JP5218687B2 - Image conversion apparatus, image providing system, photographing / editing apparatus, image conversion method, image conversion program, and recording medium recording the program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image conversion apparatus, an image providing system, a photographing and editing apparatus, an image conversion method, an image conversion program, and an image conversion program provided with conversion means for converting an original image into a new image having another aspect ratio. The present invention relates to a recorded recording medium. Specifically, the present invention provides the above-described composition from a photography printing apparatus that provides a service for printing a composite image based on composite image information generated by performing editing processing on a photographed image obtained by photographing a subject to a mobile terminal. The present invention relates to a composite image providing system that provides an image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in amusement facilities such as a game center, a photography printing apparatus for taking a photograph of a user and combining the photograph with a background image and outputting it as a sticker print has been installed. Has gained popularity.

  In addition, in this photography printing apparatus, for example, after photography is performed, editing processing such as graffiti can be performed on a photographed image displayed on the display screen by a pointing device such as a touch pen. The model that has been spread. With this editing processing function, the user can change, for example, the background color and pattern, and write characters and illustrations on the captured image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Furthermore, there is also a service for transmitting a composite image obtained by editing these captured images to a mobile terminal such as a user's mobile phone, and the user can view the composite image on the mobile terminal even after using the photo print device. There is a device that can be used (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Usually, the service is performed by transmitting the composite image from a photography printing apparatus to a server on the Internet, and a user accessing the server from a portable terminal. The above services are also popular, and most users have recently used them.

JP 2000-066944 (March 03, 2000) JP 2001-313913 (published on November 09, 2001)

The aspect ratio of the composite image is generally fixed, for example, 2 ^1/2 : 1, which is the same as the aspect ratio of A size and B size, which is a processed finish dimension series of paper. However, display screens of mobile phones to which composite images are transmitted currently have various aspect ratios. For example, a model capable of QVGA (Quarter-VGA) mode has an aspect ratio of 4: 3, and a model capable of WQVGA (Wide-QVGA) mode has an aspect ratio of 5: 3. There are also models with special aspect ratios.

  In addition, the user of the mobile phone may upload the received composite image to a site on the Internet, but the image size may be limited depending on the site. The aspect ratio of the image size varies depending on the site, such as 1: 1.

  Therefore, it is desirable that the service converts the composite image into an aspect ratio that is different from the aspect ratio of the composite image and has an aspect ratio desired by the user in the photography printing apparatus or the server. As this conversion method, the following method can be considered.

  That is, first, it is conceivable to enlarge or reduce the composite image so as to conform to the aspect ratio. However, in this case, since the magnification in the vertical direction is different from the magnification in the horizontal direction, the composite image after conversion becomes a distorted image and looks bad.

  Further, it is conceivable to add margins to the left and right or upper and lower edges of the composite image so as to match the aspect ratio. However, the composite image with the added margin does not look good.

  It is also conceivable to extract a size that matches the aspect ratio from the composite image. However, since the composite image is obtained by combining the captured image with the edited image that has been subjected to the editing process by the user, the image extracted from the composite image reflects only a part of the editing process performed by the user. Will not be. That is, the frame image, stamp image, graffiti image, and the like added in the editing process are cut off in the middle, and the appearance often deteriorates.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image conversion device that can convert an image having another aspect ratio while maintaining the appearance. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image conversion apparatus that can edit an image with a desired image size.

  An image conversion apparatus according to the present invention is an image conversion apparatus including conversion means for converting an original image into a new image having a different aspect ratio. In order to solve the above problem, the original image A part having a shape to characterize and comprising a plurality of characteristic parts extending in one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and one or a plurality of non-characteristic parts other than the characteristic part, The converting means is characterized in that the new image is created by adding at least one of the non-characteristic portions between the plurality of characteristic portions to the original image.

  An image conversion method according to the present invention is an image conversion method of an image conversion apparatus that converts an original image into a new image having a different aspect ratio. In order to solve the above-described problem, the image conversion apparatus includes: , Having a shape that characterizes the original image, and having a plurality of characteristic portions that are portions extending in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, and one or a plurality of non-characteristic portions that are portions other than the characteristic portions The new image is created by adding at least one of the non-characteristic portions between the plurality of characteristic portions to the original image.

  Here, a figure is an image of a thing perceived by a human, and examples thereof include a significant character such as a word, an image character, a symbol, and other images. Examples of shapes characterizing the original image include the word “Happy Birthday” in the image celebrating the birthday, the image character in the image in which the image character is active, the graffiti part in the image with the graffiti. Can be mentioned.

  According to the above configuration and method, a new image is created by adding at least one non-characteristic portion to the original image. For example, when converting the original image into a new image having a large aspect ratio, a non-characteristic portion extending in the horizontal direction may be added. In addition, when the original image is converted into a new image with a small aspect ratio, a non-characteristic portion extending in the vertical direction may be added.

  At this time, since the feature portions of the original image and the new image are the same, the shapes included in the feature portions are also the same. That is, since the image characterizing the original image is not distorted or deleted, the appearance can be maintained even if the original image is converted into a new image having a different aspect ratio. The converting means additionally inserts the new image into the original image by inserting at least one of the non-characteristic portions between the plurality of characteristic portions between the plurality of characteristic portions. You may create it.

  In addition, in order to specify the characteristic part and the non-characteristic part of the original image, the image storage part further stores the information of the original image, and the image storage part includes the characteristic part or the non-characteristic part in the original image. It is only necessary to further store the position information indicating the position of. Alternatively, the image storage unit may divide and store the information on the original image into information on the characteristic part and information on the non-characteristic part. In these cases, the conversion means may convert the original image into the new image based on the information stored in the image storage unit.

  Moreover, you may further provide the specific means which pinpoints the said characteristic part and the said non-characteristic part by image recognition. This is suitable for an image in which it is difficult to specify a characteristic part and a non-characteristic part in advance, such as a graffiti image or a stamp image in the above-described photography printing apparatus.

  An image providing system according to the present invention is an image providing system that provides an image to a communication terminal, and stores correspondence information in which model information of the communication terminal is associated with a screen size in order to solve the above-described problem. Based on the correspondence information in the correspondence storage unit, the correspondence storage unit, the model information acquisition unit that acquires the model information of the communication terminal, and the screen size corresponding to the model information acquired by the model information acquisition unit Screen size acquisition means, an image conversion device configured as described above for converting an original image into a new image having an aspect ratio of the screen size acquired by the screen size acquisition means, and provision means for providing the new image to the communication terminal It is characterized by comprising.

  According to said structure, the model information of a communication terminal is acquired and the screen size corresponding to the acquired model information is acquired based on the corresponding information of a corresponding | compatible memory | storage part. Then, the acquired new image having the aspect ratio of the screen size is converted from the original image using the above-described image conversion apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to provide the communication terminal with an image that matches the screen size of the communication terminal and maintains its appearance.

  Note that the screen size preferably includes the aspect ratio, but it is sufficient that the screen size includes information capable of calculating the aspect ratio, such as a combination of the number of pixels in the vertical direction and the number of pixels in the horizontal direction.

  A photographing and editing apparatus according to the present invention is a photographing and editing apparatus that provides a composite image obtained by synthesizing the edited image with the photographed image by performing an editing process on the photographed image obtained by photographing the subject to create an edited image. In order to solve the above problem, the image processing apparatus includes a composite image conversion unit that converts the composite image into a new composite image having another aspect ratio, and the composite image conversion unit converts the captured image into the another image. Photographed image converting means for converting to a new photographed image having an aspect ratio, edited image converting means for transforming the edited image into a new edited image having another aspect ratio, and the new photographed image being converted into the new photographed image. An image composition means for creating the new composite image by compositing, and the photographed image conversion means extracts the part having the other aspect ratio from the photographed image, thereby extracting the new image. Image and generates the edited image converting means is characterized in that an image conversion apparatus having the above structure.

  According to the above configuration, the captured image conversion means converts the captured image into a new captured image having a different aspect ratio, and the edited image conversion means converts the edited image into a new edited image having the different aspect ratio. After conversion, the image composition means composes the new edited image with the new photographed image to create the new composite image. In the case of a photographed image, particularly in the case of a photographed image obtained by photographing a person, the face portion of the person corresponds to the above-described shape. Therefore, even if a portion having another aspect ratio is extracted from the photographed image, the appearance can be maintained as long as the portion includes a human face portion.

  On the other hand, in the case of an edited image, the position of the shape varies depending on the image. Moreover, the number of the said shapes is not necessarily one. Therefore, the edited image is converted into a new edited image having another aspect ratio using the above-described image conversion apparatus. Thereby, even if the edited image is converted into the new edited image, the appearance can be maintained. Therefore, the newly synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the newly photographed image and the new edited image can maintain the appearance of the synthesized image.

  Note that an edit reflection area, which is an area where the editing process is reflected, may be presented on the display screen of the edit image display section for creating the edit image based on the different aspect ratio. In this case, the user can perform image editing adapted to the different aspect ratio by performing image editing in consideration of the editing reflection area.

  Each unit in the image conversion apparatus can be executed by a computer using an image conversion program. Further, the image conversion program can be executed on any computer by storing the image conversion program in a computer-readable recording medium.

  As described above, the image conversion apparatus according to the present invention creates a new image by adding at least one non-characteristic portion to the original image, thereby distorting or deleting the image characterizing the original image. Therefore, even if the original image is converted into a new image having a different aspect ratio, the appearance can be maintained.

It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the photography printing apparatus in the composite image provision system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the said synthesized image provision system. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the said photography photography printing apparatus. It is a front view of the editing part of the said photography printing apparatus. It is a front view of the printing part of the said photography printing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the said photography photography printing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the image storage server in the said composite image provision system. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the screen size determination server in the said synthesized image provision system. It is a frame image according to an example of the above-described embodiment, and shows a frame image before the aspect ratio is converted. It is a figure which shows the said frame image after converting the said aspect ratio. It is a figure which is another frame image according to the said Example, Comprising: The frame image before and behind converting the said aspect ratio. It is a figure which is another frame image according to the said Example, Comprising: The frame image after converting the said aspect ratio. It is a background image according to another example of the above embodiment, and shows a background image before the aspect ratio is converted. It is a figure which shows an example of the said background image after converting the said aspect ratio, and a reference example. It is a figure which shows the partial image which divided | segmented the said background image according to the said Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in each structure of the said composite image provision system. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the production process of the transmission image in the said process. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the image storage server in the composite image provision system which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the said image storage server. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the photography printing apparatus in the composite image provision system which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the edit process in the process of the said photography photography printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the edit screen displayed in the said edit process. It is a figure which shows another example of the edit screen displayed in the said edit process. It is a figure which shows the other example of the edit screen displayed in the said edit process. It is a figure which shows an example of the transmission image selection screen displayed in the production process of the transmission image in the process of the said photography photography printing apparatus.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Overall system configuration)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the composite image providing system (image providing system) 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the composite image providing system 100 includes a photographic printing device (image conversion device / photographing editing device) 1..., An image storage server 200, a screen size determination server 201, and a mobile phone (communication terminal) 300. It is the composition provided with.

  The photo-taking and printing apparatus 1 has a function of taking a user's photograph (photographing function), a function of allowing the user to edit graffiti etc. on the photographed picture (editing function), and a function of printing an edited image ( Print function). Note that all these functions are not essential. For example, a configuration in which the print function is omitted may be employed.

  And the photography printing apparatus 1 provides a user with the above functions by collecting a fee from the user. In addition, a time limit is provided for each function, and the user uses each function within this time limit.

  The image storage server 200 includes composite image information, which is an image obtained by performing editing processing on a photographed image from each photograph printing apparatus 1, information on a mail address input by a user, and user identification information (user ID). Additional information including the above is received and stored. Then, the image storage server 200 transmits the composite image information to the mobile phone 300 in response to access from the mobile phone 300.

  The screen size determination server 201 determines the screen size (screen resolution) of the mobile phone 300 based on access from the mobile phone 300. Then, the screen size determination server 201 transmits the screen size of the mobile phone 300 to the photographic printing apparatus 1 in response to a request from the photographic printing apparatus 1.

  Note that the image storage server 200 and the screen size determination server 201 are connected to the respective photographic printing apparatuses 1 through a communication medium 400. Examples of the communication medium include a combination of a PHS telephone network and a dedicated line connection, but the communication mode is not particularly limited. In addition, the image storage server 200 and the screen size determination server 201 and each mobile phone 300 are similarly communicatively connected by a communication medium 401. Examples of the communication medium include a combination of a wireless telephone network and the Internet, but the communication form is not particularly limited.

  The mobile phone 300 has a telephone function based on a wireless telephone network such as a mobile telephone network or a PHS (registered trademark: Personal Handyphone System) telephone network, and information having a data communication function and an information processing function using the wireless telephone network. It is a processing terminal. Note that the information processing terminal applied to the present invention is not limited to a portable phone, and can perform data communication with the image storage server 200 regardless of wired or wireless, and can perform information processing. Any device may be used as long as it is an information processing terminal.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the mail address of the user's mobile phone 300 is input by the user. However, for example, the photography printing apparatus 1 may be provided so as to be readable directly from the mobile phone 300. . In this case, it is assumed that the photographic printing apparatus 1 and the mobile phone 300 perform short-range wireless communication. These devices include wireless LAN (Local Area Network) modules, Bluetooth (registered trademark) modules compliant with IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11a, 11b, 11g, etc., or communication via infrared rays. It is possible to have a short-range communication unit including a module for performing short-range wireless communication. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the photographic printing apparatus 1 and the mobile phone 300 may be configured to be connected by a wired connection such as a USB cable. Alternatively, the short-range wireless communication may not be performed, and the image storage server 200 and the photographic printing apparatus 1 may be connected via the above-described wide area network.

(Usage of the composite image providing system)
A usage form of the composite image providing system 100 will be schematically described. The user plays a game using the photo printing apparatus 1 installed in an amusement facility or the like. In this game, the user takes a picture and performs a process of writing the edited image on the photographed image, such as so-called graffiti, as an editing process on the photographed image. As part of this editing process, the user selects and writes a frame image, writes a desired picture or character with a dedicated pen, or selects a stamp to synthesize a stamp pattern with the photographed image. The edited image may include a moving image.

  Then, the photographed print device 1 prints and outputs a composite image obtained by combining the edited image with the photographed image, so that the user can obtain the printed matter as a game result. In the composite image providing system 100, the user can transmit a composite image to the mobile phone 300. In this case, the user registers (inputs) the mail address of the mobile phone 300 in the photography / printing apparatus 1, so that the photography / printing apparatus 1 transmits the composite image information and the additional information to the image storage server 200. . As described above, the user's game in the photo printing apparatus 1 is completed.

  The image storage server 200 stores the composite image information and the additional information sent from the photography printing apparatus 1 in association with each other. Then, the image storage server 200 transmits a mail indicating the address information of the page from which the composite image can be acquired to the user's mail address. The user uses his / her mobile phone 300 to access the page of the address indicated in the received mail and obtain the composite image to display the composite image on the mobile phone 300.

  In addition, when the photographic printing apparatus 1 transmits the composite image information and the additional information to the image storage server 200, it is preferable that the transmission data includes association information that enables these associations. The association information may be transmitted by being included in the data of each information, or may be transmitted separately from the data of each information.

  In the present embodiment, before or during the start of the game, the photography printing apparatus 1 provides the user with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the site of the screen size determination server 201. At this time, when the user accesses the site using his / her mobile phone 300, the screen size determination server 201 acquires the model information of the mobile phone 300, and the mobile phone 300 based on the acquired model information. Determine the screen size.

  Next, the photography printing apparatus 1 requests the screen size determination server 201 to acquire the screen size of the user's mobile phone 300, converts the composite image so as to match the acquired screen size, and stores the image. Transmit to server 200. As a result, a composite image corresponding to the screen size of the user's mobile phone 300 can be transmitted from the photographic printing apparatus 1 to the user's mobile phone 300 via the image storage server 200.

  In the present embodiment, the photographic printing apparatus 1 performs conversion so that the appearance of the composite image is maintained even when the aspect ratio of the composite image is different before and after conversion. As a result, the user can acquire an image of the same appearance as the composite image created by the photography printing apparatus 1 in the mobile phone 300.

  Note that the photography printing apparatus 1 may obtain the screen size of the mobile phone 300 by directly inquiring the user via the input / output interface. Further, the photography printing apparatus 1 obtains the model information of the mobile phone 300 by directly inquiring the user via the input / output interface, and determines the screen size of the mobile phone 300 based on the obtained model information. Good. A specific example of the input / output interface is a touch panel. The photography printing apparatus 1 displays a list of model information of the mobile phone 300 on the display screen of the touch panel, and acquires the model information of the user's mobile phone 300 when the user selects the model information of the corresponding mobile phone 300. be able to.

  In these cases, it is not necessary to use the screen size determination server 201, but the user needs to accurately grasp the screen size or model information of the mobile phone 300. Further, when determining the screen size based on the model information, the photography printing apparatus 1 needs to record in advance correspondence information in which the model information and the screen size are associated with each other. It is necessary to update the corresponding information every time a model is released.

  Note that the photography printing apparatus 1 acquires the model information of the mobile phone 300 from the user via the input / output interface, and transmits the acquired model information to the image size determination server 201, thereby carrying the mobile phone 300 from the image size determination server 201. The screen size of the telephone 300 may be acquired.

  Further, the photography printing apparatus 1 may directly acquire the screen size of the mobile phone 300 from the user's mobile phone 300 using near field communication such as infrared communication. In this case, it is not necessary to use the screen size determination server 201, and the user does not need to grasp the screen size or model information of the mobile phone 300. However, the user's mobile phone 300 needs to have a short-range wireless communication function and software that performs the above-described processing.

  Note that the following method can be considered as a method for the photography printing apparatus 1 to provide the URL to the user.

  First, a method in which the photographic printing apparatus 1 displays the URL itself can be considered. In this case, although it can be executed by a simple process, the user inputs the displayed URL to the mobile phone 300, so that an input error is likely to occur.

  Next, a method is conceivable in which the photographic printing apparatus 1 displays a two-dimensional code indicating a URL that is a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). In this case, the mobile phone 300 can acquire the URL by executing a known two-dimensional code reading program, capturing a two-dimensional code with a built-in camera, and decoding the captured two-dimensional code. . Since the recent mobile phone 300 has a photographing function and a two-dimensional code reading function, the existing mobile phone 300 can accurately acquire the URL. In the present embodiment, a method using the two-dimensional code is employed.

  A method may be considered in which the photo print device 1 transmits the URL data to the user's mobile phone 300 using the short-range wireless communication. In this case, a short-distance wireless communication function is required for the user's mobile phone 300, but since it is not necessary to photograph a two-dimensional code, the URL can be acquired most easily.

(Appearance of photo printing device)
Next, the external configuration of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the photographic printing apparatus 1. The photography printing apparatus 1 includes a photographing unit 2 that photographs a user's photograph, an editing unit 3 that allows a user to edit graffiti and the like on a photograph (photographed image), and a photograph that the user has edited. And a printing unit 4 that outputs (edited image) to a print sheet. 3A shows an appearance from the photographing unit 2 side in the photographic printing apparatus 1, and FIG. 3B shows an appearance from the editing unit 3 and the printing unit 4 side.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the editing unit 3a. The configuration of the editing unit 3b is the same as that of the editing unit 3a, and is not shown here. The editing unit 3b is provided facing the editing unit 3a. Hereinafter, the editing unit 3 will be collectively described.

  The editing unit 3 is for executing an editing process such as graffiti on a captured image after the user finishes the shooting process by the shooting unit 2. The touch panel unit 31, the touch pen 32, and the voice output unit 33 are used for the editing unit 3. Etc. Each unit of the editing unit 3 is controlled by the control unit 10. Details of the above-described units will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a front view of the printing unit 4. In the present embodiment, the printing unit 4 is provided on the side surfaces of the editing unit 3 a and the editing unit 3 b, and thus FIG. 5 shows the side surface of the editing unit 3. The printing unit 4 prints an edited image after the user has finished the editing process by the editing unit 3 on sticker paper, and discharges the printed sticker paper. In the present embodiment, print discharge ports 44a and 44b are provided on the side surface of the editing unit 3, and the sticker sheet of the edited image edited by the editing unit 3a is discharged from the print discharge port 44a. The sticker sheet of the edited image that has been edited in 3b is discharged from the print discharge port 44b.

  In the photographic printing apparatus 1 configured as described above, the user first enters the photographic space provided with the photographic unit 2 and executes the photographic process, and then the editing unit 3 (the editing unit 3a or the editing unit 3b). The editing process is carried out by moving to the editing space provided, and a series of processes of the game are enjoyed in such a flow that the printing unit 4 receives the photographed image or the sticker sheet on which the edited image is printed in the printing space.

  As described above, in the photographic printing apparatus 1, the photographing unit 2 and the editing unit 3 are provided in different spaces. Therefore, even when a set of users is performing editing processing in the editing unit 3, other users can start shooting processing. Thereby, it is possible to improve a rotation rate.

  The editing process in the editing unit 3 is basically provided with a time limit. On the other hand, the editing process time may be unlimited until another user enters the shooting process, and the time limit may be set for the editing process from the time when another user starts the shooting process.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the photography printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a structure including two editing units 3, and includes a first editing unit 3a and a second editing unit 3a. The editing unit 3b is installed facing each other. As described above, by providing more editing units 3 than photographing units 2, it is possible to disperse the processing time related to the editing process that is a bottleneck and improve the rotation rate. However, the photography printing apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration. The installation position of the editing unit 3 is not particularly limited, and the number of installations may be one editing unit 3 or three or more editing units 3 may be provided if the installation location can be secured. Good.

(Configuration of Photographic Printing Device-Overview)
Next, the operation of the control unit 10 in the photographic printing apparatus 1 and each unit of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the photographic printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the photographic printing apparatus 1 includes a photographing unit 2, an editing unit 3, a printing unit 4, a communication unit 6, a control unit 10, and a recording unit 50.

  The control unit 10 comprehensively controls the operations of the above-described units included in the photographic printing apparatus 1. The control unit 10 is configured by, for example, a PC (personal computer) based computer. And operation control of various composition is performed by making a computer run a control program.

  This program may be in the form of reading and using what is recorded on a removable medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be in the form of reading and using what is installed on a hard disk or the like. Further, when the control unit 10 is configured to be connected to a communication network such as the Internet, a mode in which the program is downloaded via the communication network, installed on a hard disk, and the like can be considered.

  The photographic printing apparatus 1 includes a recording unit 50 that includes a nonvolatile storage device such as the hard disk described above. Examples of the contents stored in the recording unit 50 include the control program, an OS (Operating System) program, other various programs, operation setting values in the camera unit 23, and image data of captured images and edited images. Examples of the operation setting values in the camera unit 23 include white balance values set at the time of shipment of the photographic printing apparatus 1 and maintenance, various parameter values related to image processing when adjusting the contrast of the captured image, and the like. It is done.

  The imaging unit 2 executes an imaging process, and includes a coin processing unit 21, an illumination unit 22, a camera unit 23, a captured image display unit 24, a camera image display unit 25, and an operation unit 26. Although not shown here, the photographing unit 2 may include a voice output unit for performing voice guidance so as to prompt the user to perform a certain operation.

  The coin processing unit 21 performs coin insertion / return processing when collecting charges from the user. When it is determined that a predetermined coin has been inserted, the control unit 10 is notified. And the control part 10 will perform an accounting process, if the notification from the coin process part 21 is received. That is, the control unit 10 counts notifications from the coin processing unit 21 and controls various operations for the user according to the amount of money that the user has inserted.

  The illumination unit 22 functions as a photographic flashlight such as a strobe lamp at the time of photographing and also functions as a normal illumination. In this embodiment, a flash lamp is used as the light source, but a light source that emits continuous light, such as a fluorescent lamp, can also be used. Further, a fluorescent lamp or the like can be provided as an auxiliary light source in the vicinity of the flash lamp. By using a continuous light source or an auxiliary light source, it is possible to infer a shot at the time of shooting from a live view image before shooting.

  The camera unit 23 mainly takes a photograph of a user as a subject, and is configured by a digital camera including, for example, a lens group, a diaphragm, a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor, and the like. The camera unit 23 is configured to be able to switch, for example, a lens group to be used and an aperture so as to be able to cope with both whole body photography and close-up photography.

  The captured image display unit 24 provides a user interface to the user, and displays various images, various operation buttons, and the like. The operation unit 26 is an input device for inputting an instruction signal for the user to perform a game operation on the photo printing apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 26 is realized as a touch panel integrated with the captured image display unit 24. That is, a GUI screen such as operation buttons is displayed on the captured image display unit 24. When the display screen of the photographed image display unit 24 is pressed by a user's finger (or a pointing device such as a touch pen), an instruction signal indicating a button or an image corresponding to the position is input into the photograph printing apparatus 1. Is done.

  The photographed image display unit 24 is configured by providing a touch panel on the surface of a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display element or a CRT, for example. By displaying the captured image captured by the camera unit 23 on the captured image display unit 24, the user can check the captured image. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 26 is configured as a touch panel provided integrally with the captured image display unit 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation unit 26 is provided with, for example, a numeric keypad or a cross key. It may be configured as an input device such as a remote controller or a keyboard.

  The camera image display unit 25 displays a real-time video captured by the camera unit 23, that is, a live view image before shooting. By displaying the live view image on the camera image display unit 25, the user can confirm the image in advance and start shooting.

  The editing unit 3 executes an editing process, and includes a touch panel unit 31 and a touch pen 32. The editing unit 3 may further include an audio output unit 33 and an infrared communication unit 34.

  The touch panel unit 31 provides a user interface to the user, and includes a composite image display unit 31a and an operation reception unit 31b. The composite image display unit 31a displays an image to be edited in the editing process (edit target image) and a result of editing the captured image (composite image). The operation accepting unit 31b accepts a user instruction signal input by using a pointing device such as a touch pen and transmits it to the inside of the photographic printing apparatus 1.

  The touch pen 32 is used by a user to perform fine operation input on the touch panel unit 31 in image editing processing or the like, and is disposed near the touch panel unit 31. The user can select a button displayed according to the progress of the process or draw an image such as a graffiti by bringing the touch pen 32 into contact with or approaching the touch panel unit 31.

  For example, when the screen of the touch panel unit 31 is pressed with the touch pen 32, an instruction signal indicating a button or an image corresponding to the position is input to the inside of the photographic printing apparatus 1. Thereby, the user can perform graffiti on the photographed image, press a stamp, or select a print target image to be printed.

  In the present embodiment, two touch pens 32 are provided so that a plurality of users can easily perform image editing. However, in order to simplify the configuration, only one touch pen 32 may be provided. Yes, and more than two can be deployed for more than two users.

  The audio output unit 33 outputs guidance voices and sound effects for various operations, and is provided at an appropriate place of the photo print apparatus 1. For example, a speaker is used as the audio output unit 33.

  The infrared communication unit 34 performs infrared communication with an external device such as the user's mobile phone 300, and is disposed at an appropriate position of the photographic printing apparatus 1. For the infrared communication, a known communication method such as IrDA (Infrared Data Association) or IrSimple can be used. Note that short-range wireless communication such as wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee, or the like can be used instead of infrared communication.

  The printing unit 4 executes a printing process by printing a photographed image and / or edited image selected as a printing target, and includes an ID tag reader / writer unit 41 and a printer unit 42. A seal paper 142 and an ID tag 141 serving as a photo print output medium are delivered to the printing unit 4 as a seal paper unit 43 as a set.

  When image data to be output is sent from the control unit 10, the printer unit 42 prints on the sticker sheet 142 based on the image data. As the printer unit 42, for example, a sublimation printer is used. When a sublimation printer is used, a sublimation ink film is delivered as a set in addition to the sticker paper 142 and the ID tag 141.

  The ID tag reader / writer unit 41 reads out various pieces of identification information recorded in the ID tag 141 and outputs them to the control unit 10. The ID tag 141 is configured by an IC chip having a memory function. Examples of the identification information include a unique ID, the number of sheets, a sheet type, and ink-specific color information (when an ink film is set).

  Based on the identification information read by the ID tag reader / writer unit 41, the control unit 10 determines whether the attached sticker paper 142 and the ink film are usable in the photography printing apparatus 1, and can be used. Only when it is, the printer unit 42 can be operated. In other words, settings other than the seal paper 142 and the ink film designated in the photo printing apparatus 1 are set so that they cannot be used.

  In addition, by counting down the number of sheets each time sticker paper is used based on the information on the number of sheets recorded in the ID tag 141, the remaining number of sheets can be grasped. Therefore, when the remaining number of sheets is reduced, a configuration that warns the user with a display means or the like can avoid a problem such as running out of sheets during use by the user. .

  When counting down the number of sheets, it is desirable to rewrite the number of sheets information recorded in the ID tag 141. As a result, when the paper is used up, the paper number information recorded in the ID tag 141 is also zero, and the ID tag 141 can be invalidated.

  Further, by reading the paper type information recorded in the ID tag 141 and the color information unique to the ink, and correcting the color component of the image data in consideration of these, the seal paper 142 and the ink film are accurately obtained. Image output can be performed.

  As the ID tag 141, there are a non-contact type ID tag capable of performing wireless data communication and a contact type ID tag provided with a terminal. The ID tag reader / writer unit 41 includes It corresponds to either one or both.

  In the above example, the ID tag 141 is used to confirm whether or not the sticker paper 142 can be used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sticker paper 142 and the ink film are used. It is also possible to use a bar code printed on a packing material for packing. However, when a barcode is used, there are problems that the amount of information that can be included is small and that information cannot be rewritten by counting down the number of sheets, for example.

  In this embodiment, the seal sheet 142 is assumed to be a seal sheet including an adhesive sheet and a release sheet attached to the adhesive surface of the adhesive sheet, but is not limited thereto. The photographic printing apparatus 1 of the present invention can be configured to use a paper sheet that is a normal paper medium instead of the sticker paper 142.

  The communication unit 6 is for data communication with external devices such as the image storage server 200 and the screen size determination server 201. Specifically, the communication unit 6 converts various data received from the control unit 10 into a signal format suitable for communication, and transmits the converted signal in a wired or wireless manner. In addition, the communication unit 6 converts a signal received by wire or wireless into a data format inside the apparatus, and then transmits the signal to the control unit 10.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the photography printing apparatus 1 may include a curtain unit. The curtain unit provides a curtain as a background of the photographed image. Curtains with various colors and patterns are prepared, and can be freely selected by the user at the time of shooting, or can be automatically selected by the photo-taking and printing apparatus 1. The plurality of curtains are arranged so as to overlap the back surface of the photographing space (facing the photographing unit 2) ((a) and (b) in FIG. 3), and at the time of photographing, the selected curtain is behind the subject. It is installed in the foreground so that it can be seen. The installation of the selected curtain may be executed by the control unit 10 controlling the curtain unit, or may be configured to be manually performed by the user.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the curtain part was set as the structure which provides a some curtain, it is not limited to this. It is good also considering the curtain which can be installed in a curtain part as one type. In this case, if a plurality of types of background images for synthesis are prepared and the background image desired by the user is synthesized in the editing process, even if there is only one type of curtain, the user can have various preferences. Can respond.

(Configuration of photo printing device-details)
Next, the control unit 10 and the recording unit 50 of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 10 further includes a captured image acquisition unit 11, an image editing unit 12, a print image creation unit 13, and a transmission image creation unit (composite image conversion unit / captured image conversion unit / combination unit) 15. A screen size acquisition unit 16 and an aspect ratio conversion unit (conversion unit / edited image conversion unit / specification unit) 17.

  The recording unit 50 includes a captured image recording unit 51 that records captured images, and an editing image recording unit (image storage unit) 52 that records editing images such as background images, frame images, and stamp images provided in image editing. An editing content recording unit (image storage unit) 53 that records editing content information related to the editing content of the edited image, a print image recording unit 54 that records a print image, a screen size recording unit 55 that records a screen size, and a user's mail address Are included, and an ID recording unit 57 that records a user ID for identifying the user.

  The captured image acquisition unit 11 acquires a captured image created by capturing a subject from the camera unit 23. The captured image acquisition unit 11 records the acquired captured image in the captured image recording unit 51.

  The image editing unit 12 performs image editing on a captured image in accordance with a user operation. Examples of image editing include adding a background image and / or a frame image read from the editing image recording unit 52, adding a stamp image read from the editing image recording unit 52 to an arbitrary position, or using a touch pen. For example, adding graffiti. However, the image editing is not limited to the above-described example, and the editing is executed by the user operating any input means (input unit) connected to the photography / printing apparatus 1, and the original photographed image is changed. Any editing process may be used as long as the composite image can be obtained as a result of the addition.

  Then, the image editing unit 12 records editing content information related to the editing content in the editing content recording unit 53. The editing content information includes background image identification information used by the user, frame image identification information used by the user, stamp image identification information and writing position information used by the user, graffiti image information, and the like. Based on the editing content information recorded in the editing content recording unit 53, the control unit 10 can create an editing image by using the editing image recorded in the editing image recording unit 52, and the created editing By synthesizing the image and the photographed image recorded in the photographed image recording unit 51, a composite image can be created.

  The print image creation unit 13 creates a print image in which a composite image corresponding to the size of each divided region is arranged in each of the plurality of divided regions. The size and arrangement of the edited image in the print image are usually determined by the user selecting one of a plurality of patterns, but may be determined freely by the user, or the photography printing apparatus 1 It may be determined at random. The print image creation unit 13 records in the created print image recording unit 54. Then, the control unit 10 instructs the printer unit 42 to print the print image recorded in the print image recording unit 54 on the sticker sheet 142 at an appropriate timing.

  The transmission image creation unit 15 creates a transmission image that is an image suitable for transmission from the composite image. The transmission image creation unit 15 adds additional information such as a mail address and a user ID to the created transmission image information, and transmits the added information to the image storage server 200 via the communication unit 6. Note that the transmission image creation unit 15 may directly transmit information on the created transmission image to the user's mobile phone 300 via the infrared communication unit 34.

  The screen size acquisition unit 16 acquires the screen size of the user's mobile phone 300. The screen size acquisition unit 16 records the acquired screen size in the screen size recording unit 55. Details of the screen size acquisition unit 16 will be described later.

  The aspect ratio conversion unit 17 converts the edited image so as to match the aspect ratio of the screen size recorded in the screen size recording unit 55. The aspect ratio conversion unit 17 performs conversion so as to maintain the appearance of the edited image as described above. Details of the aspect ratio converter 17 will be described later.

(Image storage server configuration)
Next, the configuration of the image storage server 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the image storage server 200. The image storage server 200 stores the transmission image information sent from the photography printing apparatus 1, and provides the stored composite image information in the form of a WEB page for access from the mobile phone 300. It is a server device. As illustrated, the image storage server 200 includes a control unit 210, a recording unit 211, and a communication unit 222. Note that the control unit 210, the recording unit 211, and the communication unit 222 function in the same manner as the control unit 10, the recording unit 50, and the communication unit 6 of the photographic printing apparatus 1, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the control unit 210 includes a transmission image acquisition unit 220, a saved URL creation unit 221, an ID authentication unit 222, and a transmission image search unit (providing unit) 223. The recording unit 211 also associates an ID recording unit 225 that records a user ID, a transmission image recording unit 226 that records transmission image information, and the user ID and identification information (for example, a file name) of the transmission image. A correspondence information recording unit 227 for recording the correspondence information.

  The transmission image acquisition unit 220 acquires the transmission image information and additional information sent from the photographic printing apparatus 1 via the communication unit 212. The transmission image acquisition unit 220 records the acquired transmission image information in the transmission image recording unit 226, records the user ID included in the additional information in the ID recording unit 225, and associates the identification information of the transmission image with the user ID. At the same time, it is recorded in the correspondence information recording unit 227. In addition, the transmission image acquisition unit 220 sends the email address included in the additional information to the storage URL creation unit 221.

  The save URL creation unit 221 creates save URL information that is URL information (WEB address) for accessing the image storage server 200 and includes URL to a location where the transmission image information is saved. Is. The saved URL creation unit 221 generates an email that includes the created saved URL information and is addressed to the email address received from the transmission image acquisition unit 220, and transmits the email via the communication unit 212. As a result, the e-mail is transmitted to the mobile phone 300 of the user.

  When the stored URL is accessed from the mobile phone 300 and the user ID is acquired from the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 212, the ID authentication unit 222 acquires the acquired user ID and the user recorded in the ID recording unit 225. Authentication is performed by checking with the ID. If the authentication is successful, the ID authentication unit 222 sends the authenticated user ID to the transmission image search unit 223. If the authentication fails, the ID authentication unit 222 sends an error message to the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 212. To do.

  The transmission image search unit 223 searches the transmission image recording unit 226 for transmission image information corresponding to the user ID received from the ID authentication unit 222. Specifically, the transmission image search unit 223 reads transmission image identification information corresponding to the user ID from the correspondence information recording unit 227, and transmits transmission image information corresponding to the read transmission image identification information to the transmission image recording unit 226. Reading from. The transmission image search unit 223 transmits the searched transmission image information to the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 212.

(Configuration of screen size determination server)
Next, the configuration of the screen size determination server 201 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration of the screen size determination server 201. The screen size determination server 201 determines the screen size of the mobile phone 300 based on the model information of the mobile phone 300 acquired from the mobile phone 300. As illustrated, the screen size determination server 201 includes a control unit 230, a recording unit 231, and a communication unit 232. The control unit 230, the recording unit 231, and the communication unit 232 function in the same manner as the control unit 10, the recording unit 50, and the communication unit 6 of the photographic printing apparatus 1, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 230 includes a model information acquisition unit (model information acquisition unit) 240, a screen size search unit (screen size acquisition unit) 241, a request acquisition unit 242, and a screen size transmission unit 243. Yes. The recording unit 231 also stores model information corresponding to a model screen size (corresponding storage unit) 245 that records in advance correspondence information in which model information and screen size are associated, and correspondence information in which a user ID and screen size are associated. And an ID screen size corresponding recording unit 246 for recording.

  The model information acquisition unit 240 acquires a user ID and model information of the mobile phone 300 from the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 232. This model information can be easily obtained from the user agent included in the HTTP request from the mobile phone 300. The model information acquisition unit 240 sends the acquired model information and user ID to the screen size search unit 241.

  The screen size search unit 241 searches the model screen size correspondence recording unit 245 for a screen size corresponding to the model information received from the model information acquisition unit 240. The screen size search unit 241 records the searched screen size in the ID screen size correspondence recording unit 246 in association with the user ID received from the model information acquisition unit 240.

  The request acquisition unit 242 acquires a request for the screen size of the mobile phone 300 from the photography printing apparatus 1 via the communication unit 232. The request includes the user ID of the user of the photographic printing apparatus 1. The request acquisition unit 242 transmits the acquired user ID to the screen size transmission unit 243.

  The screen size transmission unit 243 searches the ID screen size correspondence recording unit 246 for a screen size corresponding to the user ID received from the request acquisition unit 242 and transmits the searched screen size to the communication unit 232. As a result, the screen size is transmitted from the communication unit 232 to the photographic printing apparatus 1.

  In the present embodiment, the image storage server 200 and the screen size determination server 201 are configured to be realized by the functions of one server device, but may be configured to be realized by a plurality of server devices. .

  In addition, the correspondence information recorded in the model screen size correspondence recording unit 245 of the screen size determination server 201 is preferably updated every time a new model of the mobile phone 300 is released. In addition, information recorded in the ID recording unit 225, the transmission image recording unit 226, and the correspondence information recording unit 227 of the image storage server 200, and information recorded in the ID screen size correspondence recording unit 246 of the screen size determination server 201 Is preferably deleted after a predetermined period of time in order to avoid unnecessary occupancy of resources.

(Structure of the main part of the photo printing device)
Next, details of the transmission image creation unit 15, the screen size acquisition unit 16, and the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 in the control unit 10 of the photographic printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 9 to 15. FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of the photographic printing apparatus 1. As shown in the figure, the screen size acquisition unit 16 includes an ID setting unit 160, a two-dimensional code creation unit 161, and a screen size request unit 162.

  The ID setting unit 160 sets the user ID. Specifically, the ID setting unit 160 sets the user ID for each participant of the game at the start of the game. The ID setting unit 160 records the set user ID in the ID recording unit 57 and sends it to the two-dimensional code creation unit 161.

  The two-dimensional code creation unit 161 creates a two-dimensional code including the user ID received from the ID setting unit 160 and a URL indicating the site of the screen size determination server 201. The two-dimensional code creation unit 161 controls the photographed image display unit 24 of the photographing unit 2 to display the created two-dimensional code.

  The screen size request unit 162 requests and obtains the screen size of the mobile phone 300 from the screen size determination server 201. Specifically, the screen size request unit 162 reads the user ID from the ID recording unit 57 and transmits the read user ID to the screen size determination server 201 via the communication unit 6. As a result, the screen size request unit 162 can acquire the screen size of the user's mobile phone 300 corresponding to the user ID from the screen size determination server 201 via the communication unit 6. Then, the screen size request unit 162 records the acquired screen size in the screen size recording unit 55 in association with the user ID.

  Note that the period from when the two-dimensional code is displayed on the captured image display unit 24 until the user instructs the mobile phone 300 to access the screen size determination server 201 may be earlier or later depending on the user. For this reason, it is desirable that the screen size request unit 162 makes a request to the screen size determination server 201 after a predetermined period has elapsed since the two-dimensional code creation unit 161 displayed the two-dimensional code on the captured image display unit 24. Further, it is desirable that the screen size request unit 162 repeats the request until the screen size is acquired.

  Next, details of the transmission image creation unit 15 will be described. As described above, the transmission image creation unit 15 creates a transmission image that is an image suitable for transmission from the composite image.

  First, the transmission image creation unit 15 reads the user ID from the ID recording unit 57, and captures the captured image information, the screen size, and the mail address corresponding to the read user ID, the captured image recording unit 51, the screen size recording unit 55, and Read from the mail address recording unit 56 respectively. Next, the transmission image creation unit 15 extracts an area that matches the screen size from the captured image. In addition, the transmission image creation unit 15 sends the user ID and the screen size to the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 so that the edited image corresponds to the user ID and matches the screen size. The edited image in which is maintained is acquired from the aspect ratio conversion unit 17.

  Next, the transmission image creation unit 15 creates a transmission image by synthesizing the extracted captured image and the acquired edited image. Then, the transmission image creation unit 15 adds additional information such as a user ID and a mail address to the created transmission image information, and transmits the added information to the image storage server 200 via the communication unit 6.

  Next, details of the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 will be described. As described above, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 converts the edited image so as to conform to the aspect ratio of the screen size and maintain the appearance.

  When the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 receives the user ID and the screen size from the transmission image creation unit 15, first, the editing content information corresponding to the user ID is read from the editing content recording unit 53. Next, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 reads the required editing image information from the editing image recording unit 52 based on the read editing content information, and reconstructs the editing image. At this time, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 reconstructs the edited image so as to conform to the aspect ratio of the screen size and maintain the appearance. Then, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 sends the reconstructed edited image to the transmission image creation unit 15.

  Various methods are conceivable as the method of reconstructing the edited image so that the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 conforms to the aspect ratio of the screen size and maintains the appearance.

[Example 1]
An embodiment of the above method will be described. In this embodiment, first, an editing image whose appearance is maintained is prepared for each aspect ratio, and the editing image information is recorded in the editing image recording unit 52 in association with the aspect ratio. The aspect ratio conversion unit 17 reads the editing image information corresponding to the aspect ratio of the screen size received from the transmission image creation unit 15 when reading the editing image information based on the editing content information.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the edited image can be reconstructed so as to conform to the aspect ratio and maintain the appearance by a simple process of reading the editing image corresponding to the aspect ratio. However, as the number of aspect ratios to be prepared increases, the recording capacity of the editing image recording unit 52 needs to be increased. Moreover, it is difficult to apply to an image drawn by a user like a so-called graffiti image.

[Example 2]
Another embodiment of the above method will be described. In this embodiment, first, a deleteable area or an addable area (non-characteristic part) is set for the editing image, and the set area information is recorded in the editing image recording unit 52. Then, when reading the editing image based on the editing content information, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 deletes the erasable area so as to conform to the aspect ratio of the screen size received from the transmission image creation unit 15, or Alternatively, the addable area is copied and added.

  9 and 10 show changes in the frame image according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9B shows an example of the original frame image recorded in the editing image recording unit 52, and FIG. 9A shows the structure of the original frame image. FIG. 9C shows a transmission image in which the transmission image creation unit 15 combines the original frame image and the captured image.

  FIG. 10B shows a frame image after the conversion of the original frame image by the aspect ratio conversion unit 17, and FIG. 10A shows the structure of the frame image after the conversion. Show. FIG. 10C shows a transmission image in which the transmission image creation unit 15 combines the converted frame image and the captured image. Note that the hatched area on both sides (both ends in the horizontal direction) in the transmission image shown in (c) of FIG. 10 indicates an area reduced from the transmission image shown in (c) of FIG.

  In FIG. 9 (a), a region extending in the vertical direction with a slanting line to the right is a erasable region. Here, when the aspect ratio of the screen size is larger than the aspect ratio of the original frame image, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 needs to convert the original frame image into a longer image. Therefore, in this embodiment, by deleting the erasable area shown in FIG. 9A, it is possible to convert to a vertically long frame image shown in FIG.

  Compared to the original frame image shown in FIG. 9B, the frame image after conversion shown in FIG. ing. However, it is understood that the frame image after the above conversion is maintained in appearance because no margins are provided in the upper and lower sides or the frame image pattern is not vertically long as in the conventional case. it can. Therefore, even if the transmission image shown in (c) of FIG. 9 is compared with the transmission image shown in (c) of FIG. 10, the appearance of the transmission image in which the frame image and the captured image are combined is maintained. I understand that.

  Note that when the original frame image is converted to a horizontally long image (with a small aspect ratio), the erasable area shown in FIG. 9A is set as an addable area or extends in the horizontal direction. It can be applied by setting a erasable area. Further, like the frame images shown in FIG. 9B and FIG. 10B, it is preferable to set a region similar in pattern to the surrounding region as the erasable region and the erasable region. .

  FIG. 11 shows another example of a frame image according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11A shows an example of an original transmission image (synthesized image) obtained by combining the original frame image recorded in the editing image recording unit 52 and the captured image by the transmission image creating unit 15. FIG. 11B shows an example of a transmission image after conversion in which the transmission image creation unit 15 synthesizes the converted frame image converted by the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 and the captured image.

  In (a) of FIG. 11, the area extending in the vertical direction with the slanting line to the right is the erasable area. Here, as shown in FIG. 10, when the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 needs to convert the original frame image into a more vertically long one, by deleting the erasable area shown in FIG. A vertically long transmission image shown in FIG. 11B can be created. Further, the converted transmission image shown in FIG. 11A has no upper and lower margins as compared with the original transmission image shown in FIG. Since the frame image pattern does not become vertically long, it can be understood that the appearance is maintained.

  In addition, it is preferable to set an area with few patterns as the erasable area and the erasable area as in the frame images shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b). Further, comparing (c) in FIG. 9 with (c) in FIG. 10 and (a) and (b) in FIG. 11, in the case of a photographed image, it is adapted to the aspect ratio of the screen size. It can be understood that the appearance is maintained by extracting from the original photographed image.

  FIG. 12 shows another example of a frame image according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12 shows an example of a converted transmission image obtained by combining the frame image after the conversion by the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 and the captured image by the transmission image creation unit 15. In the illustrated example, the erasable area of the frame image is set at both ends in the horizontal direction.

  In the case of the frame images shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the shapes characterizing the frame images are the words “Happy” and “Birthday”. Therefore, it can be understood that an area which does not include these words and extends to both ends in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction may be set as a deleteable area and an addable area. In this case, since the frame image converted by deleting or additionally inserting a part of the area has the above-described shape as it is, the appearance can be maintained.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A, 11A, and 12, the erasable area and the erasable area are areas that extend to both ends in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, and can be seen after conversion. Any area can be set as long as the area is maintained.

  In this embodiment, a known image recognition technique is used to identify an area where no graffiti is applied from the graffiti image, and the identified area is designated as a erasable area or an addable area. Can respond. Similarly, an area (characteristic portion) that is provided with a character or the like characterizing the editing image may be specified from the editing image, and an area other than the specified area may be set as a erasable area or an addable area. In this case, it is not necessary to set a deleteable area or an addable area in advance for the editing image. The same can be applied to the edited image.

Example 3
Another embodiment of the above method will be described. First, the editing image is divided into one or a plurality of erasable part images and one or a plurality of erasable part images and recorded in the editing image recording unit 52. Then, when reading the editing image based on the editing content information, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 cannot delete the image of the deleteable portion so as to match the aspect ratio of the screen size received from the transmission image creation unit 15. Rearrange the image of the part. At this time, in the area where the image of the deletable part and the image of the nondeletable part overlap, the image of the deletable part is deleted or superimposed.

  13 to 15 show examples of background images according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13 shows the original background image. FIG. 14A shows a reference example in which the original background image is converted into a vertically long background image. In the illustrated example, the character is vertically long, so that the appearance is poor.

  On the other hand, FIGS. 15A to 15C respectively show partial images obtained by dividing the original background image into an upper image, a central image, and a lower image according to the present embodiment. In the figure, an upper image and a lower image in which a character exists are images that cannot be deleted (characteristic portions), and a central image in which no character exists is an image that can be deleted.

  FIG. 14B shows a converted background image created by rearranging the partial images shown in FIG. 15 so as to conform to the aspect ratio of the screen size. In the illustrated example, it can be understood that the appearance before conversion is maintained since the aspect ratio of the character does not change.

  In the example of FIG. 15, when conversion is performed so that the aspect ratio is large, if a partial image is rearranged, a blank area in which the partial image is not generated is generated. This can be dealt with, for example, by copying the image of the erasable part to the blank area. In order to avoid such a situation, the editing image in which the partial images are arranged in the vertical direction has a larger aspect ratio. Is preferred. In this case, the conversion is often performed so that the aspect ratio becomes small, so that the occurrence of the blank area is reduced. Similarly, an editing image in which partial images are arranged in the horizontal direction preferably has a small aspect ratio.

  Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, this embodiment can be applied if the editing image is divided into the erasable area or the addable area and other areas. In addition, this embodiment can deal with a graffiti image or a stamp image by making an area to which a graffiti and / or stamp image has been applied an image of a non-deletable part and other areas as an image of a deletable part. Can do.

  An example of the above rearrangement calculation method will be described below. In this example, the stamp image included in the original image A of 400 × 300 pixels is rearranged in a new image B of 300 × 200 pixels. It can be applied to other images.

  First, a method for calculating the enlargement / reduction ratio will be described. This calculation method includes a method using a ratio and a method using an area.

The method of using the ratio uses one side of the image as a reference (100%) and uses the ratio of the length of the reference side as a reference. For example, when the side in the horizontal direction (horizontal side) is used as a reference, the following equation holds.
(Horizontal side of image A): (Horizontal side of image B) = 300: 200 = 100%: α%
In this case, since α = 2/3, the stamp image is compressed 2/3 times on each side. Similarly, a vertical side (vertical side) can be used as a reference.

On the other hand, the method using an area determines the enlargement / reduction ratio by comparing the areas of both images. In this example, the following equation holds.
(Area of image A): (Area of image B) = 400 × 300: 300 × 200 = 100%: β%
In this case, β = 1/2. Since this value is an area ratio, the side ratio is β ^1/2 = 2 ^1/2 / 2. Therefore, the stamp image is compressed to 2 ^1/2 / 2 times each side.

  Next, a method for calculating the rearrangement position will be described. The rearrangement position is calculated based on the ratio of each side to the distance from the center of the screen in each direction.

For example, when a stamp image is provided at a position of 100 pixels leftward from the center of the image A and 150 pixels upwardly, the following equation holds.
(Horizontal side of image A): (Horizontal side of image B) = (Horizontal distance from the center of image A to the stamp image): (Horizontal distance x from the center of image B to the stamp image)
∴300: 200 = 100: x
Therefore, x = 200/3. If the vertical direction is determined in the same manner, the position of the stamp image in the image B is 67 pixels leftward from the center of the image B and 112 pixels upward.

  In addition, it can process similarly about a handwritten character. In this case, the character string of the handwritten character may be recognized and the character string may be rearranged, or the handwritten character may be recognized one by one and rearranged one by one.

  Further, the above-described method for calculating the rearrangement position is applied to the stamp image provided in the peripheral portion of the edited image, and the stamp image provided in the central portion is rearranged in the same position as the original image A. May be. This is due to the following reason.

  That is, the user tends to shoot and edit (for example, draw sunglasses on the eyes) so that his / her appearance is arranged near the center of the captured image. In this case, if the above-described method for calculating the position of the rearrangement is applied to all the editing images, the editing images that should not be shifted are shifted slightly (for example, the drawn sunglasses I'm away from my eyes). Therefore, for the central part of the image which is the main part, the editing image or the like is rearranged as it is, and for the peripheral part of the image which is not a relatively main part, the above-described method for calculating the position of the rearrangement is applied. Also good.

  Further, when the editing image or the like is rearranged at the image end portion, the image end portion may protrude from the image end portion. In this case, a part of the editing image is missing. Therefore, the protruding editing image may be deleted. Alternatively, the rearrangement position may be slightly moved toward the center (for example, the distance from the center calculated by the above method to the rearrangement position is reduced to about 90%).

(Processing flow in the composite image providing system)
Next, the flow of processing in the composite image providing system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 16 shows the flow of processing in the photographic printing apparatus 1, the image storage server 200, the screen size determination server 201, and the mobile phone 300 that constitute the composite image providing system 100.

  First, in the photo printing apparatus 1, a standby demonstration screen (demonstration screen) is displayed on the captured image display unit 24 as a play start acceptance process. This demonstration screen includes information such as the machine name, abbreviation, and outline of the photography printing apparatus 1. Note that a message prompting the user to insert a coin such as “Please insert a coin” may be displayed on the demonstration screen. When a user entering the imaging space inserts a coin into the coin processing unit 21 and the accounting process by the control unit 10 is completed, the demo screen is switched to a size acquisition screen. A message for inquiring about the number of users in the current play is displayed on the size acquisition screen. The user uses the operation unit 26 to input the number of users.

  When the number of users is input, the following S10 and S11 shown in FIG. 16 are repeated for the number of users. Instead of performing this process, a process of repeating S10 and S11 may be performed until an end instruction is input from the user. In this case, the user may input the end instruction after repeating S10 and S11 for the number of users.

  That is, in step 10 (hereinafter referred to as S10), the ID setting unit 160 sets a user ID, and the two-dimensional code creation unit 161 includes the user ID and a URL indicating the screen size determination server 201 site. A two-dimensional code including Next, in S <b> 11, the two-dimensional code creation unit 161 displays the created two-dimensional code on the photographed image display unit 24 of the photographing unit 2.

  At this time, according to an instruction from the user, the user's mobile phone 300 takes in the two-dimensional code using the built-in camera, and acquires the URL and the user ID (S20). Next, the mobile phone 300 accesses the URL according to an instruction from the user (S21). At this time, the model information and user ID of the mobile phone 300 are transmitted from the mobile phone 300 to the screen size determination server 201.

  In the screen size determination server 201, when the model information acquisition unit 240 acquires the model information and the user ID (S30), the screen size search unit 241 refers to the model screen size correspondence recording unit 245 to obtain the model information. The corresponding screen size is determined, and the determined screen size is associated with the user ID and recorded in the ID screen size correspondence recording unit 246 (S31).

  After that, the screen size requesting unit 162 transmits the screen size request information and the user ID of the mobile phone 300 to the screen size determination server 201 in the photography printing apparatus 1 (S12). At this time, in the screen size determination server 201, the screen size transmission unit 243 reads the screen size corresponding to the user ID received from the photography printing apparatus 1 from the ID screen size correspondence recording unit 246 (S32), and the read screen size. Is transmitted to the photographic printing apparatus 1 (S33). Thereafter, the processing of the screen size determination server 201 ends.

  On the other hand, in the photography printing apparatus 1, the screen size request unit 162 receives the screen size, and records the received screen size in the screen size recording unit 55 in association with the user ID (S13). Note that S12 and S13 may be performed before the transmission image creation process (S17).

  Thereafter, in the photographic printing apparatus 1, the display screen of the photographic image display unit 24 is switched to the photographic processing screen to complete the acceptance process, and a known game process in the photographic printing apparatus 1 is performed. In other words, the control unit 10 performs a photographing process (S14), and the user performs a plurality of photographings in the photographing space. At this time, the user can take a picture while visually recognizing his / her appearance displayed on the camera image display unit 25. The photographed image acquisition unit 11 acquires the photographed image information and records it in the photographed image recording unit 51 by the above photography.

  When the shooting process is completed, the image editing unit 12 performs an editing process on the shot image recorded in the shot image recording unit 51 (S15). In this editing process, an image to be edited and various editing tools at the time of the image editing process such as graffiti are displayed on the composite image display unit 31a, and based on input instructions from the user with the touch pen 32 and the operation receiving unit 31b, Various editing processes are performed.

  When the editing process is completed, the print image creating unit 13 creates a print image, and performs a print process for instructing the printer unit 42 to print the created print image on the sticker sheet 142 (S16). While this printing process is being performed, a transmission image creation process is performed (S17).

  FIG. 17 shows the flow of processing for creating a transmission image. First, the transmission image creation unit 15 receives an input of a mail address of the mobile phone 300 that is an image transmission destination from the user. The accepted mail address is recorded in the mail address recording unit 56. Next, the transmission image creation unit 15 displays a plurality of composite images generated by the editing process on the composite image display unit 31a, and receives a selection input of a composite image to be transmitted from the user.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the transmission image creation unit 15 reads the user ID from the ID recording unit 57 (S50), and the screen size corresponding to the read user ID and the captured image in the composite image selected by the user. And the mail address input by the user are read out from the screen size recording unit 55, the captured image recording unit 51, and the mail address recording unit 56, respectively (S51).

  Next, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 reads the editing content information related to the composite image selected by the user from the editing content recording unit 53 (S52). Then, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 appropriately reads out the editing image being used from the editing image recording unit 52 based on the read editing content information, and creates an editing image that matches the aspect ratio of the screen size. (S53). On the other hand, the transmission image creation unit 15 extracts a portion suitable for the aspect ratio of the screen size from the read captured image (S54).

  Next, the transmission image creation unit 15 creates an image obtained by synthesizing the extracted portion of the captured image and the edited image as a transmission image (S55), and includes the created transmission image information, a user ID, and an e-mail address. Information is transmitted to the image storage server 200 (S56). Thereafter, the processing of the photographic printing apparatus 1 ends.

  Returning to FIG. 16, in the image storage server 200, when the transmission image acquisition unit 220 receives the transmission image information, the mail address, and the user ID from the photography printing apparatus 1 (S 40), the user ID is stored in the ID recording unit 57. Then, the transmission image information is recorded in the transmission image recording unit 226, the user ID is associated with the transmission image information, and the correspondence information indicating the association is recorded in the correspondence information recording unit 227 (S41). Next, the saved URL creation unit 221 creates saved URL information indicating the location where the transmission image information is saved, and notifies the created saved URL information by an e-mail addressed to the mail address (S42). ).

  On the other hand, when the user's mobile phone 300 receives the e-mail including the saved URL information (S22), the user's mobile phone 300 accesses the saved URL according to the user's instruction and transmits the user ID (S23). At this time, in the image storage server 200, the ID authentication unit 222 authenticates the user ID received from the mobile phone 300, and the transmission image search unit 223 transmits the transmission image information corresponding to the authenticated user ID. (S43).

  The transmission image search unit 223 transmits the searched transmission image information to the mobile phone 300 (S44). After the mobile phone 300 receives the transmission image information (S24), the processing operation of the composite image providing system 100 is performed. finish.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Compared to the composite image providing system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 17, the composite image providing system 100 according to the present embodiment generates a transmission image to be transmitted to the mobile phone 300 by the image storage server (image conversion apparatus) 200. The point is different.

  Specifically, the composite image providing system 100 of the present embodiment omits the screen size determination server 201 as compared to the composite image providing system 100 shown in FIG. Further, in the photography printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the screen size acquisition unit 16, the aspect ratio conversion unit 17, and the screen size recording unit 55 are omitted as compared with the photography printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The other configuration is the same except that a transmission processing unit that transmits information of a captured image and an edited image that constitute a composite image is provided instead of the transmission image creation unit 15. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure which has the function similar to the structure demonstrated in the said embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 18 shows a schematic configuration of the image storage server 200 of the present embodiment. The control unit 210 of the image storage server 200 according to the present embodiment is different from the control unit 210 illustrated in FIG. 7 in that a composite image acquisition unit 250 is provided instead of the transmission image acquisition unit 220, and the transmission image search unit 223 Instead, an image size acquisition unit 251, an aspect ratio conversion unit (conversion unit / specification unit) 252, and a transmission image creation unit 253 are provided, and other configurations are the same. In addition, the recording unit 211 of the image storage server 200 according to the present embodiment is different from the recording unit 211 shown in FIG. The difference is that a recording unit (image storage unit) 256 and a correspondence information recording unit 257 are provided, and the other configurations are the same.

  In the recording unit 211, the photographed image recording unit 255 and the edited image recording unit 256 record information of the photographed image and the edited image constituting the composite image created by the photograph photographing printing apparatus. The correspondence information recording unit 257 records correspondence information in which identification information of the captured image and the edited image is associated with a user ID.

  The composite image acquisition unit 250 acquires information about the captured image and the edited image that constitute the composite image, and additional information from the photograph printing apparatus via the communication unit 212. The composite image acquisition unit 250 records the acquired captured image information and edited image information in the captured image recording unit 255 and the edited image recording unit 256, and records the user ID included in the additional information in the ID recording unit 225. The identification information of the captured image and the edited image is associated with the user ID and recorded in the correspondence information recording unit 257.

  When the ID authentication unit 222 authenticates the user ID, the image size acquisition unit 251 acquires the image size of the transmission image desired by the user from the user via the mobile phone 300 and the communication unit 212. The image size acquisition unit 251 sends the acquired image size to the transmission image creation unit 253 and the aspect ratio conversion unit 252.

  The aspect ratio conversion unit 252 converts the edited image read from the edited image recording unit 256 so as to conform to the aspect ratio of the image size acquired by the image size acquisition unit 251 and maintain the appearance of the edited image. Is. In the present embodiment, as in the second example, the above-described processing can be executed by setting an area where no image is applied as an erasable area in the edited image.

  The transmission image creation unit 253 creates a transmission image that is an image suitable for transmission from the composite image. The transmission image creation unit 253 transmits information on the created transmission image to the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 212.

  Specifically, the transmission image creation unit 253 first reads the captured image information corresponding to the user ID authenticated by the ID authentication unit 222 from the captured image recording unit 255. Next, the transmission image creation unit 253 extracts an area that matches the image size received from the image size acquisition unit 251 from the captured image. Further, the transmission image creation unit 253 obtains an edited image corresponding to the user ID, which is adapted to the aspect ratio of the image size and whose appearance is maintained, from the aspect ratio conversion unit 252. Then, the transmission image creation unit 253 creates a transmission image by combining the extracted captured image and the acquired edited image, and transmits information about the created transmission image to the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 212. To do.

  Therefore, the composite image providing system 100 according to the present embodiment converts the composite image created by the photography printing apparatus 1 into a transmission image that matches the aspect ratio desired by the user and maintains its appearance. To the user's mobile phone 300. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a case where the user wants to change the aspect ratio of the composite image after the game on the photo print apparatus 1 is finished. It is particularly suitable when the user wants to upload the composite image to a site on the Internet with a limited image size.

  FIG. 19 shows the flow of processing in the image storage server 200 having the above configuration. As shown in the figure, first, the composite image acquisition unit 250 sends the information of the captured image and the edited image constituting the composite image, the user ID and the mail address included in the additional information, from the photography printing apparatus 1 to the communication unit 212. It is determined whether or not it has been received via (S60). If not received, the process proceeds to S63.

  On the other hand, when received, the composite image acquisition unit 250 records the received composite image information, that is, the received captured image information and the edited image information, in the captured image recording unit 255 and the edited image recording unit 256, respectively, and additional information. Is recorded in the ID recording unit 225, and correspondence information in which the identification information of the captured image and the edited image is associated with the user ID is recorded in the correspondence information recording unit 257 (S61). Next, the saved URL creation unit 221 creates saved URL information indicating the location where the composite image information is saved, as in S41 of FIG. 16, and the created saved URL information is sent to the mail address as the destination. Notification is made by e-mail (S62). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S63.

  In S <b> 63, the ID authentication unit 222 determines whether a user ID has been received from the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 212. If not received, the process returns to S60 and the above operation is repeated.

  On the other hand, if received, the ID authentication unit 222 authenticates the received user ID (S64). If the authentication fails, the control unit 210 creates an error message and transmits it to the mobile phone 300 from the communication unit 212 (S65), and then returns to S60 to repeat the above operation.

  On the other hand, if the authentication is successful, the image size acquisition unit 251 requests and acquires the image size of the transmission image desired by the user from the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 212 (S66). Next, the transmission image creation unit 253 creates the transmission image from the composite image based on the image size acquired by the image size acquisition unit 251 (S67). The details of the process of S67 are the same as the process shown in FIG. Then, the transmission image creation unit 253 transmits the created transmission image to the mobile phone 300 via the communication unit 212 (S68). Then, it returns to S60 and repeats the said operation | movement.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 300 is used as a user communication terminal. However, in the present embodiment, a transmission image suitable for the image size desired by the user is created instead of a transmission image suitable for the screen size of the mobile phone 300. Therefore, a PC (Personal Computer) is used as the user's communication terminal. Any communication terminal such as can be used.

  Further, the image storage server 200 may acquire the editing content information and the editing image being used instead of acquiring the editing image information. In this case, the processing of the first to third embodiments can be executed as the aspect ratio conversion processing.

[Embodiment 3]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Compared with the composite image providing system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 17, the composite image providing system 100 according to the present embodiment reflects the edit corresponding to the screen size of the mobile phone 300 when the user performs image editing. The edit reflection area, which is the area to be edited, is displayed, and the background image and frame image are converted to an image that matches the aspect ratio of the above screen size and maintains its appearance. The other configurations are the same. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure which has the function similar to the structure demonstrated in the said embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 20 shows a schematic configuration of the image editing unit (synthetic image converting means) 12. As illustrated, the image editing unit 12 includes an editing reflection area setting unit (editing reflection area presenting unit) 120, an edited image creation unit (edited image conversion unit) 121, a captured image acquisition unit (captured image conversion unit) 122, and This is a configuration including a combining unit (combining means) 123.

  The edit reflection area setting unit 120 sets the edit reflection area based on the aspect ratio of the screen size recorded in the screen size recording unit 55. The edit reflection region setting unit 120 sends the set edit reflection region to the edited image creation unit 121 and causes the composite image display unit (edited image display unit) 31a to present it. As a method of presenting, on the editing screen of the composite image display unit 31a, the region other than the edit reflection region in the region where the composite image is displayed displays the composite image in black and white, or displays an image other than the composite image. And non-display methods.

  The edited image creating unit 121 creates an edited image that is an image added by the user in the image editing process. Specifically, the edited image creation unit 121 adds a frame image or background image read from the editing image recording unit 52 to the edited image area based on an instruction input by the user through the operation receiving unit 31b. The stamp image read from the editing image recording unit 52 is arranged, or a graffiti image is added. The edited image creation unit 121 sends the created edited image information to the composition unit 123 and records the edited content information in the edited content recording unit 53.

  In the present embodiment, the edited image creation unit 121 displays the above screen when the aspect ratio of the screen size read from the screen size recording unit 55 is different from the aspect ratio of the frame image or background image read from the editing image recording unit 52. The size aspect ratio and the frame image or background image are sent to the aspect ratio conversion unit 17. As a result, the edited image creation unit 121 can acquire a frame image or background image that matches the aspect ratio of the screen size and maintains the appearance from the aspect ratio conversion unit 17. Note that the edited image creation unit 121 preferably accepts only image editing processing for the edit reflection region set by the edit reflection region setting unit 120.

  The captured image acquisition unit 122 acquires the captured image selected by the user from the captured image recording unit 51. The captured image acquisition unit 122 sends the acquired captured image to the synthesis unit.

  The composition unit 123 synthesizes the edited image received from the edited image creation unit 121 and the captured image received from the captured image acquisition unit 122. The synthesizing unit 123 causes the synthesized image display unit 31a to display information on the synthesized image.

  22 to 24 show examples of editing screens displayed on the composite image display unit 31a in the editing process. As shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, the edit screen displays an edit target image display area A1, an edit tool selection area A2, an edit tool setting area A3, an eraser tool selection area A4, and an edit target image selection area A5. ing. In addition, a remaining time display area, clear of edit processing, undo, redo button, end button, and the like are displayed. In this editing screen, an editing target image display area A1, an editing tool selection area A2, an editing tool setting area A3, and an eraser tool selection area A4 so that two users can simultaneously perform editing processing. Are displayed on the left and right sides of the screen.

  In the editing target image display area A1, the photographed image selected in the editing target image selection area A5 is displayed, and editing processing such as image drawing and pasting is performed in this area. The editing tool selection area A2 is an area for receiving selection of various editing tools used in editing processing. As an editing tool, a pen tool and a handwriting tool for drawing a line image corresponding to the input locus of the user, a stamp tool and a roll tool for pasting a predetermined image at a position on the image to be edited designated by the user, and Special tools that have special effects are listed. Detailed setting of the tool selected here is performed in the editing tool setting area A3. The eraser tool selection area A4 is an area where the size of the erase area of the eraser tool for erasing the edited image added to the photographed image by the editing process is selected.

  In the present embodiment, based on the aspect ratio of the screen size of the mobile phone 300, the edit reflection area is presented in the edit target image display area (area where the composite image is displayed) A1. Thereby, the user can perform image editing suitable for the screen size of the mobile phone 300 by performing image editing only in the edit reflection area.

  In the example of FIGS. 22 and 23, the aspect ratio of the screen size related to the right user is larger than the aspect ratio of the editing target image display area A1. Therefore, an area in which the left end area A11 and the right end area A12 are excluded in the right edit target image display area A1 is set as the edit reflection area A10. 22 and 23, the left end area A11 and the right end area A12, which are hatched areas, are non-display areas.

  On the other hand, for the user on the left side, the aspect ratio of the screen size is equal to the aspect ratio of the editing target image display area A1, or is not recorded in the screen size recording unit 55. Therefore, the entire edit target image display area A1 on the left side is set as the edit reflection area A10.

  In the example of FIG. 24, the aspect ratio of the screen size related to the left user is smaller than the aspect ratio of the editing target image display area A1. Therefore, an area in which the upper end area A13 and the lower end area A14 are excluded in the left edit target image display area A1 is set as the edit reflection area A10. And the upper end part area | region A13 and lower end part area | region A14 which are the area | regions which gave the oblique line in FIG. 24 are non-display areas.

  On the other hand, for the right user, the aspect ratio of the screen size is equal to the aspect ratio of the editing target image display area A1, or is not recorded in the screen size recording unit 55. For this reason, the entire edit target image display area A1 on the right side is set as the edit reflection area A10.

  In the present embodiment, when the aspect ratio of the screen size of the mobile phone 300 is different from the aspect ratio of the frame image or the background image read from the editing image recording unit 52, the aspect ratio of the screen size is adapted. It is converted into a frame image or a background image whose appearance is maintained and displayed on the composite image display unit 31a. Thereby, an edited image suitable for the screen size of the mobile phone 300 can be acquired.

  Referring to the left edit target image display area A1 shown in FIG. 22, the right edit target image display area A1 shown in FIG. 23, and the left edit target image display area A1 shown in FIG. 24, the frame image G10 is displayed on the screen. It can be understood that the size changes according to the aspect ratio of the size. Further, referring to the left edit target image display area A1 shown in FIG. 22 and the right edit target image display area A1 shown in FIG. 23, the left user adds a frame image G10 to a certain captured image. After the editing process is performed, when the right user selects the captured image as an editing target, it is understood that the added frame image G10 automatically changes according to the aspect ratio of the screen size. it can.

  FIG. 21 shows the detailed flow of the editing process (S15) shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, first, the edit reflection region setting unit 120 presents the edit reflection region to the composite image display unit 31a based on the screen size recorded in the screen size recording unit 55 (S70). Next, in accordance with an instruction from the user, the captured image acquisition unit 122 selects a captured image to be displayed in the edit target image display area A1 of the composite image display unit 31a from the captured image recording unit 51 (S71). The selected photographed image is sent from the photographed image acquisition unit 122 to the composite image display unit 31a via the composition unit 123, thereby being displayed in the edit target image display area A1 (S72).

  Thereafter, actual image editing by the user is performed. When the user selects any editing image, the editing image creation unit 121 determines whether the selected editing image is a frame image or a background image (S73). In the case of the frame image or the background image, the edited image creation unit 121 instructs the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 to adapt the frame image or the background image to the aspect ratio of the screen size and maintain the appearance. The converted frame image or background image is combined by the combining unit 123 and displayed on the combined image display unit 31a (S74). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S76.

  On the other hand, when the selected editing image is not the frame image or the background image, the editing image creation unit 121 reads the selected editing image from the editing image recording unit 52. The read editing image is combined by the combining unit 123 and displayed on the combined image display unit 31a (S75). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S76.

  In S76, the image editing unit 12 determines whether or not the user has instructed the end of editing. When the end of editing is instructed, the editing process is terminated and the process returns to the original routine shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the end of editing has not been instructed, the process proceeds to S77.

  In S77, the image editing unit 12 determines whether the user has instructed the selection of another captured image. When the selection is instructed, the process proceeds to S78. On the other hand, if the selection is not instructed, the process returns to S73 and the above operation is repeated.

  In S78, the image editing unit 12 determines whether or not the selected captured image has already been edited. If not edited, the captured image acquisition unit 122 reads the selected captured image from the captured image recording unit 51. The read captured image is sent from the captured image acquisition unit 122 to the combined image display unit 31a via the combining unit 123, and is displayed in the editing target image display area A1 (S79). Then, it returns to S73 and repeats the said operation | movement.

  On the other hand, when the edited image has already been edited, the edited image creating unit 121 obtains the edited content for the selected captured image from the edited content recording unit 53 and creates an edited image based on the obtained edited content. At this time, the edited image creation unit 121 instructs the aspect ratio conversion unit 17 to convert the edited image so as to conform to the aspect ratio of the screen size (S80). The converted edited image is combined with the photographed image by the combining unit and displayed in the editing target image display area A1 of the combined image display unit 31a (S80). Then, it returns to S73 and repeats the said operation | movement.

  After the editing process (S15) is completed, a transmission image creation process (S17) is performed. In this process, a transmission image selection screen for selecting a composite image to be transmitted is displayed on the composite image display unit 31a. The FIG. 25 shows an example of the transmission image selection screen. In the example shown in the figure, the selection candidate composite image is converted to fit the aspect ratio of the screen size and displayed as a thumbnail. In this case, the user can check the transmission image itself transmitted to the mobile phone 300 with the photography / printing apparatus 1.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, each block of the photography printing apparatus 1, the image storage server 200, and the screen size determination server 201, in particular, the control units 10, 210, and 230 may be configured by hardware logic, or the CPU as described below. It may be realized by software using

  That is, the photography printing apparatus 1, the image storage server 200, and the screen size determination server 201 include a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, and a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program. ), A RAM (random access memory) for expanding the program, and a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is to provide program codes (execution format program, intermediate code program, source code) of control programs for the photography printing apparatus 1, the image storage server 200, and the screen size determination server 201, which are software for realizing the functions described above. The recording medium in which the program is recorded so as to be readable by the computer is supplied to the photography printing apparatus 1, the image storage server 200, and the screen size determination server 201, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) is recorded on the recording medium. This can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the photography printing apparatus 1, the image storage server 200, and the screen size determination server 201 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  By the way, the image conversion apparatus is an image conversion apparatus including conversion means for converting an original image into a new image having another aspect ratio, and the original image is a part having a shape characterizing itself, and the image conversion apparatus. Comprising one or a plurality of characteristic portions that are portions extending in one of the direction and the horizontal direction, and one or a plurality of non-characteristic portions that are portions other than the characteristic portions, and the conversion means adds the original image to the original image. On the other hand, the new image may be created by deleting or adding at least one of the non-characteristic portions.

  The image conversion method is an image conversion method for converting an original image into a new image having a different aspect ratio, and has a shape characterizing the original image, and extends in one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Deleting or adding at least one of the non-characteristic parts to the original image having one or more characteristic parts that are the non-characteristic parts and one or more non-characteristic parts that are parts other than the characteristic parts. The method for creating the new image may be used.

  According to the above configuration and method, a new image is created by deleting or adding at least one non-characteristic portion to the original image. For example, when the original image is converted into a new image having a large aspect ratio, the non-characteristic portion extending in the vertical direction may be deleted or the non-characteristic portion extending in the horizontal direction may be added. When the original image is converted into a new image with a small aspect ratio, a non-characteristic portion extending in the vertical direction may be added or a non-characteristic portion extending in the horizontal direction may be deleted.

  At this time, since the feature portions of the original image and the new image are the same, the shapes included in the feature portions are also the same. That is, since the image characterizing the original image is not distorted or deleted, the appearance can be maintained even if the original image is converted into a new image having a different aspect ratio. It should be noted that the deleted non-feature portion may be superimposed on the adjacent portion in the original image.

  According to the present invention, by creating a new image by adding at least one non-characteristic portion to the original image, the original image can be viewed even if converted to a new image having a different aspect ratio. Since the image quality can be maintained, the present invention can be applied to any image processing apparatus that converts an original image into a new image having a different aspect ratio, in addition to a photographic printing apparatus and an image storage server.

1 Photographic printing device (image conversion device / photographing / editing device)
2 photographing unit 3 editing unit 4 printing unit 6 212 232 communication unit 10 210 210 control unit 11 photographed image acquisition unit 12 image editing unit (composite image conversion means)
13 Print image creation unit 15 Transmission image creation unit (composite image conversion means / captured image conversion means / composition means)
16 Screen size acquisition unit 17 Aspect ratio conversion unit (conversion unit / edited image conversion unit / identification unit)
24 Captured image display unit 26 Operation unit 31 Touch panel unit 31a Composite image display unit (edited image display unit)
31b Operation accepting unit 32 Touch pen 33 Audio output unit 34 Infrared communication unit 50, 211, 231 Recording unit 51 Captured image recording unit 52 Editing image recording unit (image storage unit)
53 Editing content recording part (image storage part)
54 Print Image Recording Unit 55 Screen Size Recording Unit 56 Mail Address Recording Unit 57 ID Recording Unit 100 Composite Image Providing System (Image Providing System)
120 Edit reflection area setting section (edit reflection area presenting means)
121 Edited image creation unit (edited image conversion means)
122 Captured image acquisition unit (captured image conversion means)
123 Synthesizer (synthesizer)
160 ID setting unit 161 Two-dimensional code creation unit 162 Screen size request unit 200 Image storage server (image conversion apparatus)
201 Screen size determination server 220 Transmission image acquisition unit 221 Saved URL creation unit 222 ID authentication unit 222 Communication unit 223 Transmission image search unit (providing means)
225 ID recording unit 226 Transmission image recording unit 227 Corresponding information recording unit 240 Model information acquisition unit (model information acquisition means)
241 Screen size search unit (screen size acquisition means)
242 Request acquisition unit 243 Screen size sending unit 245 Model screen size correspondence recording unit (corresponding storage unit)
246 ID screen size correspondence recording unit 250 Composite image acquisition unit 251 Image size acquisition unit 252 Aspect ratio conversion unit (conversion unit / specification unit)
253 Transmission image creation unit 255 Captured image recording unit 256 Edited image recording unit (image storage unit)
257 Corresponding information recording unit 300 Mobile phone (communication terminal)
A10 Edit reflection area G10 Frame image

Claims (12)

An image conversion apparatus comprising conversion means for converting an original image into a new image having a different aspect ratio,
The original image is a portion having a shape characterizing itself, and a plurality of feature portions that are portions extending in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, and one or more non-characteristic portions that are portions other than the feature portions. Consisting of characteristic parts,
And the converting means, wherein to the original image, image converter, characterized in that to create the new image has been added at least one of the non-feature portion between the plurality of feature portions.   The converting means creates the new image by adding at least one of the non-characteristic portions between the plurality of characteristic portions and extending to both ends to the original image. The image conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image conversion apparatus is an image conversion apparatus.   The conversion unit creates the new image by additionally inserting at least one of the non-feature portions between the plurality of feature portions between the plurality of feature portions with respect to the original image. The image conversion apparatus according to claim 1. An image storage unit for storing information of the original image;
The image storage unit further stores position information indicating a position of the feature portion or the non-feature portion in the original image,
4. The conversion unit according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit converts the original image into the new image based on the information on the original image and the position information stored in the image storage unit . The image conversion apparatus according to item 1 . An image storage unit for storing information of the original image;
The image storage unit stores the information of the original image divided into information on the characteristic part and information on the non-characteristic part,
The said conversion means converts the said original image into the said new image based on the information of the said characteristic part memorize | stored in the said image memory | storage part, and the information of the said non-characteristic part, The said 1st to 3rd The image conversion apparatus according to any one of the above. The image recognition, the image conversion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising a specifying means for specifying the feature portion and the non-feature portion. An image providing system for providing an image to a communication terminal,
A correspondence storage unit that stores correspondence information in which the model information of the communication terminal is associated with the screen size;
Model information acquisition means for acquiring model information of the communication terminal;
Screen size acquisition means for acquiring the screen size corresponding to the model information acquired by the model information acquisition means based on the correspondence information of the correspondence storage unit;
The image conversion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein an original image is converted into a new image having an aspect ratio of the screen size acquired by the screen size acquisition unit;
An image providing system comprising: providing means for providing the new image to the communication terminal. A photographing editing apparatus that provides a composite image obtained by combining the photographed image with the edited image by performing an editing process on the photographed image obtained by photographing the subject,
Comprising a composite image conversion means for converting the composite image into a new composite image having another aspect ratio;
The composite image conversion means includes
A photographed image converting means for converting the photographed image into a new photographed image having the different aspect ratio;
An edited image conversion means for converting the edited image into a new edited image having the different aspect ratio;
Image synthesizing means for creating the new synthesized image by synthesizing the new edited image with the new photographed image;
The photographed image conversion means generates the new photographed image by extracting a portion having the different aspect ratio from the photographed image,
7. The photographing editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edited image converting means is the image converting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . An edited image display unit for creating the edited image;
The edit reflection area presenting means for presenting an edit reflection area, which is an area in which the editing process is reflected, based on the different aspect ratio on the display screen of the edited image display section. 8. The photographing and editing apparatus according to 8 . An image conversion program for operating the image conversion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the image conversion program causes a computer to function as each of the means. A computer-readable recording medium on which the image conversion program according to claim 10 is recorded. An image conversion method of an image conversion apparatus for converting an original image into a new image having another aspect ratio,
The image conversion apparatus has a shape that characterizes the original image, and includes a plurality of feature portions that are portions extending in one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, and one or a plurality of non-feature portions that are portions other than the feature portions. wherein to the original image, image conversion method of the image conversion apparatus, characterized in that to create the new image has been added at least one of the non-feature portion between the plurality of feature portions having a characteristic portion.

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