that is, if a mailer URL has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S786. In step S786, the server 2 performs the other image transmission process, and the image transmission process ends. Although details of the other image transmission process will be described later, in this other image transmission process, the server 2 displays an image (the other image constituting the splicing pre) as a pair of images specified by the browsing ID. To another mobile phone 5 owned by a friend.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S785 that transmission of an image to a friend has not been instructed, the user's mobile phone 5 has not instructed transmission of an image to the user or a friend. The server 2 performs processing in response to the request from the mobile phone 5, and the image transmission processing ends.

  If it is determined in step S777 that no browsing ID has been received, that is, if the received ID is a friend ID, the process proceeds to step S787. In step S787, the server 2 performs a friend image transmission process, and the image transmission process ends. Although details of the friend image transmission process will be described later, in this friend image transmission process, the server 2 transmits an image in which a friend ID is set to the mobile phone 5.

  In this way, when the server 2 is instructed to transmit an image, the server 2 transmits the image instructed to be transmitted to the mobile phone 5.

  In this way, by transmitting an image to the mobile phone 5, the owner of the mobile phone 5 can display an image constituting a connection pre owned by the mobile phone 5 owned by the owner of the mobile phone 5. it can. Then, the portable phone 5 displaying the image and the portable phone 5 displaying the other image of the connection pre owned by the friend can be arranged side by side to complete one connection pre and play. Satisfaction can be improved.

  Next, the browsing image registration process corresponding to the process of step S776 in FIG. 62 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  In step S821, the search unit 323 searches the browsing group information including the received group ID from the browsing group information recorded in the browsing group information recording unit 312, and is indicated by the group ID. Search for reading groups.

  In step S822, the search unit 323 refers to the attribute information recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311, and the browsing ID is not set among the images belonging to the registered browsing group (registered). Search for an image. When an image for which no browsing ID is set is searched, the GUI processing unit 302 generates a registered image selection screen including the URL of the searched image for which no browsing ID is set, and supplies it to the communication unit 301. .

  Note that one image can be owned by a predetermined number of users, and the GUI processing unit 302 has the image owner's image out of the registered (registered) browsing groups. You may make it produce | generate the registration image selection screen containing the URL of the image in which the number has not reached the predetermined number.

  In step S823, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the registered image selection screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. For example, the transmission unit 322 transmits the registered image selection screen illustrated in FIG.

  When the registered image selection screen is transmitted, the URL of the image included in the registered image selection screen is transmitted from the mobile phone 5, so in step S824, the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 The image URL transmitted from the model telephone 5 is received and supplied to the control unit 309. Also, the GUI processing unit 302 supplies a pre-recorded mail address input screen to the communication unit 301.

  In step S825, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the mail address input screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. For example, the transmission unit 322 transmits the mail address input screen illustrated in FIG.

  When the e-mail address input screen is transmitted, the e-mail address of the user's mobile phone 5 is transmitted from the mobile phone 5, so in step S826, the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the e-mail address. The electronic mail address transmitted from the telephone 5 is received and supplied to the control unit 309.

  In step S827, the management unit 305 sets a viewing ID and a password for the viewing ID for the image specified by the URL of the received image. When the management unit 305 sets the browsing ID and password for the image, the management unit 305 supplies the password corresponding to the set browsing ID to the password storage unit 314 via the control unit 309 for recording. Further, the management unit 305 updates the attribute information by adding information indicating the set browsing ID to the attribute information of the image recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311.

  Further, the distribution unit 304 associates the image viewing ID with the received email address, and supplies the email address associated with the viewing ID to the email address storage unit 313 for recording.

  In step S828, the management unit 305 updates the attribute information so that the terminal identification information received in the process of step S771 in FIG. 62 is included in the attribute information of the image selected by the user and set with the viewing ID. Thus (by adding the terminal identification information to the attribute information), the received terminal identification information is set as the terminal identification information of the image selected by the user.

  In step S829, the generation unit 308 generates an e-mail including the set browsing ID and a password for the browsing ID, which is addressed to the e-mail address of the received user (the portable phone 5 owned by the user). To the communication unit 301.

  In step S830, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the electronic mail supplied from the generation unit 308 to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user, and the process proceeds to step S781 in FIG.

  In this way, the server 2 causes the user to select a desired image from images that do not have a browsing ID set among images belonging to the browsing group indicated by the group ID.

  As described above, by causing the user to select a desired image from images that do not have a browsing ID set among the images belonging to the browsing group indicated by the group ID, a plurality of images that have been subjected to one shooting operation are selected. Each user can easily select an image he / she wants to own.

  Next, the other image transmission process corresponding to the process of step S786 of FIG. 62 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 861, the reception unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the mailer URL transmitted from the mobile phone 5 and supplies the mailer URL to the control unit 309. When the mailer URL is received, the generation unit 308 activates the mailer.

  Thereafter, the process of step S862 and the process of step S863 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the process of step S321 and the process of step S322 of FIG. 38, description thereof is omitted.

  When it is determined in step S863 that the friend transmission flag is set, the process proceeds to step S864, and the server 2 performs a member registration guidance process. Although details of the member registration guidance process will be described later, in this member registration guidance process, the server 2 prompts the user for member registration and performs a process of registering the applicant as a member. Thereafter, the processing from step S865 to step S867 is performed. Since these processing are the same as the processing from step S324 to step S326 in FIG. 38, the description thereof is omitted.

  In step S868, the management unit 305 sets a friend ID and a password for the friend ID in the other searched image (an image paired with the image specified by the browsing ID). Also, the management unit 305 supplies the password for the set friend ID to the password storage unit 314 for recording. Furthermore, the management unit 305 adds information indicating the set friend ID to the attribute information of the other image (image in which the friend ID is set) recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311 and adds the attribute. Update information.

  Thereafter, the process of step S869 and the process of step S870 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the process of step S327 and the process of step S328 in FIG. 38, description thereof is omitted.

  In step S871, the generation unit 308 sets the e-mail address of the user who is the introducer, the URL of the general reception screen, set to the e-mail address of the received friend (the portable phone 5 owned by the friend). An e-mail including a friend ID and a password for the friend ID is generated. The generation unit 308 supplies the generated electronic mail to the communication unit 301.

  In step S872, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the e-mail supplied from the generation unit 308 to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend, and the process ends.

  In this way, the server 2 searches for an image that forms a connection pre and is paired with an image owned by the user, generates an e-mail including the friend ID and password of the searched image, and the user. It is transmitted to the mobile phone 5 owned by a friend.

  In this way, an image that is paired with an image owned by the user that constitutes the connection pre is searched, and an e-mail including the friend ID and password of the searched image is generated to be owned by the user's friend. By transmitting to the mobile phone 5, the user can enjoy the pre-connection with more friends, and the user's satisfaction can be improved.

  Next, the member registration guidance process corresponding to the process of step S864 of FIG. 64 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the processing from step S911 to step S915 is the same as the processing from step S361 to step S365 in FIG.

  In step S916, the generation unit 308 completes the membership registration including the user's e-mail address included in the received personal information as the destination and the URL of the other image (the image searched in the process of step S915). An e-mail to that effect is generated, and the generated e-mail is supplied to the communication unit 301.

  In step S917, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the email supplied from the generation unit 308 to the email address of the user, and the process proceeds to step S865 in FIG.

  In this way, the server 2 receives the user's personal information, performs membership registration, and transmits an e-mail containing the URL of the other image to the user's e-mail address.

  In this way, the number of members can be increased by allowing the registered user to view the other image as a privilege, and the administrator of the server 2 refers to the member's personal information. Profitability can be improved.

  Next, a friend image transmission process corresponding to the process of step S787 of FIG. 62 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 941, the search unit 323 of the image processing unit 303 refers to the attribute information of each image recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311, and receives the received image (specified by the friend ID). Image).

  In step S942, the image processing unit 303 determines whether or not the received terminal identification information is set as the terminal identification information of the searched image. For example, when the terminal attribute information for specifying the mobile phone 5 is included in the attribute information of the image searched by the search unit 323, the image processing unit 303 determines that the terminal information is set as the terminal information of the image. To do.

  If it is determined in step S942 that it is not set as the terminal identification information of the image, the process proceeds to step S943, and the search unit 323 refers to the attribute information recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311 and the friend ID is determined. Search for other images (registered) that belong to the viewing group in which the set image is registered.

  In step S944, the image processing unit 303 determines whether there is an image in which the received terminal identification information is set among the other images that belong to the viewing group that have been searched. If it is determined in step S944 that there is no image in which the terminal identification information is set, the owner of the mobile phone 5 that has transmitted the friend ID does not own the image registered in the viewing group. The process proceeds to step S945.

  If it is determined in step S942 that the terminal identification information is set, the image in which the friend ID is set is the image of the user who owns the mobile phone 5 that has transmitted the friend ID. Proceed to step S945.

  If it is determined in step S944 that there is no image for which terminal identification information is set, or if it is determined in step S942 that the terminal identification information is set, the image processing unit 303 searches for the friend ID that has been searched. Are set from the image storage unit 310 and supplied to the communication unit 301. In step S945, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image supplied from the image processing unit 303 to the mobile phone 5, and the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S944 that there is an image in which the terminal identification information is set, the user who owns the mobile phone 5 that has transmitted the friend ID, Since the user is the owner of the image paired with the image for which the ID is set (since the user introduced himself as a friend), the GUI processing unit 302 displays the pre-recorded browsing prohibition screen on the communication unit 301. Then, the process proceeds to step S946.

  In step S946, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the browsing prohibition screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5, and the process ends.

  In this way, when the server 2 receives the friend ID from the mobile phone 5, the server 2 transmits an image in which the friend ID is set to the mobile phone 5.

  As described above, by transmitting the image in which the friend ID is set to the mobile phone 5, the friend of the user who is not performing the photographing work can also display and enjoy the image.

  In addition, even when the splicing pre is composed of three or more images, a plurality of images shot by one shooting operation are managed by a group ID that specifies a viewing group, and the images selected by the user are used. A browsing ID can be set. Hereinafter, the other image selection process corresponding to the process of step S637 of FIG. 50 performed in such a case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Note that the processing from step S971 to step S975 is the same as the processing from step S661 to step S665 in FIG.

  When personal information is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, an image selection screen for selecting an image that can be viewed by the user is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5 as a privilege. In step S976, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the image selection screen transmitted from the server 2, and the display unit 352 displays the received image selection screen.

  When the user selects an image he / she wants to browse while viewing the image selection screen, the image processing unit 353 acquires the URL of the selected image from the image selection screen displayed on the display unit 352 and performs communication. To the unit 351.

  In step S977, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the selected image supplied from the image processing unit 353 to the server 2. Thereafter, in step S978, the receiving unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the e-mail indicating that the member registration is completed transmitted from the server 2, and proceeds to step S979.

  When it is determined in step S978 that an e-mail has been received or in step S973 that the member registration screen has not been received, an image for selecting an image to be transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5 to a friend. Since the selection screen is transmitted, in step S979, the reception unit 371 of the communication unit 351 receives the image selection screen transmitted from the server 2, and the display unit 352 displays the received image selection screen. When the user selects an image to be transmitted, the image processing unit 353 acquires the URL of the selected image from the image selection screen displayed on the display unit 352 and supplies the URL to the communication unit 351.

  In step S980, the transmission unit 372 of the communication unit 351 transmits the URL of the selected image supplied from the image processing unit 353 to the server 2. Thereafter, the process of step S981 and the process of step S982 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the process of step S667 and the process of step S668 of FIG. 57, description thereof is omitted.

  In this way, the mobile phone 5 selects an image to be transmitted to a friend (the mobile phone 5 owned by the user) from a plurality of images, and transmits the URL of the selected image to the server 2.

  In addition, the other image transmission process corresponding to the process of step S786 of FIG. 62 performed when there are three or more images constituting the connection pre will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Note that the processing from step S1011 to step S1013 is the same as the processing from step S861 to step S863 in FIG. 64, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In step S1014, the server 2 performs member registration guidance processing. The details of the member registration guiding process will be described later. In this member registration guiding process, the server 2 prompts the user for member registration and performs a process of registering a desired person as a member. Thereafter, the process of step S1015 and the process of step S1016 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the process of step S865 and the process of step S866 of FIG. 64, description thereof is omitted.

  In step S1017, the search unit 323 searches for other images belonging to (registered in) the viewing group of the image specified by the viewing ID. In step S <b> 1018, the GUI processing unit 302 generates an image selection screen including the URL of another searched image and supplies the image selection screen to the communication unit 301.

  In step S <b> 1019, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image selection screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. When the user who owns the mobile phone 5 selects an image to be transmitted, the URL of the selected image is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2, so that the communication unit 301 receives it in step S 1020. The unit 321 receives the URL of the image transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  Thereafter, the processing from step S1021 to step S1025 is performed. Since these processing are the same as the processing from step S868 to step S872 in FIG. 64, description thereof is omitted.

  In this manner, the server 2 generates an e-mail including the friend ID and password of another image constituting the splicing preselected by the user, and sends it to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend. Send.

  Next, the member registration guidance process corresponding to the process of step S1014 of FIG. 68 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the processing from step S1051 to step S1054 is the same as the processing from step S911 to step S914 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1055, the search unit 323 searches for another image belonging to (registered in) the viewing group of the image specified by the viewing ID.

  In step S <b> 1056, the GUI processing unit 302 generates an image selection screen including the URL of another searched image and supplies the image selection screen to the communication unit 301. In step S <b> 1057, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image selection screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. When the user who owns the mobile phone 5 selects an image to be transmitted, the URL of the selected image is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2. The unit 321 receives the URL of the image transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  In step S1059, the generation unit 308 generates an e-mail to the effect that the member registration has been completed, including the user's e-mail address included in the received personal information and including the URL of the other selected image. The generated electronic mail is supplied to the communication unit 301.

  In step S1060, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits an e-mail to the mobile phone 5, and the process proceeds to step S1015 in FIG.

  In this way, the server 2 receives the user's personal information, performs membership registration, and transmits an e-mail including the URL of the selected image to the user's e-mail address.

  In the above, the friend ID is set to the image (the image paired with the user image) viewed by the user's friend, and the image is browsed according to the friend ID and the password. Instead, a new friend browsing ID (hereinafter also referred to as a receiving browsing ID as appropriate) may be set in the image owned by the user.

  In this case, the user's friend browses the image by operating the portable telephone 5 owned by the user and causing the server 2 to transmit the accepting browsing ID and password.

  Therefore, when the group ID and password are input on the general reception screen, the mobile phone 5 performs the same process as the image browsing process described with reference to FIG. In the image browsing process (other image selection process), when the user's own e-mail address is input as the e-mail address of the user's friend (image destination), the mobile phone 5 In addition, a message indicating that the other image cannot be transmitted may be transmitted.

  Further, in the case of inputting a browsing ID (or receiving browsing ID) and a password on the general reception screen, the processing in step S704 of the image browsing processing described with reference to FIG. And the process except the process of step S705 is performed. In addition, in the image browsing process (other image selection process) in the case of inputting the browsing ID, when the user's own e-mail address is input as the e-mail address of the user's friend (image transmission destination), the server A message indicating that the other image cannot be transmitted may be transmitted from 2 to the mobile phone 5.

  Next, an image transmission process performed by the server 2 in the case where a viewing ID for acceptance is set for an image owned by the user will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. Note that the processing from step S1091 to step S1097 is the same as the processing from step S771 to step S776 in FIG.

  In addition, in the browse image registration process in step S1097, the image selected by the user is provided with one acceptance browse ID in addition to the browse ID for the user to browse the image (additional). ) At this time, the acceptance browsing ID is, for example, an initial setting value “0000” indicating that it has not yet been set (not used).

  If it is determined in step S1095 that the group ID has not been received, that is, if a browsing ID (or a browsing ID for acceptance) has been received, the process proceeds to step S1096, and the search unit 323 performs attribute information recording unit 311. Referring to the attribute information of each image recorded in the image, the image (image set with the browsing ID) specified by the received browsing ID (or receiving browsing ID) is searched.

  When an image is retrieved in step S1096 or a browse image registration process is performed in step S1097, the GUI processing unit 302 displays the URL of the image specified by the browse ID (or the browse ID for acceptance), the image A processing selection screen including the URL of the thumbnail image associated with the URL and the URL of the mailer is generated and supplied to the communication unit 301.

  In step S <b> 1098, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the process selection screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5. When the process selection screen is transmitted, the URL of the image (or thumbnail image) included in the process selection screen or the URL of the mailer is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 to the server 2.

  In step S <b> 1099, the control unit 309 determines whether the mobile phone 5 has instructed transmission of an image to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user. That is, the control unit 309 determines whether an image URL has been transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  If it is determined in step S1099 that image transmission is not instructed, the process proceeds to step S1100, and the control unit 309 determines whether the portable telephone 5 has instructed transmission of an image to a friend of the user. Determine whether. That is, the control unit 309 determines whether or not a mailer URL is transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

  If it is determined in step S1100 that an instruction to send an image to a friend of the user has been given, that is, if a mailer URL has been sent, the process proceeds to step S1101. In step S1101, the server 2 performs the other image transmission process, and the image transmission process ends. Although the details of the other image transmission process will be described later, in this other image transmission process, the server 2 sets a reception ID for reception in the image specified by the browsing ID, and receives the browsing ID and password for reception. Is transmitted to another mobile phone 5 owned by a friend of the user. In addition, although receiving browsing ID is set to an image, the terminal specific information of the portable telephone 5 which browses an image using receiving browsing ID is not set.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1100 that transmission of an image to a friend has not been instructed, the user's mobile phone 5 has not instructed transmission of an image to the user or a friend. The server 2 performs processing in response to the request from the mobile phone 5, and the image transmission processing ends.

  If it is determined in step S1099 that image transmission has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S1102, and the reception unit 321 of the communication unit 301 transmits the URL of the image (or thumbnail image) transmitted from the mobile phone 5. Is supplied to the control unit 309.

  In step S1103, the image processing unit 303 determines whether or not the received terminal identification information is set as terminal identification information of an image identified by the browsing ID. For example, when the terminal identification information for identifying the mobile phone 5 is included in the attribute information of the image identified by the browsing ID, the image processing unit 303 determines that the terminal identification information is set as the terminal identification information for the image. .

  If it is determined in step S1103 that the image is set as the terminal identification information of the image, the image specified by the browsing ID (image specified by the URL of the image) instructed to be transmitted is stored in the mobile phone 5. Since it is an image owned by the user who is the owner (or a thumbnail image of a pair of images), the image processing unit 303 selects an image specified by the URL of the image (or thumbnail image) as an image storage unit. Acquired from 310 and supplied to the communication unit 301, the process proceeds to step S1104.

  In step S1104, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the image supplied from the image processing unit 303 to the mobile phone 5, and the image transmission process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1103 that the terminal identification information is not set as an image, the process proceeds to step S1105, and the search unit 323 refers to the attribute information recorded in the attribute information recording unit 311. Then, other images belonging to (registered with) the browsing group in which the image with the browsing ID is registered are searched.

  In step S <b> 1106, the image processing unit 303 determines whether there is an image in which the received terminal identification information is set among the other images that belong to the viewing group that have been searched. If it is determined in step S1106 that there is no image in which the terminal identification information is set, the owner of the mobile phone 5 that has transmitted the viewing ID (accepting viewing ID) is registered in the viewing group. The image processing unit 303 acquires, from the image storage unit 310, other images belonging to the viewing group in which the image specified by the URL of the image is registered. To the communication unit 301, and the process proceeds to step S1107.

  In step S1107, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits another image supplied from the image processing unit 303 to the mobile phone 5, and the image transmission process ends.

  If it is determined in step S1106 that there is an image for which terminal identification information is set, the owner of the mobile phone 5 that has transmitted the browsing ID (accepting browsing ID) configures the connection pre The GUI processing unit 302 prohibits the browsing that is recorded in advance because it is the owner of the image paired with the image for which the browsing ID is set (the user introduced himself / herself as a friend). The screen is supplied to the communication unit 301, and the process proceeds to step S1108.

  In step S1108, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the browsing prohibition screen supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 to the mobile phone 5, and the image transmission process ends.

  In this way, when the server 2 is instructed to transmit an image, the server 2 transmits the image instructed to be transmitted to the mobile phone 5.

  In this way, by transmitting an image to the mobile phone 5, the owner of the mobile phone 5 can display an image constituting a connection pre owned by the mobile phone 5 owned by the owner of the mobile phone 5. it can. Then, the portable phone 5 displaying the image and the portable phone 5 displaying the other image of the connection pre owned by the friend can be arranged side by side to complete one connection pre and play. Satisfaction can be improved.

  Next, the other image transmission process corresponding to the process of step S1101 of FIG. 70 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 1141, the receiving unit 321 of the communication unit 301 receives the URL of the mailer transmitted from the mobile phone 5 and supplies it to the control unit 309. When the mailer URL is received, the generation unit 308 activates the mailer.

  In step S1142, the image processing unit 303 determines whether or not the receiving browsing ID is set to an image specified by the received browsing ID (or receiving browsing ID). For example, when the accepting browse ID included in the attribute information of the image specified by the received browse ID is the initial setting value “0000”, the image processing unit 303 sets the accepting browse ID. Judge that it is not. If it is determined in step S1142 that an acceptance browsing ID is not set, the process proceeds to step S1148.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1142 that an acceptance browsing ID has been set, the process proceeds to step S1143, and the image processing unit 303 identifies the received terminal identification information based on the browsing ID. It is determined whether it is set as the terminal identification information of the image to be processed.

  If it is determined in step S1143 that the terminal identification information is not set, the owner of the portable telephone 5 that has transmitted the browsing ID (accepting browsing ID) displays the image (viewing ID) that forms the connection pre- The GUI processing unit 302 supplies a pre-recorded message indicating that the other image cannot be transmitted (a screen on which is displayed) to the communication unit 301. Then, the process proceeds to step S1144.

  In step S1144, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits a message indicating that the other image supplied from the GUI processing unit 302 cannot be transmitted to the mobile phone 5, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1143 that the terminal identification information is set, the process advances to step S1145, and the management unit 305 determines whether the user who owns the mobile phone 5 is registered as a member. Determine. If it is determined in step S1145 that the member is registered, the process proceeds to step S1148.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1145 that the member is not registered, the process proceeds to step S1146. Note that the processing in step S1146 and the processing in step S1147 are the same as the processing in step S864 and the processing in step S865 in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S1147 that the member has been registered, or if it is determined in step S1142 that an acceptance browsing ID has not been set, in step S1148, the management unit 305 specifies the received browsing ID. An acceptance browsing ID and a password for the acceptance browsing ID are set in the image to be received. In addition, the management unit 305 supplies the password for the set acceptance browsing ID to the password storage unit 314 for recording.

  Thereafter, the process of step S1149 and the process of step S1150 are performed. Since these processes are the same as the process of step S869 and the process of step S870 in FIG. 64, description thereof is omitted.

  In step S1151, the generation unit 308 sets the e-mail address of the user who is the introducer, the URL of the general reception screen, set to the e-mail address of the received friend (the mobile phone 5 owned by the friend). An e-mail including a viewing ID for acceptance and a password for the viewing ID for acceptance is generated. The generation unit 308 supplies the generated electronic mail to the communication unit 301.

  In step S1152, the transmission unit 322 of the communication unit 301 transmits the e-mail supplied from the generation unit 308 to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend, and the process ends.

  In this way, the server 2 sets an acceptance browsing ID used by the user's friend to an image owned by the user, and generates an email including the acceptance browsing ID and password. To the mobile phone 5 owned by the friend of the user.

  In this way, an acceptance browsing ID used by a friend of the user is set in an image owned by the user, and an email including the acceptance ID and password for acceptance is generated to generate the friend of the user. By transmitting to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user, the user can enjoy the pre-connection with more friends, and the satisfaction of the user can be improved.

  As described above, the user can generate an e-mail including the URL of an image that is not owned by the user, which constitutes the connecting pre, and send it to the mobile phone 5 owned by the user's friend. You can connect with more friends and enjoy playing, and improve your satisfaction.

  In the above description, an e-mail including an image URL is transmitted from the server 2 to the mobile phone 5. However, an e-mail including the image itself may be transmitted. . In addition, when an e-mail including an image is transmitted, when an image is selected, the image is enlarged to the size of the display screen of the display unit 352, or a thumbnail image is selected. The other image may be instructed to be transmitted (for example, a mailer URL is transmitted). By doing so, the user can easily confirm what kind of image he / she has received and what kind of image is transmitted to a friend.

  Further, when an image is transmitted to a friend (the portable phone 5 owned by the user), the image is directly transmitted to the portable phone 5 owned by the friend by wireless communication such as infrared communication without using the server 2. May be. As described above, the mobile phones 5 directly transmit and receive images, so that the user can more easily transmit images to friends.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, various programs can be installed by installing a mobile phone, a computer, or various programs installed in dedicated hardware. For example, a general-purpose personal computer that can execute the function is installed from the program recording medium.

  FIG. 72 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a personal computer that executes the above-described series of processing by a program. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 811 of the personal computer 801 executes various processes according to a program recorded in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 812 or a recording unit 818. The RAM 813 appropriately stores programs executed by the CPU 811 and data. The CPU 811, ROM 812, and RAM 813 are connected to each other via a bus 814.

  An input / output interface 815 is also connected to the CPU 811 via the bus 814. The input / output interface 815 is connected to an input unit 816 including a keyboard, mouse, microphone, and the like, and an output unit 817 including a display, a speaker, and the like. The CPU 811 executes various processes in response to commands input from the input unit 816. Then, the CPU 811 outputs the processing result to the output unit 817.

  A recording unit 818 connected to the input / output interface 815 includes, for example, a hard disk, and records programs executed by the CPU 811 and various data. A communication unit 819 communicates with an external device via a network such as the Internet or a local area network.

  Further, a program may be acquired via the communication unit 819 and recorded in the recording unit 818.

  A drive 820 connected to the input / output interface 815 drives a removable medium 831 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and drives the program or data recorded therein. Get etc. The acquired program and data are transferred to the recording unit 818 as necessary and recorded.

  As shown in FIG. 72, a program recording medium that stores a program that is installed in a computer and can be executed by the computer includes a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (including a CD-ROM and a DVD), A removable medium 831 which is a package medium made of a semiconductor memory or the like; a ROM 812 in which a program is temporarily or permanently stored; a hard disk which constitutes the recording unit 818; The program is stored in the program recording medium using a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting via a communication unit 819 that is an interface such as a router or a modem as necessary. Done.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program stored in the program recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series in the order described, but is not necessarily performed in time series. Or the process performed separately is also included.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses. In the above description, the configuration described as one device may be divided and configured as a plurality of devices. Conversely, the configurations described above as a plurality of devices may be combined into a single device. Of course, configurations other than those described above may be added to the configuration of each device. Furthermore, if the configuration and operation of the entire system are substantially the same, a part of the configuration of a certain device may be included in the configuration of another device.

It is a figure which shows the example of one Embodiment of the photograph sticker providing system to which this invention is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a photograph sticker production apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the example of installation of a photograph sticker production apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the front of the 1st unit of a photograph sticker production apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the right side surface of the 1st unit of a photograph sticker production apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the back surface of the 1st unit of a photograph sticker production apparatus. It is a figure explaining a user's movement pattern. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structural example of a photograph sticker production apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structural example of an imaging | photography process part. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structural example of an imaging | photography part. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structural example of an edit process part. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structural example of a 1st editing part. It is a flowchart explaining a photograph sticker creation game process. It is a figure which shows the example of an edit screen. It is a flowchart explaining an imaging process. It is a flowchart explaining a connection photography process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the imaging | photography monitor. It is a figure which shows an example of a preview image. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the monitor for captured image display. 6 is a flowchart for explaining print processing. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a transmission selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an e-mail address input screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a model selection screen and a communication company selection screen. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a server. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a portable telephone. It is a flowchart explaining a mail transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining an image browsing process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an email. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of browsing ID input screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an image. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a thumbnail image. It is a flowchart explaining the other image selection process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a member registration screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an email. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an e-mail address input screen. It is a flowchart explaining an image transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining ID authentication processing. It is a flowchart explaining the other image transmission process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an email. It is a flowchart explaining a member registration induction | guidance | derivation process. It is a flowchart explaining a friend browsing process. It is a flowchart explaining a friend image transmission process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a browsing prohibition screen. It is a flowchart explaining the other image selection process. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an image selection screen. It is a flowchart explaining the other image transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining a member registration induction | guidance | derivation process. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of a server. It is a flowchart explaining a mail transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining the image browsing process in the case of inputting group ID. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an email. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a comprehensive reception screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a registration image selection screen. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of a registration image selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an e-mail address input screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a process selection screen. It is a flowchart explaining the other image selection process. It is a flowchart explaining the image browsing process in the case of inputting browsing ID. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an image selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an email. It is a flowchart explaining the image browsing process in the case of inputting friend ID. It is a flowchart explaining an image transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining a browsing image registration process. It is a flowchart explaining the other image transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining a member registration induction | guidance | derivation process. It is a flowchart explaining a friend image transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining the other image selection process. It is a flowchart explaining the other image transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining a member registration induction | guidance | derivation process. It is a flowchart explaining an image transmission process. It is a flowchart explaining the other image transmission process. And FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photo sticker provision system 2 Server 3 Photo sticker production apparatus 5-1 thru | or 5-3, 5 Cellular phone 84 Printing part 85 Subsequent customer service part 93 Shooting processing part 95 Print processing part 102 Removable media 301 Communication part 303 Image processing part 304 Distribution unit 305 Management unit 308 Generation unit 310 Image storage unit 321 Reception unit 322 Transmission unit 323 Search unit 351 Communication unit 353 Image processing unit 357 Control unit 371 Reception unit 372 Transmission unit 531 General reception operation unit 801 Personal computer 811 CPU
812 ROM
813 RAM
818 Recording unit 831 Removable media

Claims (9)

As a photo sticker creation game, the user is allowed to perform a shooting operation with the user as a subject, and an editing input operation to input editing information to the user's image obtained by the shooting operation, In the photograph sticker creating apparatus and the photograph sticker creating apparatus that print the obtained image of the edited user on a predetermined sticker sheet, discharge the printed sticker sheet, and provide the photograph sticker to the user. In the image providing apparatus for providing the edited user image to the first mobile phone owned by the user, and the photo sticker providing system including the first mobile phone,
The image providing device includes:
Recording means for recording a linked image in which a plurality of images are linked so as to be displayed as a single image, which is the edited image of the user created in the photo sticker creating apparatus When,
Transmission of the first information specifying the first image constituting the connected image and the second image constituting the connected image to the second mobile phone different from the first mobile phone. Generating means for generating first data including second information indicating an instruction;
First transmission means for transmitting the first data to the first mobile phone;
First receiving means for receiving the first information or the second information transmitted from the first mobile phone; and
The generation unit generates second data including third information for specifying the second image when the second information is received from the first mobile phone.
The first transmitting means is configured to transmit the first image to the first mobile phone when the first information is received, and to be generated when the second information is received. Sending the second data to the second mobile phone;
The first portable telephone is
Second receiving means for receiving the first data;
Selecting means for selecting the first information or the second information included in the first data in response to an operation of the user;
Second transmission means for transmitting the selected first information or the second information to the image providing device;
With
The photo sticker providing system, wherein the second receiving means further receives the first image transmitted from the image providing device. An image transmitted from an image providing device that provides an image of the user, created in a photo sticker creating device that provides the user with a sticker sheet on which an image of the user as a subject is printed, as a photo sticker. In the mobile phone owned by the user to receive,
A first image that is a connected image in which a plurality of images are connected so as to be displayed as one image, and that is an edited user image created by the photo sticker creating apparatus. Data including first information for specifying an image of the second image and second information indicating an instruction to transmit the second image constituting the connected image to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone. Receiving means for receiving,
Selection means for selecting the first information or the second information included in the data in response to an operation of the user;
Transmitting means for transmitting the selected first information or the second information to the image providing device;
The portable telephone is configured to further receive the first image transmitted from the image providing apparatus that has received the first information. The selection means selects second information indicating an instruction to transmit one second image of the plurality of second images to the other mobile phone according to the operation of the user. The mobile phone according to claim 2. The data further includes third information for specifying a thumbnail image of the second image,
The portable telephone according to claim 2, wherein the selection unit selects the third information included in the data. The portable telephone according to claim 2, wherein the transmission means further transmits an e-mail address of the other portable telephone as a transmission destination of the second image to the image providing apparatus. The mobile phone according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying the first image. Based on the data, a screen displaying a message for transmitting the first image to the mobile phone and a message for transmitting the second image to the other mobile phone is displayed. The mobile phone according to claim 2, further comprising display means. An image transmitted from an image providing device that provides an image of the user, created in a photo sticker creating device that provides the user with a sticker sheet on which an image of the user as a subject is printed, as a photo sticker. In the method of receiving an image of a mobile phone owned by the user,
A first image that is a connected image in which a plurality of images are connected so as to be displayed as one image, and that is an edited user image created by the photo sticker creating apparatus. Data including first information for specifying an image of the second image and second information indicating an instruction to transmit the second image constituting the connected image to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone. Receive
In response to the user's operation, select the first information or the second information included in the data,
Transmitting the selected first information or the second information to the image providing device;
An image receiving method including a step of receiving the first image transmitted from the image providing apparatus that has received the first information. An image transmitted from an image providing device that provides an image of the user, created in a photo sticker creating device that provides the user with a sticker sheet on which an image of the user as a subject is printed, as a photo sticker. A program for causing a mobile phone owned by the user to execute reception processing to be received,
A first image that is a connected image in which a plurality of images are connected so as to be displayed as one image, and that is an edited user image created by the photo sticker creating apparatus. Data including first information for specifying an image of the second image and second information indicating an instruction to transmit the second image constituting the connected image to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone. Receive
In response to the user's operation, select the first information or the second information included in the data,
Transmitting the selected first information or the second information to the image providing device;
A program comprising a step of receiving the first image transmitted from the image providing apparatus that has received the first information.

Images