JP5621168B2 - Image output system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image output system that uploads and accumulates images on a server or an image database via a network and prints the photos accumulated in the server.

  Conventionally, a captured image is stored in a memory of a personal computer, and the image is taken out and processed, printed, or inserted into a document as necessary. However, recently, a camera having a pixel number of 10 million or more has begun to be released even in a camera incorporated in a compact camera or a cellular phone. In order to save even one image, a large amount of memory is required. When the number of images increases, the memory capacity of the personal computer increases, so a hard disk is purchased separately and often used externally. An increasing number of people store images in external databases and servers without storing images on their computers or hard disks.

In Patent Document 1 shown in FIG. 14, the print order receiving / management server system receives an order for printing on a public screen published on a communication network, an album function for managing image data uploaded from the order receiving system, Share box function that allows images of image data to be viewed and ordered by a third party, image management unit that manages at least one of image access status and print order status for viewable images, and image access status and An example is shown that has an image confirmation unit that confirms the viewable image based on the print order status of the image, and is stopped or deleted when there is no order quantity in a certain period, or when it is against public order and morals Yes.

  In Patent Document 2 shown in FIG. 15, an image of a subject is captured by a printer, based on input by an input means of order contents such as a print size and the number of prints according to various print types such as a normal print and a postcard print. Output printed matter. Points are assigned according to the order contents of each customer, and the accumulated number of points is stored and managed in the customer database for each customer. The customer database or the customer points stored in the customer database is read out, and processing for discounting the fee, cashback, and gifting is performed according to the number of points. In the case of discounting the fee, the discount fee is displayed by the billing means, and the discounted fee is received. In the case of cash back, a predetermined amount is refunded. In the case of gift giving, for example, information indicating that a gift is presented on a receipt or the like is added to the receipt and printed.

JP 2007-317124 A JP 2005-208870 A

  Patent Document 1 shows an example in which an image of another person can be viewed and printed, but it is shown that some service is provided to the person who provides the image and the person who uses the image. Not. By printing a great image of someone else, there is no reward for providing that image.

  Patent Document 2 describes that there is a merit when a customer prints a lot of images by adding points when printing an image that he owns. There is no suggestion that it would be a service to the side that provided the images.

  The present invention is intended to solve the problems of such a conventional configuration, and allows an image stored in a server to be printed not only by one's own image but also by another person's image. Yes, if you print your own image and another person's image, you will get points that will be a service, and if you print another person's image, you will pay the other person points corresponding to the price of the image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image output system useful for a server for storing images and a person who requests storage of images by combining the server and the print terminal.

Claim 1 of the present invention is an image output system comprising a customer terminal, a server, a network connecting the customer terminal and the server, and a printer terminal for printing an image stored in the server. A customer terminal classifies an image of a party or a group of parties into an image that can be printed by a third party and an image that cannot be printed, an upload unit that uploads the classified image to the server, and the image A browsing unit for browsing the image, and a specifying unit for designating a print in the browsed image. The printer terminal includes a printing unit for printing the designated image, and the image of the party or the group of parties. the case of printing, to the party or predetermined print paper at a predetermined size for each sheet to the parties group The print, the image unrelated constant point is given, when printing an image of the previous year third party, the price of the image one by one for each image to print on a predetermined size An image output system provided with an assigning means to which points that change corresponding to the above are given is provided. That is, when printing an image of a party or a group of parties, it is different from printing an image of a third party, and since a price of a work such as copyright is not considered, a certain point is given regardless of the image. When printing a person's image, there is also a price as a photo work, and a certain percentage of the price is credited to the person who operates the server, and points are also given to the person who requested the printing accordingly The print business is activated.

Claim 2 is an image output system comprising a customer terminal, a server, a network connecting the customer terminal and the server, and a printer terminal for printing an image stored in the server, wherein the customer terminal is Classifying means for classifying an image of a party or a group of parties into an image that can be viewed by a third party and an image that cannot be browsed, an uploading means for uploading the classified image to the server, and browsing the image The printer terminal comprises browsing means, adding means for adding an identification signal indicating whether printing is possible in the browseable images, and designation means for designating printing in the browsed images. , comprising a print means for printing the designated image, when printing an image of the party or parties group, the parties Or parties group one by one to the print to a predetermined printing paper at a predetermined size, a certain point is applied regardless of the image, when printing an image of the year a third party, for each of the image In addition, the present invention provides an image output system provided with an attaching means for assigning points that change in accordance with the price of the image to a print of a predetermined size for each sheet . That is, when printing an image of a party or a group of parties, it is different from printing an image of a third party, and since a price of a work such as copyright is not considered, a certain point is given regardless of the image. When printing a person's image, there is also a price as a photo work, and a certain percentage of the price is credited to the person who operates the server, and points are also given to the person who requested the printing accordingly The print business is activated.

3. The server according to claim 3, further comprising storage means for storing the printable image for a first period and the non-printable image for a second period, wherein the second period does not exceed the first period. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, comprising control means for controlling the image to be as follows, wherein an image with less circulatory property has a longer storage period than an image with circulatory property. The main purpose is not to.

  As described above, when an image is uploaded to the server, the image output system of the present invention is given a predetermined point when printing the uploaded image. When a print request is made for an image of a third party, a fee is paid for the price of the image and a changed point corresponding to the price is given. Since points are given when an image is uploaded with respect to what is uploaded, the image output system of the present invention is suitable for maintaining the image output system because a part of the selling price comes as income as one distribution market. is there. Also, since keywords can be assigned to images and image searches can be performed, images other than the parties and their groups can be searched, which is suitable for searching for images.

First conceptual diagram of the first embodiment of the image output system of the present invention Second conceptual diagram in the first embodiment of the image output system of the present invention Customer terminal used in the image output system of the present invention Flowchart for uploading an image to a server in the image output system of the present invention An example of an uploaded printable image Example of uploaded non-printable image Flow chart to output prints of images of non-members and their members and their groups and third parties Example of images when printing images of parties or groups of parties and third parties The flowchart regarding the image preservation | save period in the server of the image output system of this invention First conceptual diagram of the second embodiment of the image output system of the present invention Second conceptual diagram of the second embodiment of the image output system of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the image which can be browsed and printable image in 2nd Example An example of a viewable but not printable figure Conventional example Conventional example

FIG. 1 shows a first conceptual diagram in the first embodiment of the image output system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a second conceptual diagram. That is, the first conceptual diagram shows a conceptual diagram before the image is transferred to the server, and the second conceptual diagram shows the conceptual diagram after the image is transferred to the server.

1 indicates a customer terminal, 1A indicates a “third-party printable image” that can be printed by a third party, 1B indicates a “third-party non-printable image” that cannot be printed by a third party, and 1C indicates A display unit for displaying “third-party printable image” and “third-party nonprintable image” separately is shown, and each image is shown as a thumbnail image on the drawing. 1D denotes a control unit, and 1E denotes an image memory that first stores captured images.

Reference numeral 1X denotes a switch for displaying an image accumulated in the image memory 1E when turned on on the display unit 1C.

When 1Y is turned on, as shown in FIG. 1, a third party printable image that allows a third party to print an image to be uploaded to the server by the control unit 1 </ b> D, as shown in FIG. 1. “A” indicates a switch classified as “third party non-printable image” 1B that cannot be printed by a third party, and an image that is not uploaded remains in the image memory 1E.

When the switch 1Z is turned on, as shown in FIG. 2, the “third party printable image” 1A and the “third party unprintable image” 1B are sent to the servers 4A and 4B described later via the network indicated by 2 described later. Upload to each.

1F denotes a character input member for inputting a numerical value, a keyword KW, and the like. The number of prints, a keyword, and the like are added to the image by operating the character input member 1F.

An image to be uploaded from the image stored in the image memory 1E from the customer terminal 1 is uploaded via the network 2 to a server indicated by 4 in the printer system indicated by 3. 3A is a control unit that controls the operation of the printer terminals indicated by servers 4 and 5 and the charging terminal indicated by 6 and the delivery terminal indicated by 7 in the printer system 3, and the control unit 3A includes the server 4, printer terminal 5, The terminal 6 and the delivery terminal 7 are connected by wire or wireless.

The server 4 is divided into a server 4A and a server 4B. The server 4A stores a “third-party printable image” that can be printed by a third party other than the party or the party group in the same manner as the party or the party group. On the contrary, the server 4B is a server for storing a “third party non-printable image” that cannot be printed by a third party other than the party / group of parties. Here, the server 4A and the server 4B are separated, but “server image that can be printed by third party” and “image that cannot be printed by third party” can be identified and stored in one server. Good.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a printer terminal in which a plurality of printer terminals are arranged so as to adapt to different print sizes. Reference numeral 6 denotes a point terminal that issues a charge as a print fee and issues and processes a point as a service point, that is, a charge terminal. A delivery terminal 7 packs the printed image with a packaging member (not shown) and issues a delivery instruction. The delivery terminal 7 delivers the printed image with the delivery vehicle 7A.

When the image to be printed on the server 4, the print size to be printed, and the number of sheets are determined, the control unit 3A operates the print terminal 5 to perform printing, and then operates the charging terminal 6 according to the size and number of sheets to A point is determined, an invoice (not shown) is created, and the delivery terminal 7 is operated so as to be packaged so as to insert a print into a packaging member (not shown) and controlled to be shipped.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the customer terminal 1, and shows a diagram in which an image memory 1 </ b> E storing images taken by a digital camera is attached to a control unit 1 </ b> D (not shown) inside the customer terminal 1. The numerical value input member 1F corresponds to a keyboard portion if the customer terminal 1 is a computer.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for uploading an image to the server 4.

  In S1, the ID number and password of the customer terminal 1 are input. In S2, it is determined whether or not the ID number already registered as a member of the image output system of the present invention matches the password. It is determined whether or not to register, and if not registered, the process proceeds to S4 and the registration is stopped.

  If the ID number and password registered already match, the process proceeds to S5, where a third party printable image that can be printed by the party or a third party other than the party, and a third party that cannot be printed by the third party. Classified as “unprintable images”.

  In S6, it is determined whether or not the image violates public order and morals and copyright by comparing a predetermined image database. If there is a problem, the process proceeds to S7 and is not uploaded. If there is no problem, the process proceeds to S8, the keyword KW is assigned to the image, and the process proceeds to S9.

The “third-party printable image” that can be printed by a third party proceeds to S10 and is uploaded to the server 4A for each image, and proceeds to S11 where an image ID is assigned. This operation is repeated to determine whether or not all images have been uploaded in S12. If the upload is not completed, the process returns to S6 to check whether there is a problem with public order and morals for each image, and assign keywords and set prices to upload. Then, the image ID is given by the server 4A. Each time an image is uploaded, an image ID is given. If it is determined in S12 that all images have been uploaded, the billing terminal 6 determines the server storage fee in S13 based on the number, period, and the like of the “third party printable images” stored in the server 4A.

In the case of a “third-party non-printable image” that cannot be printed by a third party, the process proceeds to S14 to determine whether the image violates public order, morals, or copyright from a predetermined database. Go to and do not upload. If there is no problem, the process proceeds to S16, the keyword KW is assigned to the image, and the process proceeds to S17.

In S17, each image is uploaded to the server 4B, and the process proceeds to S18 where an image ID is assigned. In S19, it is determined whether or not all the images have been uploaded. In contrast, public order and morality determination, keyword assignment, image upload for each image, and an image ID are assigned by the server 4B. If it is determined that all the images have been uploaded in S19 by repeating this operation, the server stores the number of "third party non-printable images" stored in the server 4B by the charging terminal 6 in S20 based on the number, period, etc. The fee is determined and the process proceeds to S21.

In S21, the storage fee for the “third-party printable image” that can be printed by the third party determined in S13 by the charging terminal 6 and the “third party” that cannot be printed by the third party determined in S20. The total server storage fee is determined by adding the storage fee for “unprintable images”. However, if the storage fee for one image of “third party printable image” and “third party non-printable image” is the same, S13 and S20 are omitted, and the number of third party printable images and third party print in S21. The storage fee may be determined by adding the number of impossible images.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of an image uploaded as a “third party printable image”, and shows a diagram displayed when each image on the display unit 1C on the customer side is clicked via the server 4A in FIG. Below the image, “Image ID”, “Keyword KW”, “L size price, 2L size price” are shown. For example, “image ID” is displayed as “image ID: 1000”, and “keyword KW” is displayed as “KW: Mount Fuji”, “L size: 1000, 2L: 2000”.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an image uploaded as a “third party non-printable image”, and shows a diagram displayed when each image on the display unit 1C on the customer side is clicked via the server 4B in FIG. Under the image, “image ID” and “keyword KW” are shown. For example, “Image ID” is displayed as “Image ID: 1000”, and “Keyword KW” is displayed as “KW: Mount Fuji”. Since “third party non-printable image” cannot be printed by a third party, the price is not displayed.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for ordering and outputting prints of images of members who are members, their groups and third parties, and non-members.

First, when a member places an order for a photo print, the customer ID and password are entered in S30, and whether or not the ID and password already registered are determined in S31. If they do not match, the intention to register in S32 is determined. If there is an intention to register, the process proceeds to S33 to register, and then proceeds to S34.

In S34, it is determined whether or not to print, and if it is determined not to print, the process proceeds to S35, stops, and proceeds to S36.

In S36, it is determined whether an image of a party or a party group or a third party is printed. If an image of a party or a party group is printed, the process proceeds to S37, and the print size is set to “L size”. ”, The process proceeds to S38, the number of sheets is set, the process proceeds to S39, the print fee is determined by the charging terminal 6, and the process proceeds to S40, where service points for printing, that is,“ points ”are calculated. Here, since the server storage fee is charged, the “point” is a service printed using this system. For example, if it is determined that the print fee is 3%, the “point” is given. Change "points" to money and use it as a discount when printing at a later date.

The print sizes that can be selected are limited to “L size” and “2L size”. When “L size” is not designated in S37, the process proceeds to S41 and “2L size” is designated. In step S42, the number of sheets is set. In step S43, the print fee is determined. In step S44, a service point for printing, that is, "point" is calculated.

A case will be described in which a request for printing an image of a third party other than the party or the group from S45 is made.

In S45, if the print size of the third party image is “L size”, the process proceeds to S46, proceeds to S46, sets the number of sheets, proceeds to S47, determines the “charge” by the charging terminal 6, and proceeds to S48 to print. Consideration for, i.e., "points". Here, the “fee” is a fee obtained by adding a printing fee to the price for this image by a third party, and the price indicates the price set in S9 of the flowchart of FIG.

If the print size is not “L size” in S45, the process proceeds to S49. If the print size is “2L size”, the process proceeds to S50 to set the number of sheets, and proceeds to S51 to determine “charge” by the charging terminal 6. In S52, the value for the print, that is, “point” is calculated.

Next, in S53, the charge terminal 6 orders and pays for the printing of the “L size” or “2L size” image of the party or the group of the parties, and points for that, and the “L size” of the third party image. Each of the charge paid when ordering the print of the “2L size” image, the charge obtained by adding the points, and the points are added.

Next, a case where a non-member of the system of the present invention orders a photographic print will be described.

In S30, the customer ID and password are input. In S31, it is determined whether or not the ID and password already registered are matched. If they do not match, it is determined whether or not there is an intention to register in S32. If not, the process proceeds to S54, and if a print is requested, the process proceeds to S56. When an "L size" print is ordered, the process proceeds to S57, the number of sheets is determined, and then the process proceeds to S58 where the charge terminal 6 calculates the fee. .

When “L size” is not selected as the print size in S56, the process proceeds to S59 and when “2L size” is ordered, the process proceeds to S60 to determine the number of sheets, and then proceeds to S61 to calculate the charge.

In step S62, the charging terminal 6 adds the "L size" print price and the "2L size" print price.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an image when an image print is ordered based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

Click on the image to be printed by the party or group of parties and click on "Image I" below the image.
“D”, “number of sheets”, “size”, “charge”, and “point” are displayed. “Image ID” is automatically displayed when an image is selected. “Number of sheets” is a numerical value input by the character input member 1F. “Size” selects either “L size” or “2L size”, and “Fees” displays the printing fee of “L size” or “2L size” in the case of an image of a party or a group of parties. “Point” is automatically determined when “Number” and “Size” are selected.

When printing an image of a third party, like the image of the party or group of parties, the “image ID”, “number of sheets”, “size”, “fee” and “point” are displayed below the image, “Image ID” is automatically displayed and input when an image is selected. “Number of sheets” is a numerical value input by the character input member 1F. “Size” selects either “L size” or “2L size”, and “Charge” displays a numerical value obtained by adding the price of the image designated by the third party and the printing cost by “size”. “Points” are given points in consideration of “number of sheets” and “charge”.

  For example, when an image of a party or a group of parties is printed, “Image: 1000” is automatically input as “Image ID” when an image is selected, and “Number: 2” is input by operating the character input member 1F. Is done. “Size” is selected as “L size”. For example, “40” yen is automatically calculated and displayed, and for example, “4” is displayed for “point”.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart regarding the image storage period in the server of the image output system of the present invention.

  In S70, a server for uploading “third-party printable image” and “third-party printable image” is selected and the process proceeds to S71, where “third-party printable image” is uploaded to the server 4A. The process proceeds to S72 to determine whether or not the T period has elapsed, and the process proceeds to S73 to determine whether or not there is a print history of n or more sheets in the T period. Delete from 4A. If there are n or more print histories in the T period, the process returns to S72 to see again whether the T period has elapsed, to determine whether there are n or more print histories, and this route is repeated.

  If it is “a third party non-printable image”, the “third party non-printable image” is uploaded to the server 4B in S75, and it is determined in S76 whether or not a t period less than the T period has elapsed. When the period elapses, the third-party unprintable image is deleted from the server 4A.

  The contents of FIG. 9 reflect the desire to delete images with a small number of prints from the server, upload new images, and use them for printing.

  10 and 11 show the first and second conceptual diagrams of the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, a printable image is shown on the display unit 1C, and an image to be printed is selected from the displayed images. In the second embodiment, a viewable image is shown on the display unit 1C. The image to be printed is selected from the inside.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an image that can be viewed / impossible and an image that can / cannot be printed.

All images shown as printable images can be printed.

As shown in FIG. 13, it is assumed that “cannot be printed” in the viewable image. For example, some family photos may be viewed by a third party but not printed. At that time, “not printable” is displayed on the image, the image is not printed, and the image that can be printed is selected from the images that can be printed except for the image that “cannot print”.

In addition, in order to search for an appropriate image including an image of a party or an image of a third party, a search for a keyword KW attached to the image is used. For example, when searching for a photo of “Mt. Fuji”, a desired image can be obtained quickly by searching for “Mt. Fuji” as a keyword.

1 Customer terminal 2 Network 3 Printer system 4 Server 5 Printer terminal 6 Billing terminal 7 Delivery terminal

Claims (3)

An image output system comprising: a customer terminal; a server; a network connecting the customer terminal and the server; and a printer terminal that prints an image stored in the server. Classification means for classifying images into images that can be printed by a third party and images that cannot be printed, upload means for uploading the classified images to the server, browsing means for browsing the images, Designating means for designating printing in the browsed image, and the printer terminal comprises printing means for printing the designated image, and when printing the image of the party or group of parties, For printing on a predetermined print paper with a predetermined size for each sheet to a party group, Serial images unrelated constant point is given, when printing an image of the previous term third parties, changes corresponding to the price of the image to print on a predetermined size for each sheet for each image An image output system provided with a granting unit for granting points . An image output system comprising: a customer terminal; a server; a network connecting the customer terminal and the server; and a printer terminal that prints an image stored in the server. the image, and the classification means that a third party be classified into the image of the impossible view and possible image viewing, and upload means for uploading the classified image to each of the server, and viewing means for viewing the image, the An adding means for adding an identification signal indicating whether printing is possible in the viewable image; and a specifying means for designating printing in the browsed image, wherein the printer terminal comprising a printing means for printing an image, when printing an image of the party or parties group, the party or parties The print to a predetermined printing paper at a predetermined size for each sheet in a loop, the image unrelated constant point is given, when printing an image of the previous term third party, for each of the image 1 An image output system provided with a granting unit for giving points that change in accordance with the price of the image to a print of a predetermined size for each sheet . The server includes storage means for storing the printable image for a first period and the non-printable image for a second period, and the second period is controlled so as not to exceed the first period. The image output device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to perform the control.