JP5374209B2 - Content sharing system, content sharing server and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content sharing system for sharing content with a user whose address is unknown or any user other than a community member. <P>SOLUTION: The content sharing system is configured to perform retrieval based on metadata (shooting position and shooting time and date) created simultaneously with a content file for content stored in a content sharing server, and to select one content from among the content which can be viewed by the user to perform retrieval, and to extract the content whose shooting position and shooting time and date are similar with those of the content, and when the viewing of the extracted content is not permitted, viewing request can be made. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content sharing system, and more particularly to a content sharing system capable of searching based on metadata stored in content.

  Conventionally, as a method of sharing content, there has been a method of individually sending to an acquaintance using e-mail or the like.

  There has also been a content sharing system in which users register content with a server computer and share it with other users. For registered content, the content registrant could arbitrarily set the content viewer. For example, the content could be made public so that anyone could view it, and the content could be shared with many users.

  It was also possible to create a community in the content sharing system, register the content in the community, and limit the content viewers to community members.

  According to the content sharing system described in Patent Document 1, contents when a plurality of users in a community participate in a common event are automatically analyzed and classified as events based on position information and time information. Sharing content promotes content distribution among users in the community.

JP 2007-249821 A

  When sharing content using e-mail or the like, there is a problem that the content cannot be sent to a partner who does not know the contact information such as an e-mail address.

  In addition, when content was registered in the content sharing system and opened to the public, an unspecified number of users could view it. Therefore, if contents such as face photographs that can identify individuals are made public, there is a problem that privacy cannot be secured.

  In addition, when content is registered in a community, the content viewer is limited to community members. For this reason, there is a problem that content cannot be shared with members who do not know the existence of the community.

A content sharing system according to the present invention includes:
  A content sharing system having an information terminal used by a user and a content sharing server connected to the information terminal via a network,
  The content sharing server is
  Content recording means for recording at least one content and metadata of the content for each user who has registered the content;
  First display means for displaying, on the first information terminal operated by the first user, a list of contents viewable by the first user among the contents recorded in the content recording means;
  When one content is selected from the list of contents displayed on the first information terminal by the first information terminal, another user having metadata similar to the metadata of the one content. Content search means for searching whether content exists in the content recording means;
  When the content of the other user exists, it is determined whether the first user can view the content of the other user, and the viewable content that can be viewed by the first user is determined. Is displayed on the first information terminal, and the content registrant who is the other user who has registered the unviewable content in the content recording means for the unviewable content that the first user cannot view And second display means for displaying metadata of the unviewable content on the first information terminal,
  When the content registrant displayed on the first information terminal receives a request for viewing the unviewable content from the first information terminal, the content registrant operates the second information terminal. Viewing requesting means for requesting viewing of the unviewable content;
  It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, content can be shared with other users who do not know contact information without making the content publicly available.

It is a figure which shows the functional block of the content sharing server and information processing apparatus which comprise this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline of a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement when the content sharing server of a 1st Example searches a content file. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement when the content sharing server of a present Example performs content viewing request. It is a figure which shows the outline of a 2nd Example.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment includes a content sharing server that provides a content sharing service via the web, and an information processing apparatus that registers content by accessing the content sharing server via a network.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a content sharing server and an information processing apparatus that constitute this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the content sharing server 10 includes a content management unit 11, a content recording unit 12, a message management unit 13, and a community management unit 14. Specifically, the content sharing server 10 is a computer configured by a non-illustrated processor, memory, nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive, and the like.

  The content management unit 11 transmits a predetermined HTML page in response to access from the web browser using the HTTP protocol. The predetermined page is configured to display a page that allows content registration on a web browser. The content management unit 11 can be configured by, for example, a program that is read and executed from a non-illustrated non-volatile memory by a processor (not shown) and a network interface (not shown).

  The content recording unit 12 records the content registered by the web browser according to the instruction from the content management unit 10 and reads the content specified by the content management unit 11. The content recording unit 12 can be configured by, for example, a program that a processor (not shown) reads and executes from a nonvolatile memory (not shown) and a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive controlled by the program.

  The message management unit 13 transmits a predetermined HTML page in response to access by the HTTP protocol from the web browser. The predetermined page is configured such that a page on which a message can be transmitted on a web browser is displayed to other users. The message management unit 13 can be configured by, for example, a program that is read and executed from a non-illustrated non-volatile memory by a processor (not shown) and a network interface (not shown).

  The community management unit 14 receives an access by the HTTP protocol from the web browser and transmits a predetermined HTML page. The predetermined page is configured to display a page on which a community can be created and a member can be registered in the community on a web browser. The community management unit 14 can be configured by, for example, a program that a processor (not shown) reads and executes from a nonvolatile memory (not shown) and a network interface (not shown).

  The content sharing server 10 and the information processing apparatus 30 are connected to the network 20. The network 20 is, for example, an Internet connection network, and a line and a repeater are multiplex connected.

  The information processing apparatus 30 includes a user interface 31, a web browser 32, a network monitoring unit 33, and a file system 34. Specifically, the information processing device 30 is a computer configured by a non-illustrated processor, memory, nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive, and the like.

  The user interface 31 transmits user operations to a processor (not shown). The user interface 31 can be configured by, for example, a program that is read from a non-volatile memory (not shown) and executed by a processor (not shown), a display device (not shown), and an input device (not shown).

  The web browser 32 accesses the content management unit 11, the message management unit 13, or the community management unit 14 according to a predetermined URL, and receives and displays the HTML page. For example, contents registered by the user and a list of contents viewable by the user are displayed to the user who uses the information processing apparatus 30. In addition, a signal corresponding to a user operation on the displayed HTML page is transmitted to the content management unit 11, the message management unit 13, or the community management unit 14. For example, when the user designates content desired to be viewed via the user interface 31, the signal is transmitted to the content management unit. The web browser 32 can be constituted by, for example, a program that is read and executed from a non-illustrated non-volatile memory by a processor (not shown), a display device (not shown), and an input device (not shown).

  The network monitoring unit 33 monitors communication performed by the web browser 32 with the content management unit 11, the message management unit 13, or the community management unit 14. The network monitoring unit 33 can be configured by, for example, a program that is read and executed from a non-illustrated non-volatile memory by a processor (not shown) and a network interface (not shown).

  The file system 34 records the content file 41. The content file 41 is, for example, a JPEG file shot with a digital still camera or an MPEG file shot with a digital video camera. Each content file stores metadata 41a generated at the time of content shooting. The metadata 41a includes the shooting position and shooting date / time of the content. The file system 34 can be configured by, for example, a program that a processor (not shown) reads and executes from a nonvolatile memory (not shown) and a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive controlled by the program.

(First embodiment)
Next, the operation of the content sharing server according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the present embodiment. User A accesses the content management unit 11 in the content sharing server 10 using the web browser of the information processing apparatus, and registers the content files 411, 412, and 413 in the content recording unit 12. Similarly, user B has registered content files 414 and 415.

  The content registrant can arbitrarily set the content viewer for the content file stored in the content recording unit 12. For example, only the content registrant can view or publicly open so that anyone who can access the content sharing server 10 can view.

  The user can search for the content file in the content recording unit 12 based on the metadata stored in the content file. For example, when one of registered contents displayed on the web browser 32 of the information processing apparatus 30 is selected and the search is executed, a content file having a shooting position and shooting date and time similar to the selected content is searched. Can do.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation when the content sharing server of this embodiment searches for a content file. The web browser 32 displays a list of contents that can be viewed by the user who operates the information processing apparatus 30. The user interface 31 receives an instruction for the content selected by the user from the content list and transmits it to the content management unit 11 (step S11).

  The content management unit 11 reads the shooting position and shooting date / time from the metadata of the selected content file, and among the content files recorded in the content recording unit 12, the content file having metadata similar to the metadata is stored. Search is performed (step S12).

  The similar metadata is, for example, within a radius of 1 km from the shooting position of the content file selected by the user, within one hour before and after the shooting date. The similar range may be arbitrarily set by the user who performs the search.

  If the corresponding content file does not exist as a result of the search, the process is terminated. When the corresponding content file exists, the content management unit 11 determines whether the user can view the content for each extracted content file. (Step S13, Step S14).

  For the content file that can be viewed by the user, the thumbnail file of the content file is displayed on the web browser 32 (step S15). For a content file that cannot be viewed by the user, the content registrant and metadata of the content file are displayed on the web browser 32 (step 16).

  Note that the user can request viewing of the content file that cannot be viewed. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation when the content sharing server of this embodiment makes a content viewing request. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 starts when a content file that cannot be viewed is extracted in the operation of FIG.

  For content files that cannot be viewed as a result of the search, the user name of the content registrant is displayed on the web browser 32. When the user who operates the information processing device 30 selects the user name of the content registrant displayed on the web browser 32, the user interface 31 receives the instruction and sends it to the message management unit 13 (step S21).

  The message management unit 13 displays the content viewing request screen on the web browser 32 (step S22). When the user requests content viewing on the content viewing request screen, the message management unit 13 notifies the content registrant of the name of the content file for which viewing has been requested and the name of the user who has requested viewing. (Step S23, Step S24).

  When the content registrant who receives the notification permits viewing, the content management unit 11 registers the user who requested the viewing with the content viewer of the content file (steps S25 and S26). As a result, the user who has requested viewing can view the content file.

  Here, consider a case where the user A shown in FIG. 2 selects the content file 412 and performs a search based on the metadata 412a. As a result of the search, the content file 414 registered by the user B is extracted. Since user A is not permitted to view the content file 414, the user name of user B is displayed on the web browser 32.

  At this time, the user A requests viewing of the content file 414 to the user B who is a content registrant. In response to user A's request for viewing, user B can determine whether or not the content can be viewed. If user B permits viewing, user A can view content file 414.

  In addition, when making a request for viewing the content file 414, the user A can prompt the user B to view the content file 412 at the same time. In other words, by indicating content having metadata similar to the content registered by user B, it is possible to suggest that both users may be in the same place at the same time, and to foster trust in user B's user A it can. This increases the possibility that the user B permits the user A to request viewing.

  Further, when the user requests viewing, a message may be sent to the content registrant. For example, a message input field is provided on the content viewing request screen. The user who requests the viewing enters a predetermined message in the message input field. The entered message is notified to the content registrant at the same time as the request for viewing. In the same way, when determining whether or not to request content viewing, the content registrant may send a message to the user who has requested viewing. Messages are exchanged via the message management unit 13 of the content sharing server 10. Therefore, user A and user B can exchange messages while remaining anonymous.

  In this embodiment, user A performs a search based on the content file registered by himself / herself. However, if the content file can be viewed by the user A, a content file registered by a user other than the user A can be selected and a search can be performed based on the selected content file.

(Second embodiment)
Subsequently, a second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the content sharing server 10 includes a community management unit 14. The community management unit 14 creates a community in response to a request from the user, and registers users who participate in the community as members. In the present embodiment, the operation when searching for the content file of the content sharing server 10 and the operation when making a content viewing request are the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, a community 50 is formed in the content sharing server 10. The community 50 created a user X, a community manager. The community administrator has the authority to register other users as members in the community.

  Users X, Y, and Z are registered as members in the community 50 and are community members. On the other hand, the user W is not registered as a member in the community 50.

  In the community 50, content files held by community members can be registered. Only the community members can view the content file registered in the community 50.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the user X registers content files 418, 419 and 420 in the community 50. User Y has registered content files 421 and 422. In this case, users X, Y, and Z who are community members can view the content files 418 to 422. On the other hand, the user W cannot view these contents.

  The user W registers the content files 416 and 417, and searches the content file 416 based on the metadata 416a. As a result, content files 417 and 422 were extracted. The user W can naturally view the content file 417 registered by the user W, but cannot view the content file 422 registered in the community 50.

  As in the first embodiment, the user W can request the user Y to view the content file 422. When the user Y permits the viewing request, the user W can view the content file 422.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the user W can prompt the user Y to view the content file 416. If user Y views content file 416 and finds that user W has the same attributes as the community member, user Y obtains permission from user X (community manager) and invites user W to the community. You can also.

  Here, as an example, let us consider a case where the community 50 is an elementary school community and the content files 416, 417, and 422 are photographs of an elementary school athletic meet. The user W and community members are parents of elementary school. The content file 416 is a photograph showing the child of the user W.

  As described above, the user W has requested viewing of the content file 422 registered by the user Y. At this time, the user W has the user Y view the content file 416 (a photograph of the user W's child). From this, the user Y regards the user W as a guardian of an elementary school and invited him to the community 50.

  On the other hand, users X, Y, and Z who are community members can search based on the metadata 422a of the content file 422 to search for content related to the athletic meet in the content sharing server. And when the corresponding content registrant is found, it can also invite to a community like the user W.

  The content sharing server 10 may have a face recognition function. In this case, based on the co-content file 416 (a photograph of the child of the user W), a photograph showing the child of the user W can be searched from the viewable registered contents.

  For example, the user Y instructs the search by the face recognition function based on the content file 416 (the photograph of the child of the user W). The user interface 31 receives the instruction and transmits it to the content management unit 11. The content management unit 11 detects the face of the child of the user W shown in the content file 416 and reads the feature. Thereafter, the content management unit 11 searches the content files recorded in the content recording unit 12 for content files that can be viewed by the user Y, and detects the face of a person shown in the corresponding content file. Then, a content file in which the detected feature of each person matches the feature of the child of the user W is extracted. As a result, the content file 421 was extracted. In response to the search result, the user Y can provide the content file 421 to the user W.

  As described above, content can be shared with users who do not know contact information or users other than community members by performing a search based on metadata stored in the content file, mainly the shooting position and shooting date and time. it can. In addition, since the content can be searched even if the content is not open to the public, the content can be promoted while ensuring privacy.

  Furthermore, by extracting users who are likely to become community members based on the metadata and selecting community members based on the content, the community can be expanded efficiently without reducing the security level. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Content sharing server 11 Content management part 12 Content recording part 13 Message management part 14 Community management part 20 Network 30 Information processing apparatus 31 User interface 32 Web browser 33 Network monitoring part 34 File system 50 Community

Claims (8)

A content sharing system having an information terminal used by a user and a content sharing server connected to the information terminal via a network,
The content sharing server is
Metadata for at least one of content and the content, a content recording means for recording for each user who registered the content,
First display means for displaying, on the first information terminal operated by the first user, a list of contents viewable by the first user among the contents recorded in the content recording means;
If the one content of the list of contents displayed on the first information terminal is selected by the first information terminal, the others having metadata similar to the metadata of the one content Content search means for searching whether content exists in the content recording means ;
When the content of the other user exists, it is determined whether the first user can view the content of the other user, and the viewable content that can be viewed by the first user is determined. Is displayed on the first information terminal, and the content registrant who is the other user who has registered the unviewable content in the content recording means for the unviewable content that the first user cannot view And second display means for displaying metadata of the unviewable content on the first information terminal,
When the content registrant displayed on the first information terminal receives a request for viewing the unviewable content from the first information terminal, the content registrant operates the second information terminal. , a view according unit to charge the viewing of the viewing impossible content,
A content sharing system comprising:   The content sharing server is
  When permission to view the unviewable content is received from the second information terminal, the first user is set as a user who can view the unviewable content recorded in the content recording unit. The content sharing system according to claim 1, further comprising viewing permission means. The content sharing server is
  For each of the contents recorded in the content recording means, setting means for setting a user who can view the content,
  The second display means includes
Determining whether the first user can view the content of the other user based on information on a user who can view the content set for the content of the other user. The content sharing system according to claim 1 or 2. The content sharing server is
A community creation means to create a community;
Includes a member registration means for registering the user a member of the community, the,
For the user registered as a member of the community, the setting means sets the content of the user of the community recorded in the content recording means as a user who can view,
4. The content according to claim 3, wherein, for a user who is not registered as a member of the community, the content of the user of the community recorded in the content recording means is set as an unviewable user. Shared system.   The member registration means
  The first information terminal of the first user who has received a request for viewing the unviewable content is notified that the first user is invited to a member of the community, and the first user is notified 5. The content sharing system according to claim 4, wherein the content sharing system is registered as a member of the community. The viewing request means is:
  When receiving from the first information terminal that the content registrant is prompted to view the one content together with a request for viewing the non-viewable content, the non-viewable content is sent to the second information terminal. 6. The content sharing system according to claim 1, wherein the content is requested to be viewed and the one content is presented.   A content sharing server connected to an information terminal via a network,
  Content recording means for recording at least one content and metadata of the content for each user who has registered the content;
  First display means for displaying, on the first information terminal operated by the first user, a list of contents viewable by the first user among the contents recorded in the content recording means;
  When one content is selected from the list of contents displayed on the first information terminal by the first information terminal, another user having metadata similar to the metadata of the one content. Content search means for searching whether content exists in the content recording means;
  When the content of the other user exists, it is determined whether the first user can view the content of the other user, and the viewable content that can be viewed by the first user is determined. Is displayed on the first information terminal, and the content registrant who is the other user who has registered the unviewable content in the content recording means for the unviewable content that the first user cannot view And second display means for displaying metadata of the unviewable content on the first information terminal,
  When the content registrant displayed on the first information terminal receives a request for viewing the unviewable content from the first information terminal, the content registrant operates the second information terminal. Viewing requesting means for requesting viewing of the unviewable content;
  A content sharing server comprising: A program to be executed by a computer of a content sharing server connected to an information terminal via a network,
  A list of contents that can be viewed by a first user among the contents recorded in a content recording unit that records at least one content and metadata of the content for each user who registered the content. A first display process to be displayed on a first information terminal operated by a user;
  When one content is selected from the list of contents displayed on the first information terminal by the first information terminal, another user having metadata similar to the metadata of the one content. Content search processing for searching whether or not content exists in the content recording means;
  When the content of the other user exists, it is determined whether the first user can view the content of the other user, and the viewable content that can be viewed by the first user is determined. Is displayed on the first information terminal, and the content registrant who is the other user who has registered the unviewable content in the content recording means for the unviewable content that the first user cannot view And a second display process for displaying metadata of the unviewable content on the first information terminal,
  When the content registrant displayed on the first information terminal receives a request for viewing the unviewable content from the first information terminal, the content registrant operates the second information terminal. A program for causing the computer to execute a viewing request process for requesting viewing of the unviewable content.

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