JPH11353330A - Electronic album system and operation controlling method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prepare and read an electronic album between a client computer and an image server which are capable of mutually executing data communication. SOLUTION: Each client computer 1 prepares an electronic album file for reading an electronic album and transmits the file to an image server 30. The server 30 manages the file and transmits the file to a certain client computer 1 requesting its reading. Consequently respective client computers 1 can read the electronic album.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic album system comprising an image server and a client computer capable of performing data communication with each other and an operation control method thereof, an image server constituting the system and an operation control method thereof,
The present invention relates to a client computer, an operation control method thereof, and a recording medium storing a program for controlling the client computer.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electronic album software for creating an electronic album using a personal computer is already commercially available. This electronic album software generally captures an image of a subject using a digital still camera, a movie still video camera, or the like, and files digital image data obtained by the imaging.

However, it is not considered that an electronic album created using such electronic album software is used on a network developed in recent years.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a system and method for utilizing an electronic album on a network.

[0005] By uploading data representing an electronic album created by a client computer to an image server, the image server plays a role as a stock server for the electronic album for the uploading user. The user does not need to store data representing the electronic album on his computer. When viewing the electronic album, data representing the electronic album is downloaded from the image data. Users other than the user who uploaded the electronic album can view the electronic album by accessing the image server. For example, if data representing an electronic album within a specific buddy is uploaded to the image server, accessing the image server without accessing the user who created the electronic album allows the user within the specific buddy to access the electronic album. Can be seen.

According to the present invention, in a system comprising an image server and a client computer capable of data communication with each other, an electronic album is created by one client computer, and the created electronic album is transferred to one or another client computer. The purpose is to be able to browse on a computer.

[0007] The present invention relates to an electronic album system including an image server and a plurality of client computers capable of performing data communication with each other. Frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images and display order data indicating a display order are transmitted from the client computer to the image server in association with each other, and an electronic album file transmission request from the client computer is transmitted. The electronic album file including the frame image specifying data and the display order data is transmitted to the client computer requested by the image server. The client computer stores frame image data representing a frame image specified by the frame image specifying data included in the electronic album file transmitted from the image server, in the client computer.
Frame image data transmission request means for requesting the image server to transmit the frame image data when the computer does not store the image data is provided. The image server is provided with frame image data transmitting means for transmitting the frame image data to the client computer which has made the electronic album file transmission request in response to the frame image data transmission request from the client computer.

The present invention also provides a method suitable for the above system. That is, this is an operation control method in an electronic album system including an image server and a plurality of client computers capable of performing data communication with each other. Frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images and display order data indicating a display order are transmitted from the client computer to the image server in association with each other, and an electronic album file transmission request from the client computer is transmitted. The electronic album file including the frame image specifying data and the display order data is transmitted to the client computer requested by the image server. The electronic album transmitted from the image server
When the client computer does not store the frame image data representing the frame image specified by the frame image specifying data included in the file, the client computer requesting transmission of the electronic album sends the image server to the image server. The client computer which has requested transmission of frame image data, and which has requested the frame image data transmission request from the image server, the frame image data representing the frame image formed in response to the frame image data transmission request from the client computer. Send to

Further, a client for creating an electronic album
A method for controlling the operation of a computer, a recording medium storing a program therefor, and a method for controlling an operation of a client computer for viewing an electronic album and a recording medium storing a program therefor are also provided.

The electronic album creating client computer is capable of data communication with the image server, and is capable of selecting a plurality of frame images constituting the electronic album, and a plurality of frame images selected by the frame image selecting means. Display order determining means for determining the display order of the frame images, frame image specifying data for specifying the plurality of frame images selected by the frame image selecting means, and display order determined by the display order determining means. An electronic album file generating means for generating an electronic album file by associating data with each other is provided.

According to the present invention, in the client computer for creating an electronic album, a plurality of frame images constituting the electronic album are selected, and the display order of the selected plurality of frame images is determined. An electronic album file in which the frame image specifying data for specifying the selected plurality of frame images and the display order data indicating the determined display order are associated with each other is generated and transmitted to the image server.

An electronic album file is stored in the image server.

When an electronic album browsing client computer accesses an image server storing an electronic album file, the electronic album is browsed.

The electronic album browsing client computer can perform data communication with the image server, and indicates frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images constituting the electronic album and a display order of the frame images. Receiving an electronic album file containing display order data from the server;
File receiving means, among the frame image data representing the plurality of frame images specified by the frame image specifying data received by the electronic album file receiving means, the frame image data not stored in the client computer, Image data download means for downloading from a server, and the stored frame image data and the image represented by the frame image data downloaded by the image data download means are displayed in accordance with the display order data. A first electronic album display control means for controlling the display device is provided.

When the electronic album browsing client computer accesses the image server, an electronic album file is transmitted from the image server to the electronic album browsing client computer and received by the electronic album browsing client computer. Is done.

When the electronic album file is received by the electronic album browsing client computer, frame images representing a plurality of frame images specified by the frame image specifying data stored in the electronic album file. Of the data, frame image data that is not stored is downloaded from the image server to the electronic album viewing client computer.

A frame image represented by the frame image data is displayed on a display device in a display order represented by the display order data included in the electronic album file. Thus, the electronic album is browsed. An electronic album can be created on a client computer capable of data communication with the image server, and the created electronic album can be viewed.

The client computer may request the image server to browse the electronic album. In this case, data for displaying a list of a plurality of representative images each representing an outline of a plurality of electronic albums is transmitted to the client computer which has requested the browsing to the image server in response to the browsing request for the electronic album. And a list display data transmitting unit for performing the list display.
The client computer includes a designation unit for designating one representative image from the list of the representative images represented by the list display data transmitted from the image server, and the representative image designated by the designation unit. The image processing apparatus further includes a representative image specifying data transmitting unit that transmits data for specifying to the image server. The image server transmits to the client computer an electronic album file corresponding to the representative image specified by the representative image specifying data transmitted from the client computer.

Since the representative images are displayed in a list on the client computer, it is possible to know the outline of the electronic album that can be browsed. An electronic album file is transmitted from the image server to the client computer after knowing the outline of the electronic album. The really necessary electronic album files are obtained on the client computer.

The image server associates at least one of the display time data representing the display time of the frame image and the electronic album display time data representing the display time of the electronic album with the frame image specifying data and the display order data. The client computer may further comprise time data transmitting means for transmitting the time data.

When browsing the electronic album, the display of frame images constituting the electronic album can be switched based on the display switching time data. A display time desired by the user can be set.

Further, display effect designating data for designating the appearance of the frame image or an image constituting the frame image may be transmitted to the image server in association with the frame image specifying data and the display order data.

Thus, the frame image or an image constituting the frame image can be displayed based on the display effect designation data. Further, the apparatus may further include a simulation display control unit that controls the display device to perform a simulation display based on the display effect designation data. Simulation display becomes possible.

[0024] Further, the apparatus may further comprise sound data transmitting means for transmitting sound data representing the sound effect of the electronic album to the image server in association with the frame image specifying data and the display order data.

When browsing an electronic album, a sound effect can be output based on sound data.

Further, the above-mentioned sound data represents a plurality of sound effects, data indicating the start and end of output of each sound effect, data indicating the number of repetitions of a plurality of sound effect sets, and sound effect sound. And transmitting at least one of the data representing the fade-in time at the start of output and the data representing the fade-out time at the start of sound effect output to the image server in association with the frame image specifying data and the display order data. The sound-related data transmitting means may be further provided.

Since each of these data is stored in the electronic album file, the output start and end of each sound as a plurality of sound effects, the number of repetitions of a plurality of sound sets, and the fade at the start of the sound output. In-time and fade-out time at the end of sound performance can be arbitrarily set according to the user's preference.

Further, the display frame image data to be displayed later during the display of the previous image may be downloaded from the image server.

The electronic album can be browsed on the client computer for browsing the electronic album while downloading the image data from the image server. Quick browsing becomes possible.

[0030]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an electronic album creation / browsing system.

The electronic album creation / browsing system comprises a client computer 1 and an image server 30. In FIG. 1, a client computer 1
Although three are shown and two image servers 30 are shown, either one of the client computer 1 and the image server 30 may be one, or more may be used. . The client computer 1 and the image server 30 can perform data communication with each other via the Internet.

The image server 30 stores a background image, a user image, a mask image, data representing a clip art and text, and an effect music file, which will be described later.

An electronic album file, which will be described later, is created in one client computer 1, and the created electronic album file is uploaded to the image server 30. When one or another client computer 1 downloads an electronic album file from the image server 30, the electronic album can be viewed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the client computer 1.

The overall operation of the client computer 1 is controlled by the CPU 11.

The client computer 1 has a modem 2 for performing data communication with the image server 30 and records data on an FD (floppy disk).
An FD drive 3 for reading data recorded on a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-ROM drive 4, a mouse 5 and a keyboard 6 for reading data recorded on a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory). It is connected. The data obtained from the modem 2 and the like is taken into the client computer 1 via the system I / O controller 7.

A program for creating and browsing an electronic album is stored in the CD-ROM, and the program stored in the CD-ROM is read by the CD-ROM drive 4 and the program is installed in the client computer 1. . The electronic album creation and browsing program may be downloaded from the image server 30 or another server.

Further, the client computer 1 includes a bus controller 8, a RAM 9 for temporarily storing data, and a ROM 10 for storing programs and other necessary data. Further, a hard disk drive 13 is connected via the external I / O controller 12. The hard disk drive 13 writes data to a hard disk (not shown) and reads data recorded on the hard disk.

The client computer 1 includes an interrupt controller 14, a timer 15, a memory controller 16, and a VRAM 17 for temporarily storing image data for displaying an image on a display device 19. The image data stored in the VRAM 17 is supplied to a digital / analog converter 18 to be converted into an analog video signal. An image is displayed on the display screen of the display device 19 by supplying the analog video signal to the display device 19.

Further, a speaker 23 is connected to the client computer 1 via an interface 22. Effect music (BGM) to be described later from the speaker 23
Is output.

The client printer 21 connected to the client computer 1 is controlled by the printer control circuit 20.

The image server 30 has almost the same configuration as the client computer 1. However, while the printer 21 connected to the client computer 1 has a relatively low resolution, the printer (not shown) connected to the image server 30 has a relatively high resolution. It goes without saying that the performance of each circuit of the image server 30 is generally higher than the performance of the circuit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the outline of the processing procedure for creating an electronic album.

An electronic album is composed of a plurality of frame images (a frame image refers to one image,
Including those synthesized). After a frame image is displayed so as to turn over a mount forming a normal paper album, the next frame image can be displayed. When creating an electronic album, first, a frame image is edited by a user of the client computer 1. When editing the frame image, object data representing a background image or the like constituting the frame image is transmitted from the image server 30 (step 15). When the frame image is edited, a frame layout file representing the frame image is created (step 11).

When a frame layout file is created for all frame images constituting the electronic album, an effect music file is transmitted from the image server 30 to the client computer 1 in response to a request from the client computer 1. (Step 16). A music information file for representing the effect music of the electronic album is created in the client computer 1 based on the effect music file (step 12).

Thereafter, an electronic album is created. When the electronic album is created, an electronic album file of the electronic album is created (step 13).

The created electronic album file, frame layout file and music information file are transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image server 30 (step 14). These electronic album files are received and stored in the image server 30 (step 17).

The details up to the creation of the electronic album will be apparent from the following description.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a window appearing on the display screen of the display device 19 connected to the client computer 1. FIG. 5 shows an example of a background image used when generating a frame image, and FIG. 6 shows an example of a mask image used when generating a frame image. FIG. 7 shows a frame layout file to be created, and FIG. 8 shows a display effect table.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show examples of windows appearing on the display screen of the display device 19 connected to the client computer 1. FIG. FIG. 11A shows an electronic album file to be created, and FIG. 11B shows a music information file.

FIGS. 12 to 14 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure up to creation of an electronic album.

First, FIGS. 4 to 8 and FIGS. 12 to 1
4, the frame image editing process (step 1 in FIG. 3)
1) will be described.

In the frame image editing, first, a background image as a background of the frame image and a synthesis for defining the synthesis position and size of the user image forming the frame image by being synthesized on the background image. The mask image on which the area is formed is the client computer 1
Of users. Here, it is assumed that the background image shown in FIG. 5 has been selected and the mask image shown in FIG. 6 has been selected. Image data representing a plurality of background images and image data representing a mask image are downloaded from the image server 30, and desired background images and mask images are selected.

In the mask image, two combined areas M1 and M2 are formed. The first synthesis area M1 is a star-shaped area. The first synthesis area M1 includes the positions (SX1, SY1) and (EX1,
EY2) defines the position. Second composite area M
2 is a circle. The second synthesis area M2 includes two points (SX2, SY2) and (EX2, EY) on the circumference.
2). Of course, the position may be defined by the position coordinates of the center of the star, the position coordinates of the center of the circle, and the like.

In FIG. 4, the frame editing window includes the following areas.

Server selection area: A list of image servers that can be accessed by the client computer 1 when clicked is displayed. The image data stored in the desired image server 30 can be used.

Text insertion area: When clicked, a text editing window (not shown) for editing text to be inserted into the frame image is displayed on the client.
It is displayed on the display device 19 of the computer 1. In the text editing window, the content of the text to be inserted into the frame image, font, character size, color, insertion position, and the like are set.

A display effect area; a window for setting a display effect (appearance) of a background image, a user image, clip art, and text (these are referred to as objects) constituting a frame image when clicked. (Abbreviated) is displayed. In the display effect setting window, the display effect of each object and the display order of each object are set. The display effect is shown in FIG.
Are selected from the display effect table shown in FIG. The same display effect table is stored in both the client computer 1 and the image server 30. This gives I
By specifying D, the display effect can be specified.

Simulated area: When clicked, the frame image being edited is displayed according to the set display effect.

Cancel area: When clicked, various editing information set on the frame editing window is canceled.

Registration area: When clicked, various editing information set on the frame editing window is registered, and a frame layout file is created.

Frame image editing area A1: The frame image being edited is displayed.

User image display area A2; image server 30
The user image represented by the image data stored in is displayed.

A background image / mask image / clip art display area A3; a background image, a mask image, and the like represented by image data stored in the image server 30.
The clip art image is displayed. The display area A3 includes a selection area A4, and the image to be displayed in the display area A3 is selected from the background image, the mask image, and the clipart image by pulling down the selection area A4.

When the user pulls down the area A4 and clicks on the background image, a list of background images is displayed in the area A3. A background image desired by the user is selected from the background images displayed in the list. The selected background image is displayed in the area A1.

When a background image is selected, a mask image is selected next. The area A4 is pulled down by the user, and a mask image is selected. A mask image list is displayed in the area A3. A mask image desired by the user is selected from the mask images displayed in the list. When a mask image is selected, areas corresponding to the combination areas M1 and M2 defined by the selected mask image are cut out from the background image displayed in the area A1. A background image in which areas corresponding to the combination areas M1 and M2 are cut out is displayed in the area A1.

Subsequently, a desired user image is selected from the user images displayed in the area A2. When a user image is selected, an area for synthesizing the selected user image is selected. When a region to be combined is selected, the selected user image is combined with that region. In this example, the first user image I1 is combined with the area A01, and the second user image I3 is combined with the area A02.

Next, the area A4 is pulled down and the clip art is clicked, whereby a list of clip arts is displayed in the area A3. A clip art desired by the user is selected from the displayed clip arts. The selected clip art I6 is synthesized at the position specified by the user.

Further, the text insertion area is clicked by the user, and a text insertion window is displayed. In the text insertion window, the desired text,
The font or the like is input from the keyboard 6. The input text is synthesized at a position specified by the user on the frame editing image.

The editing of one of the plurality of frame images constituting the electronic album is completed by the above frame editing process (step 21 in FIG. 12). In FIG. 4, the first user image I1 is combined with the area A01, and the second user image I3 is combined with the area A02. Also, the clip art I6 is synthesized on the upper right of the frame image, and the text "anniversary" is synthesized on the lower left of the frame image.

Referring mainly to FIG. 7, the frame layout file includes a file name, a path to the background image, the number of user images to be combined with the frame image, and a path to the user image to be combined with the frame image. , The path to the mask image used to compose the frame image, the number of clipart to be combined with the frame image, the path to the clip art to be combined with the frame image, the number of text to be combined with the frame image, the frame Stores the path to the text to be combined with the image.

Further, in the frame layout file, the number of objects to be combined with the frame image, the ID assigned to the object to be combined with the frame image (here, the background image is specified by “00” and the first Is specified by “10”, the second user image is specified by “11”, the clip art is specified by “20”, and the text is “3”.
0 "), the display effect of the object (specified by the display effect type ID), the display order of the object (corresponding to the order of the object ID), the display position of the object, and the aspect of the frame image. Data representing a ratio (width / length) is stored.

When the editing of the frame image is completed, the user clicks on the registration area to generate a frame layout file storing the above data (step 22). The generated frame layout file is stored on the hard disk of the client computer 1.

In this case (FIG. 7), Usr Img Cnt is 2 because there are two user images to be synthesized with the frame image.
Since the number of clip arts to be combined with the frame image is 1, Crip Art Cnt is 1. Also, since the number of texts to be combined with the frame image is 1, Text Cnt is 1, and since the number of objects constituting the frame image is 5, Object Cnt is 5.

Further, here, the display effect of the background image is set to slide-in (from the right),
The display effect of the user image I1 and the second user image I3 is set to slide-in (from above), and the display effect of the clip art is set to slide-in (from bottom).
Is set to, and the text display effect is
In (from the right) (View Type and Fig. 8
reference).

As for the frame image, the background image is displayed first, the second user image is displayed next, and then the first user image is displayed.
The user image is displayed, followed by the text, and finally the clip art (see View Order).

The above-described frame image editing process is repeated for all frame images constituting the electronic album. (Step 23).

Next, with reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. 14, the processing up to the generation of an electronic album using the generated frame images (the processing of steps 12 and 13 in FIG. 3) will be described.

When the editing process is completed for all the frame images constituting the electronic album (N in step 23)
O), the process proceeds to an electronic album file generation process.

In the electronic album file generation processing, a page turning order setting window shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display screen of the display device 19 of the client computer 1 (step 24).

The page turning order setting window includes the following areas.

Frame image display area A11: An area for displaying frame images edited as described above and constituting an electronic album

A page turning order display area A12: an area for displaying frame images in order from the top corresponding to the display order of the frame images constituting the electronic album.

Cancel area; area in which the display order of frame images set by clicking is canceled

Effect music / timer setting area; area where an effect music setting window and a timer setting window to be described later are displayed when clicked.

Confirmation area: The display order of the set frame images is confirmed by clicking.

The user of the client computer 1 looks at the frame images displayed in the area A11 and selects the frame images in a desired page order. The selected frame images are displayed in the page turning order area A12 in the order of selection. The display order of the frame images set by the user clicking the determined area is determined (step 25).

When the display order of the frame images is determined, an electronic album file is generated (step 26). Referring mainly to FIG. 11A, the electronic album file has a file name, a display time of the electronic album, the number of frame images constituting the electronic album, a path to the frame layout file for the frame image, and Data representing the display time of the frame image, the number of effect music files described later, and the path to the music information file are stored. The number of frame images is stored in Frame Cnt, and the path to the frame layout file for that frame image is stored in Frame Layout according to the display order of the frame images.

Subsequently, when the effect music / timer setting area is clicked by the user, a timer setting window shown in FIG. 10 appears on the display device 19 of the client computer 1 (step 27). Each time is set in the timer setting window as follows (step 28).

Referring mainly to FIG. 10, the timer setting window includes the following areas.

Album display time display area A21: The total display time of the album is displayed.

Display time setting area A22: An area for setting the display time of each frame image constituting the electronic album. The reduced image of each frame image and the display time of the frame image are displayed. The reduced image of the adjacent frame image has a boundary line BL.
And slides the boundary line BL right and left, and the display time of the frame image is set according to the position of the boundary line BL.

Effect music performance time setting area A23: The effect music file name and output time set in the effect music setting window described later are displayed. When the effect music file name is clicked by the user, a corresponding effect music file effect sound setting window is displayed. The effect music can be modified. The fade-in time is set by sliding the fade-in setting bar A24 with the mouse 5, and the fade-out time is set by sliding the fade-out setting bar A25 with the mouse 5.

Effect music setting area: When clicked, an effect music setting window is displayed.

Simulated area: The effect music set by clicking is played by simulation.

Cancel area; cancels the effect music set by clicking.

Registration area: Data on the set effect music is registered in the electronic album file.

The effect music setting window includes the following areas.

Reference area: When clicked by the user, a music file selection dialog is displayed.

Selected music file display area A31: The music file selected from the music files displayed in the music file selection dialog is displayed.

Note / performance time display area A32: The musical score and performance time of the selected music are displayed. The start time is set by sliding the first boundary line BL1 in this area with the mouse, and the end time is set by sliding the second boundary line BL2 with the mouse.

Number of repeats display area A33: Displays the number of repeats of music used as effect music of the electronic album.

[0103] Performance time display area A34: Displays the output time as effect music.

Music playback area: plays back the set effect music.

Music stop area: The effect music being played is stopped.

[0106] Confirmed area: When the effect music setting is completed,
Clicked. By clicking on the confirmation area, the time and file name set in the effect music performance time setting area of the timer setting screen are displayed. Also, a music information file is generated.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the music information file includes a file name, a path to an effect music file, a start position (time) in the music file, and a performance in the music file. Data indicating the end position (time), number of repeats, music performance time, fade-in time, and fade-out time are stored, respectively. When the user clicks on the determined area, various data relating to the set sound effects are stored in the music information file (steps 29 and 30).

When the music information file is generated, the path to the generated music information file is stored in the electronic album file (step 31). When the path to the music information file is stored in the electronic album file,
The number of sound effect files of the electronic album file is incremented.

The setting is repeated for all effect music (step 32). In setting the effect music, it goes without saying that the effect music file is downloaded from the image server 30 as needed.

Next, in the timer setting window, a fade-in time and a fade-out time are set for each music file (step 33).

When the registration area is clicked by the user (step 34), data representing the display time of the album set in step 27 and the display time of each frame image set in step 28 are stored in the electronic album file. Is performed (step 35). In other words, the album display time set by the user
The display time for each frame image is stored in Frame Time
Stored in r.

Further, the fade-in time and the fade-out time set by the user are stored in Fade In Time and Fade Out Time of the music information file (step 36).

In this way, the electronic album file is generated by the user of the client computer 1. The generated electronic album file, frame layout file, and music information file are transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image server 30 as described above (step 37).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the image server 30. FIG. 16 shows folders and files managed by the image server 30.

The album information management folder includes an electronic album file, a frame management folder, and a music management folder. The frame layout file is stored in the frame management folder.
A frame / thumbnail image file and a low-resolution object management folder, which will be described later, are stored in the frame management folder. These folders and files are recorded on the hard disk (or other recording device) of the image server 30.

An electronic album file, a frame layout file,
When the music information file is transmitted, it is regarded that the registration of the electronic album is accepted (step 41), and the transmitted electronic album file is stored in the album information management folder of the image server 30. If no album information management folder has been created in the image server 30, an album information management folder is created when an electronic album file is first transmitted from the client computer 1. Further, the frame layout file is stored in the frame management folder with reference to the path to the frame layout file stored in the electronic album file.

Based on the frame layout file stored in the frame management folder, thumbnail images are generated for all frame images constituting the electronic album (step 42).

Subsequently, image data representing each object is read from the hard disk of the image server 30 by referring to the path to each object constituting the frame image stored in the frame layout file.
When image data representing each object is stored in another image server, it is downloaded from the other image server. In any case, when image data representing each object is obtained, image data representing each object of low resolution is generated from the obtained image data (step 43). The generated image data representing each low-resolution object is stored in the low-resolution object management folder.

Further, the transmitted music information file is stored in the music management folder (step 44). The effect music file is read from the hard disk of the image server 30 with reference to the path stored in the music information file. The read effect music file is also stored in the music management folder (step 45). Needless to say, if an effect music file is also required, another image server is accessed and the corresponding file is downloaded.

Next, a method of browsing an electronic album will be described.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an outline of the processing procedure for browsing the electronic album.

When the client computer 1 and the image server 30 are connected, a request to browse the electronic album is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image server 30 (step 51).

When an electronic album browsing request from the client computer 1 is received by the image server 30, the first page of each of the plurality of electronic albums stored in the album information management folder of the image server 30 that has received the browsing request is received. The image data representing the thumbnail image of the (cover) frame image is
It is transmitted to the client computer 1 that has made the browsing request (step 56).

When the electronic album information is received by the client computer 1, a list of electronic albums (that is, thumbnail images on the cover) is displayed on the client computer 1 (step 52). A desired electronic album (a desired cover image) is selected by the user of the client computer 1 from the list of displayed electronic album cover images (selection of an electronic album) (step 53).

Data (electronic album file name) specifying the selected electronic album is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image server 30. An electronic album file, a frame layout file, and a music information file for the selected electronic album are transmitted from the image server 30 to the client computer 1 (step 57).

When the electronic album file, the frame layout file, and the music information file are received by the client computer 1, frame images constituting the electronic album are displayed on the display device 19 of the client computer 1, and the electronic album is displayed. Is browsed (step 54). If the user of the client computer 1 who browsed the electronic album wants to print the electronic album, the user sends an album print request to the image server 30 (step 5).
5).

Upon receiving the album print request, the image server 30 prints the frame images constituting the electronic album using a high-resolution printer in response to the request (step 58). The printed matter obtained by printing is mailed to the user of the client computer 1 by the operator of the image server 30, for example.

The details of the electronic album browsing process will be apparent from the following description.

First, an electronic album file, a frame layout file,
After downloading the music information file, the object image data, and the effect music file to the client computer 1, the client computer 1
A process of browsing the electronic album on the display device 19 will be described.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show examples of windows displayed on the display device 19 of the client computer 1, and FIGS. 20 to 22 are flowcharts showing detailed processing procedures for browsing electronic albums.

When the client computer 1 is connected to the image server 30 and the electronic album is browsed, the client computer 1 is connected to the image server 30 as described above.
Electronic album information (image representing the cover) is transmitted to the computer 1. An album selection window is displayed on the display device 19 of the client computer 1 according to the electronic album information.

In the album selection window, the frame
An album list display area A41 (a file name of the electronic album may be displayed) in which a list of images on the cover of the electronic album is displayed based on the thumbnail images, and an area for selecting the image server 30 (the image server 30 is changed). Select the viewing area clicked by the user when browsing the selected electronic album, the print area clicked by the user when printing the frame images constituting the electronic album, and the electronic album. A selection confirmation area (end area) that is clicked by the user when performing the operation is included.

The display image of the electronic album that the user wants to view is clicked from the images of the cover of the electronic album displayed in the list in the album list display area A41. If the selected electronic album is acceptable, the selected area is clicked. When the selection area is clicked, an album content display window shown in FIG. 19 is displayed on the display device 19 of the client computer 1.

The album contents display window includes a thumbnail image list display area A42 for displaying a list of thumbnail images of frame images constituting the electronic album selected by the user. The album content display screen also includes a server selection area, a browsing area, a print area, and a selection area, similarly to the album selection window shown in FIG.

Since the thumbnail images of the frame images constituting the electronic album selected by the user are displayed in a list in the area A42, the contents of the selected electronic album can be confirmed. When the user clicks on the selection area in the album content display window shown in FIG. 19, the electronic album to be viewed is finally determined.

When the electronic album to be browsed is determined (step 60), the file name of the determined electronic album is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image server 30. Then, the electronic album file of the electronic album confirmed to be browsed is transmitted from the image server 30 and downloaded by the client computer 1 (step 61).

An album information management folder is generated in the client computer 1. The electronic album file downloaded from the image server 30 is stored in the generated album information management folder (step 62). Next, the frame image page i is reset (step 63).

Referring to the path of the frame layout file stored in the electronic album file, the first
The page frame layout file is downloaded from the image server 30 (step 64). A frame management folder is generated, and the downloaded frame layout file is stored in the generated frame management folder (step 65). flame·
Layout file is client computer 1
The path of the first page stored in the electronic album file is changed to the path to the frame layout file stored in the frame management folder of the client computer 1. (Step 66).

The image data of each object is downloaded from the image server 30 by referring to the path to each object constituting the frame image of the first page described in the frame layout file (step 67). . Of course, for the image data already stored in the client computer 1, the image server 3
Needless to say, do not download from zero.

An object management folder is created in the frame management folder, and each downloaded object file is stored (step 68). The path to each object described in the frame layout file is changed to the path to each object file stored in the object management folder (step 69).

The frame image page i is incremented (step 70), and the processing from step 64 to step 70 is repeated until the last frame image page of the frame images constituting the electronic album (step 7).
1).

Next, the performance order number j indicating the performance order of the effect music is reset (step 72).

The music information file is downloaded from the image server 30 with reference to the path to the music information file described in the electronic album file (step 73). A music management folder is created in the album information management folder. The downloaded music information file is stored in the generated music management folder (step 74). When the music information file is stored in the music management folder, the path to the music information file described in the electronic album file is changed to the path to the music information file stored in the music management folder (step 7).
5).

The music file is downloaded from the image server 30 with reference to the path to the effect music file described in the music information file (step 76). Also in this case, it is needless to say that the effect music file stored in the client computer 1 does not need to be downloaded from the image server 30. The downloaded effect music file is stored in the music management folder (step 77). The path to the effect music file described in the music information file is changed to the path of the effect music file stored in the music management folder (step 78).

The performance order number j is incremented (step 78), and step 7 is performed until the performance order number j becomes final.
The processing from step 3 to step 79 is repeated (step 80).

As described above, the electronic album file, the frame layout file, the object image data, the music information file, and the effect music file for browsing the electronic album are stored in the client computer 1.

When the performance order number j becomes the last, browsing of the electronic album starts. In browsing the electronic album, display of frame images (steps 82 to 88) and performance of music (steps 89 to 95) are performed in parallel.

In displaying the frame image, the frame image page i is reset (step 82), and the first timer is started (step 83). The frame layout file is read out with reference to the path to the frame layout file described in the electronic album file (step 84). The frame image of the first page is formed based on the read frame layout file, and the frame image of the first page is displayed on the display device 19 of the client computer 1 (step 85). The frame image on the first page is the Fram described in the electronic album file.
display device 19 for the display time specified by eTimer
Is displayed (step 86). When the display time is counted by the first timer, the frame image page is incremented (step 87). The processing from step 83 to step 87 is repeated until the last frame image page (step 88). It goes without saying that the first timer is reset each time the display of each frame image page ends.

In outputting music, the performance order number j is reset (step 89), and the second timer is started (step 90). The music information file is read out with reference to the path to the music information file described in the electronic album file (step 91). The effect music file is read out according to the music information file, and the music is played (step 92). When the second timer measures the performance time described in the music information file (step 93), the performance order number j is incremented (step 94). The processing from step 90 to step 94 is repeated until the performance of the final music is completed (step 95).

In the processing shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, the browsing of the electronic album is started after all the data and the like necessary for browsing the electronic album are downloaded to the client computer 1. You can also browse electronic albums while downloading important data. The processing procedure at this time is shown in FIGS.
It is shown in FIG. In this case, the output of music is omitted.

First, an electronic album to be browsed is selected by the user of the client computer 1 (step 100). Data representing the file name of the selected electronic album is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image server 30. An electronic album file for the selected electronic album is downloaded from the image server 30 to the client computer 1 (step 101). The frame image page i is reset (step 102).

Referring to the path described in the electronic album file, the frame layout of the first page
The file is downloaded from the image server 30 (Step 103). Referring to the frame layout file (step 104), an object file constituting the frame image of the first page described in the frame layout file is downloaded from the image server 30 (step 105). Of course, there is no need to download files already in the client computer 1.

Subsequently, display of frame images (steps 106 to 111) and download of various files for display of frame images (steps 112 to 118)
Are performed in parallel.

In downloading a file, a frame layout file is downloaded in display order. When the download of the frame layout file for the frame image of the specific page is completed, the download of the frame layout file for the next frame image is started (step 112).
When the download of the frame layout file is completed, the frame image page i is incremented (step 113). If the frame page indicates the last page, the file download processing ends (step 114).

If the frame image page i is not the last page (step 114), a frame layout file for the frame image of the next page is downloaded from the image server 30 (step 116). All objects and objects for composing the frame image by referring to the downloaded frame layout file
The file is downloaded from the image server 30 as needed (step 118).

As the image data of each object downloaded from the image server 30 to the client computer 1, data stored in a low resolution file of the image server 30 may be used. Since the low-resolution image data is downloaded from the image server 30, the time required for the download is reduced. It is possible to prevent a situation in which downloading of image data representing each object constituting the frame image to be displayed next or later within the display time of one frame image is not completed.

In displaying the frame image, the frame layout page k already downloaded
(<I) Frame layout file k
Frame image is constructed according to
It is displayed on the display device 19 of the computer 1 (step 106). The first timer starts (step 10).
7), the frame image is displayed for the display time described in the frame timer of the electronic album file (step 108). When the display time has elapsed, it is checked whether the download of the frame layout file for the next frame image has already been completed (step 109). If it has already been downloaded, the frame image page k is incremented (step 11).
0). Until the last frame image page is displayed, the processing from step 106 to step 110 is repeated (step 111).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an electronic album creation / browsing system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a client computer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of creating an electronic album.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a window displayed on the display device of the client computer 1.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a background image.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a mask image.

FIG. 7 shows a frame layout file.

FIG. 8 shows a display effect table.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a window displayed on the display device of the client computer.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a window displayed on the display device of the client computer.

FIG. 11A shows an electronic album file, and FIG.
Indicates a music information file.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of a procedure for creating an electronic album file.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating details of an electronic album file creation procedure.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of an electronic album file creation procedure.

FIG. 15 shows a processing procedure of the image server.

FIG. 16 shows various folders and the like generated in the image server.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an outline of an electronic album browsing procedure.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a window displayed on the display device of the client computer.

FIG. 19 shows an example of a window displayed on the display device of the client computer.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure for browsing an electronic album.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed processing procedure for browsing an electronic album.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure for browsing an electronic album.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure for browsing an electronic album.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure for browsing an electronic album.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Client computer 2 Modem 4 CD-ROM drive 9 RAM 10 ROM 11 CPU 13 HD drive 19 Display device 30 Image server

Claims (22)

[Claims] An image server and a plurality of client computers capable of performing data communication with each other, wherein frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images and display order data indicating a display order are associated with each other. The frame image specifying data and the display order data are transmitted from the client computer to the image server, and transmitted to the client computer requested from the image server in response to the transmission request of the electronic album file from the client computer. An electronic album system for transmitting an electronic album file that includes the frame image identification data included in the electronic album file transmitted from the image server. Frame image data transmission request means for requesting the image server to transmit the frame image data when the client computer does not store the frame image data representing the obtained frame image. An electronic album comprising frame image data transmitting means for transmitting the frame image data to the client computer which has issued the frame image data transmission request in response to a frame image data transmission request from a client computer;
system. 2. A request for browsing an electronic album from the client computer to the image server, wherein the image server responds to the request for browsing the electronic album by displaying a plurality of representative images each representing an outline of the plurality of electronic albums. A list display data transmitting unit that transmits data for displaying the list to the client computer that has requested browsing, wherein the client computer transmits the representative image represented by the list display data transmitted from the image server; Designating means for designating one representative image from a list, and representative image specifying data transmitting means for transmitting data for specifying the representative image specified by the specifying means to the image server; The server sends the data from the above client computer. 2. The electronic album system according to claim 1, wherein an electronic album file corresponding to the representative image specified by said representative image specifying data is transmitted to said client computer. 3. An image server capable of data communication with a plurality of client computers, and frame image specification data and display for specifying a plurality of frame images transmitted from one of the client computers and associated with each other. Receiving means for receiving display order data representing the order, one or other of the above clients;
Electronic album file transmission means for transmitting an electronic album file including the frame image specifying data and display order data to the client computer in response to an electronic album file transmission request from a computer; In response to a frame image data transmission request from the client computer that has made a file transmission request, the electronic album
An electronic album image server comprising: image data transmitting means for transmitting frame image data representing a frame image specified by the frame image specifying data included in a file to the client computer which has requested the electronic album file transmission. 4. A client computer capable of mutually communicating data with an image server, a frame image selecting means for selecting a plurality of frame images constituting an electronic album, and a plurality of frame images selected by the frame image selecting means. Display order determining means for determining a display order; frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images selected by the frame image selecting means; and data representing the display order determined by the display order determining means are associated with each other. An electronic album creating client computer comprising electronic album file generating means for generating an electronic album file. 5. The electronic album creating client according to claim 4, further comprising electronic album file transmitting means for transmitting the electronic album file generated by said electronic album file generating means to said image server. Computer. 6. A method in which at least one of display time data representing the display time of the frame image and electronic album display time data representing the display time of the electronic album is associated with the frame image specifying data and the display order data. 6. The electronic album creation client computer according to claim 5, further comprising time data transmission means for transmitting the time data to the image server. 7. A display effect specification for transmitting display effect specification data for specifying the appearance of the frame image or an image constituting the frame image to the image server in association with the frame image specification data and the display order data. 6. The electronic album creation client computer according to claim 5, further comprising data transmission means. 8. The electronic album creation client computer according to claim 7, further comprising simulation display control means for controlling a display device to perform a simulation display based on how the image appears. 9. The sound data transmitting means according to claim 4, further comprising: sound data transmitting means for transmitting sound data representing a sound effect of an electronic album to said image server in association with said frame image specifying data and said display order data. Client computer for creating electronic albums. 10. The sound data represents a plurality of sound effects, data representing the start and end of output of each sound effect, data representing the number of repetitions of a set of a plurality of sound effects, and sound effects. And transmitting at least one of the data representing the fade-in time at the start of output and the data representing the fade-out time at the start of sound effect output to the image server in association with the frame image specifying data and the display order data. 10. The client computer for creating an electronic album according to claim 9, further comprising a sound-related data transmitting unit. 11. A client computer capable of data communication with an image server, wherein frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images constituting an electronic album and display order data indicating a display order of the frame images are stored. An electronic album file receiving unit for receiving the electronic album file including the electronic album file from the server; and a client among frame image data representing a plurality of frame images specified by the frame image specifying data received by the electronic album file receiving unit. Image data download means for downloading frame image data not stored in the computer from the image server, and download by the stored frame image data and image data download means; A first electronic album display control means for controlling a display device to display an image represented by the loaded frame image data in accordance with the display order data. 12. A display time data representing a display time of the frame image is stored in the electronic album file, and the frame image represented by the frame image data according to the display time represented by the display time data. 12. The electronic album browsing client computer according to claim 11, further comprising display switching means for switching the display of the electronic album. 13. The electronic album file stores display effect designation data for designating the appearance of the frame image or an image constituting the frame image, and the appearance designated by the display effect designation data. 12. The electronic album browsing client computer according to claim 11, further comprising display effect control means for displaying the frame image or an image constituting the frame image. 14. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein sound data representing a sound effect of the electronic album is stored in the electronic album, and further comprising means for outputting a sound effect represented by the sound data. Album viewing client computer. 15. The sound data represents a plurality of sound effects, output start / end data indicating the start and end of output of each sound effect, and repetition count data indicating the number of repetitions of a set of the plurality of sound effects. And at least one of a fade-in time at the start of the output of the sound effect and a fade-in / out data representing a fade-out time at the end of the output of the sound effect, are stored in the electronic album file. Output control means for controlling the output start and end of each sound effect in accordance with the output start / end data, repetition control means for repeating a plurality of sound effects in accordance with the repetition data, and fade-in / out data To perform the above fade-in and fade-out 15. The electronic album browsing client computer according to claim 14, further comprising: a fade-in / out control means for controlling output of a fruit sound. 16. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said image data download means downloads frame image data representing a frame image to be displayed later during display of a previous frame image from said image server. Album viewing client computer. 17. An electronic album system comprising an image server capable of data communication with each other and a plurality of client computers, a frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images, and a display order representing a display order. Data is transmitted from the client computer to the image server in association with each other, and in response to a request for transmission of an electronic album file from the client computer, a frame image is specified from the image server to the requested client computer. Electronic albums containing data and display order data
Transmitting a file, and when the client computer does not store frame image data representing a frame image specified by the frame image specifying data included in the electronic album file transmitted from the image server, The client computer that has requested the transmission of the album file requests the image server to transmit the frame image data, and the frame configuring the electronic album file in response to the frame image data transmission request from the client computer. An operation control method for an electronic album system, wherein frame image data representing an image is transmitted from the image server to the client computer which has requested transmission of the frame image data. 18. An image server capable of data communication with a plurality of client computers, wherein frame image specification data and display for specifying a plurality of frame images transmitted from one of the client computers and associated with each other. Receiving display order data indicating the order, and responding to an electronic album file transmission request from one or another of the client computers,
An electronic album file including the frame image specifying data and the display order data is transmitted to the requested client computer, and in response to the frame image data transmission request from the client computer that has requested the electronic album file transmission, An operation control method for an electronic album image server, wherein frame image data representing a frame image specified by the frame image specifying data included in the electronic album file is transmitted to the client computer which has requested the electronic album file transmission. . 19. A client computer capable of data communication with an image server, wherein a plurality of frame images constituting an electronic album are selected, a display order of the selected plurality of frame images is determined, and the selected plurality of frame images are determined. An operation control method for an electronic album creating client computer, wherein an electronic album file is generated by associating frame image specifying data for specifying the frame image of the above and data representing the determined display order with each other. 20. A client computer capable of performing data communication with an image server, wherein frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images constituting an electronic album and display order data indicating a display order of the frame images are stored. Receiving the electronic album file containing the frame image data from the server, and among the frame image data representing the plurality of frame images specified by the received frame image specifying data, the frame image data not stored in the client computer is converted to the frame image data. An electronic album browsing client computer which displays the frame image data downloaded and stored from the image server and the image represented by the downloaded frame image data in accordance with the display order data. Operation control method. 21. A recording medium storing a program for controlling a client computer capable of performing data communication with an image server, wherein a plurality of frame images constituting an electronic album are selected, and the selected plurality of frame images are selected. The client computer according to claim 1, wherein the client computer is configured to determine the display order of the frame images and to associate the frame image specifying data for specifying the plurality of selected frame images and the data indicating the determined display order with each other to generate an electronic album file. Recording medium storing a program for controlling the computer. 22. A recording medium storing a program for controlling a client computer capable of performing data communication with an image server, comprising: frame image specifying data for specifying a plurality of frame images constituting an electronic album. And receiving an electronic album file including display order data representing the display order of the frame images from the server, and among the frame image data representing a plurality of frame images specified by the received frame image specifying data, Downloading the frame image data not stored in the computer from the image server, and displaying the stored frame image data and the image represented by the downloaded frame image data in accordance with the display order data. Recording medium storing a program for controlling the client computer as described above.