JPH1173382A - Image communication system and client computer used for it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the transmission time by making an image data quantity reducing means reduce data quantity of image data and sending the reduced image data to an image server. SOLUTION: A client computer 1 is connected to a main image server 30. Template image data for editing is read from HD of the server 30 and is sent from the server 30 to the computer 1. A template image for editing which is represented by the template image data for editing and a user image are composited by the computer 1 and a composite image is produced. The computer 1 sends the server 30 the user image and composite information to perform the compositing in order to print the composite image in the server 30. In the transmission processing, thinning processing is performed to reduce image data quantity that represents the user image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image server and a client server.
The present invention relates to an image communication system capable of communicating with a computer, a client computer constituting the image communication system, an image data transmission method, an image data information display method, and a computer-readable recording medium.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the spread of the Internet, transmission and reception of image data between a client computer and an image server have been performed relatively frequently. For example, downloading image data from an image server,
The client computer can perform synthesis, correction, and the like of the image represented by the image data.

[0003] Since image data generally has a large data amount, it takes time to transmit the image data. Generally, an individual user of a client computer connects to an image server using a public telephone line. If it takes time to transmit the image data, the communication fee increases. Therefore, it is preferable to shorten the transmission time as much as possible. In such a case, it is convenient if the user can know the transmission time in advance.

[0004] Further, there is a case where image synthesis and correction are performed again using the same image as the image once synthesized in the client computer. In such a case, there is a demand that the user of the client computer wants to quickly search the image server for information on the image data once used in the image synthesis.

Further, image data representing the template image is transmitted from the image server to the client computer, and the client computer combines the template image with the user image stored in the client computer to generate data relating to the composite image. From the client computer to the image server,
When considering obtaining a high-quality composite image using a high-quality printer in the image server, it is convenient for the user of the client computer to be able to confirm the image quality of the composite image to be printed.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reduce the transmission time when transmitting image data from a client computer to an image server.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to quickly perform image synthesis processing, correction processing, and the like again.

Another object of the present invention is to enable a user of a client computer to confirm the image quality of a synthesized image obtained by performing image synthesis at a high quality image synthesis in an image server.

A first invention is a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server having an image output device for outputting an image and a client computer can communicate with each other, and the image is output from the image output device. Image data amount reducing means for reducing the data amount of the image data so as to have a data amount equal to or less than the data amount of the output image data representing the power image to be output, and the image data reduced by the image data amount reducing means as described above. An image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the image server is provided.

[0010] The first invention also provides a method of transmitting image data suitable for the client computer. That is, a method of transmitting image data from a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server having an image output device for outputting an image and a client computer can communicate with each other, and causing the image output device to output the image data. A client used in an image communication system, wherein the data amount of the image data is reduced so that the data amount is equal to or less than the data amount of the output image data representing the power image to be output, and the reduced image data is transmitted to the image server.・ The image data is transmitted from the computer.

Further, a recording medium storing a program for carrying out the first invention is provided.

According to the first aspect, when transmitting the image data from the client computer to the image server, the data amount is smaller than the data amount of the output image data representing the output image to be output from the output device of the image server. Thus, the data amount of the image data to be transmitted is reduced. Since the amount of data transmitted to the image server is reduced, the transmission time of the image data is reduced.

For example, by converting image data transmitted from a client computer into image data having a resolution equal to or lower than the resolution of an image that can be output from the output device (display device, printing device, etc.), Decrease the amount.

Further, the amount of image data is reduced by thinning out the image data transmitted from the client computer so as to have the size of the output image to be output from the output device.

When there are a plurality of images having different image data amounts representing the same subject image, an image having the resolution of the output device is selected from the plurality of images, and an image representing the selected image is selected. Data may be transmitted from the client computer to the image server.

Since one image is selected from a plurality of images and the image data is transmitted from the client computer to the image server, the data amount is reduced, and the transmission time of the image data can be reduced. Efficient transmission of image data can be realized.

A part of the image for one frame may be extracted, and image data representing the extracted image may be transmitted from the client computer to the image server. Since the amount of image data transmitted from the client computer to the image server is reduced, the transmission time is reduced.

A compression ratio is determined based on a transmission speed of image data between the image server and the client computer, and image data compressed at the determined compression ratio is transmitted from the client computer to the image server. You can also. Since the image data is compressed based on the transmission speed of the image data, the amount of image data to be transmitted is reduced, and the transmission time of the image data can be reduced.

The compression ratio can be determined according to a given compression command.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, wherein a compression ratio setting means for setting a compression ratio of image data; Calculating means for calculating information on the transmission time when image data compressed at the compression rate set by the setting means is transmitted to the image server, and a display device for displaying information on the transmission time calculated by the calculating means It is characterized by having.

The second invention also provides an image data transmitting method suitable for the client computer. That is, the information display method of the client computer used in the image communication system in which the image server and the client computer can communicate with each other is to set a compression rate of the image data, and to compress the image data compressed at the set compression rate. Is transmitted to the image server, and information on the transmission time is calculated, and the information on the transmission time calculated by the calculation means is displayed.

Further, a recording medium for carrying out the second invention is provided.

According to the second aspect, when image data is compressed, information on a transmission time when the compressed image data is transmitted from the client computer to the image server is displayed. Since the user of the client computer can know the information on the transmission time, the compression ratio can be further increased or reduced as necessary.

Preferably, an image represented by the image data at the compression ratio is displayed. The user can visually check the image quality of the image represented by the compressed image data.

According to a third aspect, in an image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, image data and information on the image data are transmitted from the client computer to the image server. The image server is
An image output device that outputs an image represented by the received image data based on the information about the image data transmitted from the computer, and transmits information about the image data transmitted from the client computer to the client computer An image information transmitting means is provided, and the client computer is provided with a search means for searching for image data specified by information on the image data transmitted from the image server.

The third invention also provides a method for implementing the third invention. That is, in an image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, image data and information related to the image data are transmitted from the client computer to the image server. An image represented by the received image data is output based on the information on the image data transmitted from the computer, and the information on the image data transmitted from the client computer is transmitted from the image server to the client computer. The client computer searches for image data specified by information on image data transmitted from the image server.

Further, there is provided a recording medium storing a program for implementing the third invention.

According to the third aspect, information on the image data once transmitted to the image server is returned from the image server to the client computer. The client computer searches for the image data transmitted to the image server from the information on the image data transmitted from the image server.

Since the image data once transmitted to the image server can be found out, image synthesis and editing processing can be performed again using the image data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server having a printing apparatus and a client computer can communicate with each other. Receiving means for receiving a part of the printing template image data used for the printing process, a part of the printing template image data received by the receiving means, and one of the user image data stored in the client computer; And a synthesizing means for synthesizing the part.

The fourth invention also provides a method suitable for the client computer. That is, this is an image synthesizing method of a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server having a printing device and a client computer can communicate with each other. A part of the printing template image data to be used is received, and a part of the received printing template image data and a part of the user image data stored in the client computer are combined.

According to the fourth aspect, a part of the printing template image data used for the printing process is transmitted from the image server to the client computer. A part of the composite image is generated in the client computer using a part of the printing template image data and a part of the image data representing the user image. Since the user of the client computer obtains a part of the composite image to be printed, the user can visually confirm the image quality of the composite image actually printed.

[0033]

[Explanation of the embodiment]

 (1) Configuration of image communication system

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and shows the entire configuration of an image communication system.

In the image communication system, a plurality of client computers 1 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) via the Internet, a main image server
30 and the store image server 31 are communicably connected to each other. The store image server 31 is usually arranged in a laboratory.

In this image communication system, the main image server 30 stores template image data representing a template image (editing template image data and printing template image data having a higher resolution than the editing template image data). . The client computer 1 stores user image data representing a user image. The editing template image data is transmitted from the main image server 30 to the client computer 1. In the client computer 1, the user image represented by the user image data is synthesized on the template image represented by the transmitted template image data for editing. When the synthesizing process is performed in this manner, the user image data and the synthesizing information for performing the synthesizing process are transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30. The main image server 30 prints a composite image based on the composite information using the print template image data and the user image data, and sends the printed composite image to the user of the client computer 1. The composite image is also printed in the store server 31 as needed. More details will become clear from the following description.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the client computer 1. The client computer 1 is usually placed at the user's home.

The overall operation of the client computer 1 is controlled by the CPU 2.

The client computer 1 has an RO
M3, RAM for temporarily storing data, VRAM12 for displaying a composite image on the display device 14, RO
Read data from M3 and RAM4 and VR
A memory controller 15 for controlling writing and reading of data to and from the AM 12 is included. VRA
The image data read from M12 is the DA converter 1
3 to be converted into an analog video signal and displayed on the display device 14.

A bus controller 5, a memory controller 15, and a timer 16 are connected to the client computer 1.

Further, a system I / O controller 6 is connected to the client computer 1.
This system I / O controller 6 includes a client
A keyboard 7 and a mouse 8 for receiving an operation command from a user of the computer 1, a CD-ROM drive 9 and an FD drive 10 for reading image data from a CD-ROM, and a modem 11 for connecting to the Internet are connected. I have.

The client computer 1 has an external I
/ O controller 18 is connected. This external I /
The O-controller 18 has a flatbed scanner 2
1, a film scanner 22, a digital still camera 23, and an HD drive 24 are connected. H
HD that can read and write data freely by D drive 24
An execution program is read from a hard disk (not shown) (this operation program is stored in the HD by loading a CD-ROM storing the program into the CD-ROM drive 9 and reading the program). By reading the operation program stored in the HD, predetermined processing described later is performed by the client computer 1. The HD also stores list data of editing template images stored in the main image server.

Further, a printer 20 for printing an image and a printer control circuit 19 for controlling the printer 20 are connected to the client computer 1.

The user combines the template image with the user image using the client computer 1. Details of the image synthesizing process will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the main image server 30. In this figure, the same components as those shown in FIG.
The store image server 31 has the same configuration as the main image server 30. Main image server 30 (store image server 3)
Also in 1), the CD-ROM storing the program is loaded into the CD-ROM drive 9 and read, whereby the execution program is installed in the main image server 30 (store image server 31) and stored in the HD.

The external I / O included in the main image server 30
A high-speed film scanner 25 is connected to the O controller 18. Also, this external I / O controller 1
8, edit template image data representing an edit template image, edit mask image data representing an edit mask image, and print template image representing a print template image on the HD where data is read and written by the HD drive 24 connected to the HD drive 24. Template image data, print mask image data representing a print mask image, and LI
F (Layout Image File) is stored.

The main image server 30 is connected to a high-quality printer 20A capable of high-quality printing.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the template image. A window W for attaching a user image is formed in the template image. On the template image, window area data SX, SY, EX and EY representing a circumscribed rectangle F of the window W are defined in order to define the position of the window W. The window area data SX and SY are
And the window area data EX and EY indicate the coordinate position of the lower right corner of the circumscribed rectangle F of the window W.

As shown in FIG. 5, the LIF includes addresses indicating the storage locations of the editing template image data, the editing mask image data, the printing template image data, the printing mask image data, and the window area data SX, S.
Y, EX, EY and the aspect ratio of the template image (asp = width of template image / length of template image) are stored. By specifying the LIF, the editing template image data, the editing mask image data, the printing template image data, and the printing mask image data can be read from the HD.

(2) Outline of Processing of Image Communication System

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of the image synthesizing process performed in the image communication system.

First, the client computer 1 is activated by the user of the client computer 1 (step 41). The client computer 1 and the main image server 30 are connected according to the address of the main image server 30 input to the client computer 1 or already input (step 42).

When the client computer 1 and the main image server 30 are connected, the main image server 30
The editing template image data representing the editing template image is read from the HD of the main image server 3.
0 is transmitted to the client computer 1 (step 43).

Of the image data representing a plurality of images stored in the HD of the client computer 1, the image data representing the image desired by the user (user image) is the HD
VRA of the client computer 1
It is developed on M12 (step 44).

The editing template image represented by the editing template image data transmitted from the main image server 30 and the user image are combined in the client computer 1 to generate a combined image (step 45).

When the composite image data representing the composite image generated in this manner is stored in the client computer 1 (YES in step 46), the composite image data is stored in the HD by the HD drive 24 ( Step 47).

The composite image is printed in the image server 30, but a part of one composite image can be printed using the printer 20 of the client computer 1 (partial printing) (steps 48 and 49).

When a composite image is generated in the client computer 1, the composite image is transmitted to the image server 30.
Is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image server 30 from the client computer 1 to the image server 30. In this transmission process, a thinning process described later is performed so that the amount of image data representing the user image is reduced (step 50). Since the amount of image data is small, the transmission time of image data is reduced. Further, an image quality selection process described later is performed.

The composite image can be printed in the main image server 30 and the store image server 31
Can be printed (printing in the store image server is referred to as store printing) (step 51). In the case of store printing, the image data representing the user image and the combination information are transmitted to the store image server 31 (step 53). If store printing is not performed, the user image and the combination information are stored in the main image server. 30 (step 52).

The details of the image synthesizing process in the image communication system will become apparent from the following description.

(3) Transmission processing of editing template image data from the main image server to the client computer

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for transmitting editing template image data from the main image server 30 to the client computer 1 (the processing in step 43 in FIG. 6). 8 and 9 show an example of a screen displayed on the display device 14 of the client computer 1. FIG.

First, H of the client computer 1
The reduced image data of the template image is read from D, and a list of reduced template images is displayed on the display device 14 as shown in FIG. 8 (step 71).

As shown in FIG. 8, on the display screen of the display device 14, a synthesized image display area A in which a synthesized image is displayed.
A reduced template image list display area AT in which M and reduced template images are displayed in a list is displayed. Further, on the display screen, when enlarging the user image to be synthesized, an enlargement instruction area A clicked by the user is displayed.
1. Reduction command area A2 clicked by the user when reducing the user image to be combined, image position adjustment areas A3 and A for adjusting the position of the user image to be combined
4, A5 and A6 are displayed. By clicking on the area A3, the user image to be synthesized moves to the left. By clicking on the area A4, the user image to be synthesized moves upward. By clicking on the area A5, the image is synthesized. When the user image to be moved moves downward and the area A6 is clicked, the user image to be combined moves rightward.

When the user clicks on a desired reduced template image among the reduced template images displayed in the area AT, the template image is selected (step 72). When the template image is selected by the user, data representing the LIF name corresponding to the selected template image is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30 (step 73).

Data representing the LIF name transmitted from the client computer 1 is received by the main image server 30 (step 78).

When the main image server 30 receives the data representing the LIF name, the LIF represented by the received data is searched. When the corresponding LIF is retrieved from the HD, the editing template image data and the editing mask image data are transmitted from the main image server 30 to the client computer 1 together with the LIF based on the LIF (step 79).

LI sent from main image server 30
F, the editing template image data and the editing mask image data are received by the client computer 1 (step 74). The received LIF, editing template image data, and editing mask image data are temporarily written to the HD by the HD drive 24 (step 75).

The editing template image data and the editing mask image data temporarily written to the HD
, And is developed into a bit map on the VRAM 12 (step 76). Thus, the editing template image is displayed on the display screen of the display device 14 of the client computer 1 as shown in FIG. 9 (step 77).

(4) User Image Reading Processing in Client Computer 1

FIG. 10 shows the client computer 1
6 shows the processing procedure of the user image reading process (the process of step 44 in FIG. 6).

The user of the client computer 1 selects a user image to be combined with the template image by designating its file name (step 61).

Image data representing a user image specified by the user is read from the HD (step 6).
2). If the read image data is of a format not supported by the client computer 1 (NO in step 63), an error is displayed on the display device 14 (step 64).

If the image data representing the user image specified by the user is one supported by the client computer 1 (Y in step 63)
ES), and are developed into a bitmap file (steps 65 and 66). If the image data has already been developed in the bitmap file, the processing in step 66 is skipped.

When the user image data developed in the bitmap file is obtained, the image size and the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the user image are temporarily stored (steps 67 and 68). After that, the user image data becomes V
Stored in the RAM 12 (step 69), the display device 14
Is displayed in the composite image display area of the display screen.

In this way, the user image data representing the user image to be combined with the template image is obtained.

(5) Image synthesis processing

FIG. 11 shows a processing procedure of the image synthesizing processing (FIG. 6).
Is a flowchart showing the process of step 45 in FIG.
FIG. 12 illustrates a process of performing image synthesis using a template image, a mask image, and a user image in order to make the image synthesis process easy to understand.

The image synthesizing process is executed in the client computer 1. In the image synthesis processing,
First, the LIF stored in the HD is read (step 81).

Subsequently, an editing template image and an editing mask image are generated from the editing template image data and the editing mask image data stored in the HD (step 82).

The window area data of the editing template image is read from the LIF, and the numbers of vertical and horizontal images of the rectangle F circumscribing the window W are calculated (step 83).

Subsequently, the client computer 1
Of the user image, an image portion to be combined with the template image in the image combining process (this is referred to as a combining target user image) is specified by the user (step 8).
4).

The pixel thinning rate or the pixel interpolation rate is calculated so that the specified size of the user image to be combined matches the size of the circumscribed rectangle F (step 85). Pixel thinning (image reduction processing) is performed using the calculated thinning rate or pixel interpolation (image enlargement processing) is performed using the interpolation rate (step 86) (the image obtained by this processing is referred to as an extracted image).

The thinned or interpolated user image to be synthesized and the mask image are synthesized so as to be masked by the mask image (referred to as AND synthesis) (step 8).
7).

The AND-combined image and the template image are combined (referred to as OR combination) so that the template image overlaps the mask portion of the mask image (step 88). By the OR combination, the combining process is completed, and a combined image in which all or a part of the user image appears in the window W of the template image desired by the user is obtained. The composite image thus obtained is displayed on the display device 14 of the client computer 1 (step 89).

FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show another processing of the image synthesis processing. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the image synthesis processing, and corresponds to a part of the processing illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 14 illustrates a state in which images are combined in the image combining process as an image.

This image processing shows a case in which enlargement processing of a user image to be combined is performed according to an enlargement ratio set by a user. When image enlargement is performed (YES in step 91), an image portion having a size equal to the size of the circumscribed rectangle F of the window W of the editing template image is designated by the user from the user image enlarged at the enlargement ratio designated by the user. It is cut out according to. The cut-out image becomes a user image to be combined (see FIG. 14B).

When the image is enlarged, the image quality deteriorates. An allowable image quality range that is satisfactory even when the image quality is reduced is set in advance. When the image enlargement process is performed, if the image is out of the allowable range of the image (YES in step 94), a message to that effect is displayed on the display device to notify the user that the image quality is reduced when the composite image is printed. (Step 95). The user will cancel the image enlargement processing as needed.

(6) Partial print processing

The composite image is printed by the main image server 30 or the store image server 31. A part of one composite image is printed by the printer 20 of the client computer 1 to check the resolution of the printed image. You can also. The process of confirming a part of such a print image is a partial print process (the process of step 49 in FIG. 6).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the partial printing process. FIG. 16A and FIG.
An example of a screen displayed on the display device 14 of the client computer 1 is shown.

When the composite image is generated as described above,
As shown in FIG. 16A, the composite image is displayed in a composite image display area AM on the display screen of the display device 14 of the client computer 1. An area A21 and an area A22 are displayed on the display screen of the display device 14 on which the composite image is displayed. The area A21 stores the composite image to be printed in the printer 2 of the client computer 1.
The area clicked by the user when printing a part of the composite image to check the resolution of the composite image using 0. The area A22 is an area clicked by the user when performing proof printing as described later.

When the user clicks on the area A21 while the display screen of the display device 14 of the client computer 1 is in the state of the screen shown in FIG. Step 10
1) A part of the composite image to be printed is selected (step 102). This selection is automatically determined so that the boundary portion between the template image and the user image (the edge portion of the window W of the template image) is included. That is, the target range of the partial print processing of the composite image is determined in advance by the template image and the user image.
However, the user may be allowed to specify a part of the composite image to be printed.

As described above, when a part of the composite image to be printed is determined, the part determination data and the LIF indicating that the part has been determined are transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30 ( Step 102).

When the partial designation data and the LIF transmitted from the client computer 1 are received by the main image server 30, a part of the printing template image data corresponding to a part of the composite image to be printed with reference to the LIF Data is read from HD. When the print template image data is read, the template image data of a portion thereof is transmitted from the main image server 30 (where the portion of the template image to be transmitted (printed) is predetermined as described above). Sent to client computer 1 (step 10
7).

A part of the print template image data transmitted from the main image server 30 is transmitted to the client
Received by the computer 1 (step 10
3).

The printing template image represented by a part of the printing template image data and the user image within the determined printing range are synthesized to generate a part of the synthesized image (step 104). A part of the generated composite image is displayed on the composite image display area AM of the display device 14 (Step 105) and printed by the printer 20 (Step 106). In this way, the user of the client computer 1 can confirm a part of the composite image actually printed, and can confirm the resolution of the composite image printed in the main image server 30 or the storefront image server 31.

(7) Transmission image data conversion processing

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the transmission image data conversion processing (the processing of step 50 in FIG. 6). FIGS. 18 and 19 show images represented by image data converted by the transmission image data conversion process.

This transmission image data conversion processing is performed in the client computer 1.

When the synthesized image is generated as described above, the user clicks on the area A24 in FIG. 16B to issue a print instruction for the synthesized image (step 109).

The resolution of the high-quality printer 90A of the main image server 30 is stored in the hard disk of the client computer 1 in advance. The resolution of the high-quality printer 20A of the main image server 30 is read from the hard disk of the client computer 1. (Step 111). The resolution of the high-quality printer 20A is compared with the resolution of the user image used for the composite image (step 112). If the resolution of the high-quality printer 20A is lower than the resolution of the user image, the amount of image data can be reduced by making the resolution of the user image used for the composite image equal to the resolution of the high-quality printer 20A. Therefore, image data conversion processing is performed so that the resolution of the user image used for the composite image is the resolution of the high-quality printer 20A (step 113). For example, if the resolution of the user image is 1800d
pi, and the resolution of the high-quality printer 20A is 120
In the case of 0 dpi, the thinning processing of the image data is performed so that the image of the user becomes 1200 dpi. If the resolution of the high-quality printer 20A is better than the resolution of the user image, the process of step 113 is skipped. When there are a plurality of images having different resolutions, a user image having a resolution equal to the designated resolution is used.

Subsequently, the print size of the composite image is designated by the user (step 114). If the print size of the image specified by the user (for example, の of the standard image size) is smaller than the print image size (standard image print size) predetermined in the main image server 30, A thinning process is performed on the user image so that the print size of the composite image specified by the user is obtained (step 116). Since the image size is reduced, the amount of image data transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 31 is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 19, only image data representing an extracted image (an image portion necessary for printing a composite image) is extracted from image data representing a user image (step 120). As a result, the amount of image data transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30 is reduced.

Thus, transmission image data transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30 is generated. The generated transmission image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 4 (step 121).

(8) Image quality selection processing

The transmission image data generated as described above can be compressed and transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30. If the compression ratio is increased, the transmission time of the image data can be shortened, but the image quality deteriorates. On the other hand, if the compression ratio is reduced, the image quality is improved, but the transmission time of the image data is lengthened. In this embodiment, the client computer 1 determines whether to give priority to shortening the transmission time of image data or to giving priority to image quality.
Of the user.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the image quality selection processing (FIG. 6).
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the processing of step 50 of FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a process for calculating how long it takes to transmit image data between the client computer 1 and the main image server 30. FIG.
Shows an example of a display screen of the display device 14 of the client computer 1.

An area A for displaying the image quality (good, normal, bad, etc.) selected by the user is displayed on the display screen of the display device 14.
11, an area A12 for displaying the image data amount corresponding to the image quality selected by the user, an area for displaying the transmission time when image data is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30 according to the image quality of the image selected by the user A13, an area A14 that is clicked when making a PPP connection, an area A15 in which a telephone number for connecting to the main image server is displayed,
An area A16 for displaying the charge when transmitted from the computer 1 to the image server 30, an area A17 clicked for canceling, an area A18 clicked for starting transmission, and an image of the image quality selected by the user are displayed. A preview image display area A19 is included.

Referring to FIG. 20, the image quality is selected by the user of client computer 1 (step 131). When the image quality is selected by the user, a preview image having the same image quality as the selected image quality is generated and displayed in the preview image display area A19 (steps 132 and 133).

Further, the image data amount of the selected image quality is displayed in the area A12 (step 134). From the image data amount, the transmission time when the image data is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the image server 30 is calculated by (transmission time = transmission capability of image data × image data amount) (step 135). The calculation process of the transmission capability of the image data will be described later.

The calculated transmission time is displayed in area A13 (step 136). Area A1 for PPP connection
4 is clicked (step 137), and the telephone number is input to the main image server in the area A15 (step 1).
38) The transmission fee is calculated from the transfer time and the telephone number of the main image server 30 of the transmission destination (step 13).
9). The calculated transmission fee is displayed in area A16 (step 140). For LAN connection, area A14
Is not clicked and ends after a certain time.

Next, the calculation processing of the transmission capability will be described.

Referring to FIG. 21, the image data amount of template image data when template image data for editing is downloaded from main image server 30 as described above is stored (steps 141 and 14).
2). In addition, download of template image data for editing
The time required for loading is stored (step 14
3).

By dividing the time required to download and load these template images by the data amount of the template images, the transmission capability of the image data can be calculated (step 144). The transmission capacity thus calculated is stored (step 145).

(9) Format of transmitted image data

FIG. 23 shows the client computer 1
2 shows a format of image data transmitted from the server to the main image server 30.

A header is included, and information on the transmission image data and transmission image data are added to the header. LIF is included in the transmission image data information (synthesis information)
The information includes a name, a path to the user image, a file name of the user image, and a positional relationship indicating which part of the original user image corresponds to the image extracted from the user image.

The image data having such an image format is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30.

(10) Printing process

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the printing process of the composite image (the process of step 52 in FIG. 6) performed in the main image server 30.

A user image composing a composite image as a print request of the composite image from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30 (this user image has a reduced amount of image data as necessary as described above, The image data (combined information is stored as transmission image data information) representing the compressed image data is transmitted (step 151).

When the main image server 30 receives the image data representing the user image (step 153),
A print acceptance number is issued (step 154). Subsequently, a composite image is generated as follows using the received image data.

The LIF is searched for from the LIF name included in the transmitted image data. By analyzing this LIF, print template image data and print mask image data necessary for the composite image are retrieved from the HD of the main image server 30 and temporarily stored in the RAM 4 (step 15).
5,156).

After the user image data transmitted from the client computer 1 is expanded, it is developed into a bitmap (step 157), and data representing a composite image is generated in the VRAM 12 according to the transmitted image data information (step 158). .

The synthesized image data thus generated is displayed on the display device 14 via the digital / analog conversion circuit 13 so that the operator of the main image server 30 can check the synthesized image. The composite image data is supplied to the printer control circuit 19, and is supplied to the high-quality printer 20A, whereby a high-quality composite image is printed from the high-quality printer 20A (step 159).
A reduced image of the composite image is generated (step 160).
The print reception number of the issued composite image is managed in the image server 30 (step 161). A print acceptance notice including the reduced image data and the print acceptance number data is transmitted from the image server 30 to the client computer 1 (step 162). The reduced image data and the print reception number data are received by the client computer 1 (step 152). At a later date, the user presents the print receipt number to the operator of the image server 30 and receives the print specified by the print receipt number. The printed composite image may be sent to the user of the client computer 1 by the operator of the main image server 30.

(11) In-store printing

As described above, the synthesized image can be printed on the main image server 30 by the high-quality printer 20A, and can also be printed by the store image server 31 disposed in the laboratory. The user of the client computer 1 has the store image server 3
If it is convenient to go to the laboratory where 1 is located, the following in-store printing will be performed.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the storefront printing processing procedure (the processing of step 53 in FIG. 6).

When store printing is designated by the user of the client computer 1 (step 171), the laboratory in which the store server 31 for performing store printing is located is selected (step 173). When a laboratory is selected by the user of the client computer 1, the store image server 31 arranged in the selected laboratory and the client computer 1 are connected.

When the client computer 1 and the store image server 31 are connected, image data representing the user image forming the composite image is transmitted from the client computer 1 to the store image server 31.

When the in-store image server 31 arranged in the laboratory receives the image data representing the user image transmitted from the client computer 1, a print acceptance number is issued as a request for printing a composite image. (Step 174). When the print reception number is issued, the LIF is searched, and the LIF is analyzed and
The file name representing the template image data used for printing the composite image specified by is read. The store image server 31 and the main image server are connected,
Data representing the searched file name is transmitted from the store image server 31 to the main image server 30, and transmission of the print template image data is requested (step 1).
75).

When the main image server 30 receives the data representing the file name of the print template image data transmitted from the store image server 31 (step 176), the main image server 30 receives the data based on the received file name data. Is searched, and print template image data and print mask image data for printing the composite image are read from the HD. The read printing template image data and printing mask image data are transmitted from the main image server 30 to the store image server 31 (step 177).

In the store image server 31, when the print template image data and the print mask image data transmitted from the main image server 30 are received (step 178), the user image data transmitted from the client computer 1 is received. Then, using the received print template image data and print mask image data, the image is synthesized according to the transmission image data information (step 179). This image composition processing is the same as the processing in the main image server 30 as described above, and thus redundant description will be avoided.

When the image data representing the composite image is generated, the generated composite image data is stored in the store image server 31.
And a composite image is printed (step 181). When the composite image is printed, a print acceptance number indicating a print end notification of the composite image is transmitted from the store image server 31 to the client computer 1 (step 181).

In the client computer 1,
Data representing the print reception number transmitted from the store image server 31 is received (step 182). The user of the client computer 1 has a store image server 31
Goes to the laboratory in which is located, and offers the printing reception number represented by the received data to the clerk of that laboratory. As a result, the lab clerk passes the printed matter on which the composite image specified by the print reception number is printed to the user of the client computer 1.

(12) Image resynthesis processing

After the image synthesizing process is performed as described above, the synthesizing process may be performed again by using the user image used to generate the synthesized image again. Such an image resynthesis process will be described.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for performing the image resynthesis processing.

When performing the image resynthesis process, first, the client computer 1 is started (step 19).
1). When the client computer 1 and the main image server 30 are connected (step 192), re-synthesis instruction data (including data for specifying transmission image data information) indicating that re-synthesis processing is performed is transmitted to the client. -Sent from the computer 1 to the main image server 30.

The resynthesis instruction data is stored in the main image server 30.
, The transmission image data information specified by the resynthesis instruction data is searched from the HD and transmitted to the client computer 1 as the synthesis information (step 199).

In the client computer 1,
When the transmission image data information (synthesis information) transmitted from the image server 30 is received (step 193), the user image data, the editing template image data, and the editing mask image data specified by the information are transmitted to the client / server. Searched by the computer 1 (these image data are used in the previous image synthesis processing,
Stored on the HD of the client computer). When the client computer 1 retrieves the user image data, a re-synthesis process is performed using the user image data (step 194). The details of this resynthesis process will be described later.

If necessary, the synthesized image data obtained by the re-synthesis processing is stored in the client computer 1 (steps 195 and 196).

When the image resynthesis processing is performed, the conversion processing of the user image data transmitted to the main image server 30 (such as processing to reduce the image data amount by lowering the resolution) is performed. Is reduced (step 197). The user image data whose data amount has been reduced and the LIF representing the synthesis information are transmitted from the client computer 1 to the main image server 30 and the main image server 30 prints the synthesized image in the same manner as the above-described synthesis processing. (Steps 197, 198, 200).

Next, the specific processing of the resynthesis processing will be described.

FIG. 27 shows the resynthesis process (step 1 in FIG. 26).
It is a flowchart which shows the concrete processing procedure of 94).

When the composite information transmitted from the main image server 30 is received, the LIF is read from the composite information (step 215). The editing template image data and the editing mask image data used in the previous synthesizing process are stored in the HD. client·
The computer 1 reads out the editing template image data and the editing mask image data stored in the HD based on the LIF.

On the other hand, data representing the area of the user image to be combined previously used in the combining process is retrieved from the HD of the client computer 1 (step 209).
If there is data representing the area of the user image to be combined, it is read out (steps 210 and 213), the user image to be combined is displayed on the display device (step 214), and image combining processing is performed (step 216). If data representing the area of the user image to be combined is not retrieved (NO in step 210), a predetermined image (for example, the entire user image) is displayed on the display device (step 21).
(1, 212) Image synthesis processing is performed (step 21)
6).

Since the resynthesis of the image is performed using the synthesizing information used once for the image synthesizing, quick resynthesis becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an overall overview of an image communication system.

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

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a main image server.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a template image.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an LIF.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a processing procedure of an image combining process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transmitting template image data and mask image data between a client computer and a main image server.

FIG. 8 shows a display screen of a display device of the client computer.

FIG. 9 shows a display screen of a display device of the client computer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process of reading a user image in a client computer.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an image combining process.

FIG. 12 shows an image synthesis process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of the image combining process.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a modification of the image synthesizing process.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a partial confirmation print.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show an example of a display screen of a display device of the client computer 1. FIGS.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a conversion process of transmission image data.

FIG. 18 illustrates a transmission image represented by a user image and transmission image data.

FIG. 19 shows how a part is extracted from a user image.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of image quality selection processing.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a transmission capability calculation process.

FIG. 22 shows an example of a display screen of a display device of a client computer.

FIG. 23 shows a file format of transmission image data.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a composite image printing process.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process procedure of in-store printing.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a processing procedure of a re-synthesis processing;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a specific processing procedure of the re-synthesis processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Client Computer 30 Main Image Server 31 Store Image Server

Claims (27)

[Claims] An image server having an image output device for outputting an image is a client computer used in an image communication system in which a client computer can mutually communicate. An output image to be output from the image output device is provided. Image data amount reducing means for reducing the data amount of image data representing an image to be transmitted so as to have a data amount equal to or less than the data amount of the output image data to be transmitted, and the image data reduced by the image data amount reducing means Image data transmission means for transmitting the image data to the image server. 2. The resolution conversion means for reducing the image data amount by converting the image data into image data having a resolution equal to or less than the resolution of an image that can be output from the output device. Thinning means for thinning out image data so as to have the size of an output image to be output from the output device; and selecting a resolution close to the resolution of the output device from a plurality of images representing the same subject image and having different image data amounts. 2. The client computer used in the image communication system according to claim 1, wherein the client computer is at least one of image selection means for selecting an image to be held and outputting image data representing the selected image. A print image area designating means for designating an image area to be printed in an image represented by one frame of image data;
2. The client used in the image communication system according to claim 1, wherein the client is a partial image data extracting unit that extracts partial image region data representing an image region specified by the print image region specifying unit from the image data of frames. ·Computer. 4. The image data amount reducing means determines a compression ratio of image data to be transmitted to the image server based on a transmission speed of image data between the image server and the client computer. 2. The client computer used in the image communication system according to claim 1, wherein the client computer is an image data compression unit that compresses image data according to a compression ratio determined by the compression ratio determination unit. 5. The client computer used in the image communication system according to claim 4, wherein said compression ratio determining means determines a compression ratio according to a given compression ratio setting command. 6. A client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, comprising: a compression ratio setting unit for setting a compression ratio of image data; Calculating means for calculating information about a transmission time when image data compressed at the set compression ratio is transmitted to the image server; and a display device for displaying information about the transmission time calculated by the calculating means. A client computer used in an image communication system. 7. The display control device according to claim 6, further comprising display control means for controlling an image represented by the image data compressed at the compression rate set by said compression rate setting means to be displayed on said display device. A client computer for use in the image communication system as described. 8. An image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, wherein image data and information about the image data are transmitted from the client computer to the image server. An image output device that outputs an image represented by the image data based on the information about the image data transmitted from the client computer, and transmits information about the image data transmitted from the client computer to the client computer An image communication system, comprising: an image information transmitting unit that performs searching; and the client computer includes a searching unit that searches for image data specified by information on the image data transmitted from the image server. 9. An image server having a printing apparatus and a client computer used in an image communication system capable of communicating with each other, and used for a printing process in the printing apparatus transmitted from the image server. Receiving means for receiving a part of the printing template image data received, and combining a part of the printing template image data received by the receiving means with a part of the user image data stored in the client computer A client computer for use in an image communication system comprising: 10. A method for transmitting image data from a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server having an image output device for outputting an image and a client computer can communicate with each other, to the image server, The data amount of the image data to be transmitted is reduced so as to be equal to or less than the data amount of the output image data representing the output image to be output from the image output device, and the reduced image data is transmitted to the image server. A method for transmitting image data from a client computer used in an image communication system. 11. The resolution conversion process of reducing the image data amount by converting the image data into image data having a resolution equal to or less than the resolution of an image that can be output from the output device. A thinning-out process for thinning out image data to have the size of an output image to be output from the output device, and representing the same subject image;
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image having a resolution close to the resolution of the output device is selected from a plurality of images having different image data amounts, and image data representing the selected image is output. 11. A method for transmitting image data from a client computer used in the image communication system according to 10. 12. The image data amount reduction processing includes specifying an image area to be printed in an image represented by one frame of image data, and representing the specified image area from one frame of the image data. The method for transmitting image data from a client computer used in the image communication system according to claim 10, which is a partial image data extraction process for extracting partial image region data. 13. The image data amount reducing process determines a compression ratio of image data to be transmitted to the image server based on a transmission speed of image data between the image server and the client computer. ,
The method for transmitting image data from a client computer used in the image communication system according to claim 10, wherein the image data compression processing is for compressing the image data according to the determined compression ratio. 14. The client communication system according to claim 13, wherein the processing of determining the compression ratio for the image data is to determine the compression ratio in accordance with a given compression ratio setting command. A method of transmitting image data from a computer. 15. An information display method in a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, wherein a compression ratio of image data is set, and the image data is compressed at the set compression ratio. An information display method in a client computer used in an image communication system, wherein information on a transmission time when image data transmitted to the image server is calculated and information on the calculated transmission time is displayed. 16. An image represented by image data compressed at a set compression ratio is displayed on the display device.
An information display method in a client computer used in the image communication system according to claim 15. 17. An image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, wherein image data and information on the image data are transmitted from the client computer to the image server. Outputting an image represented by the received image data based on the information on the image data transmitted from the client computer; and transmitting the information on the image data transmitted from the client computer from the image server to the client computer. An image communication method, wherein the client computer searches for image data specified by information on the image data transmitted from the image server. 18. An image synthesizing method for a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server having a printing device and a client computer can communicate with each other, wherein the method includes the steps of: Receiving a part of the printing template image data used for the printing process, and combining a part of the received printing template image data with a part of the user image data stored in the client computer; An image composition method in a client computer used in a communication system. 19. A program for transmitting image data from a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server having an image output device for outputting an image and a client computer can communicate with each other; A client computer configured to reduce the data amount of the image data to be transmitted with a data amount equal to or less than the data amount of the output image data representing the output image to be output from the output device, and to transmit the reduced image data to the image server; A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling a computer. 20. A resolution conversion process for reducing the amount of image data by converting the image data into image data having a resolution equal to or less than the resolution of an image that can be output from the output device. A thinning-out process for thinning out image data to have the size of an output image to be output from the output device, and representing the same subject image;
9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of a process of selecting an image having a resolution close to the resolution of the output device from a plurality of images having different image data amounts and outputting image data representing the selected image. 20. The recording medium according to 19. 21. The image data amount reduction process specifies an image area to be printed out of an image represented by one frame of image data, and indicates the specified image area from one frame of the image data. 20. The recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the recording medium is a partial image data extraction process for extracting partial image region data. 22. The image data amount reduction process determines a compression ratio of image data to be transmitted to the image server based on a transmission speed of image data between the image server and the client computer. ,
20. The recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the recording medium is image data compression processing for compressing image data according to the determined compression ratio. 23. The recording medium according to claim 22, wherein the processing of determining the compression ratio for the image data is to determine the compression ratio in accordance with a given compression ratio setting command. 24. A program for displaying information in a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, comprising: setting a compression ratio of image data; A program for calculating information on a transmission time when image data compressed at a rate is transmitted to the image server and controlling the client computer to display the information on the transmission time calculated by the calculation means is stored. Computer readable recording medium. 25. The recording medium according to claim 24, wherein a program for controlling a client computer to display an image represented by image data compressed at a set compression ratio on the display device is stored. 26. A program used in an image communication system in which an image server and a client computer can communicate with each other, wherein image data and information on the image data are transmitted from the client computer to the image server, The image server outputs an image represented by the image data based on the information about the image data transmitted from the client computer, and outputs the information about the image data transmitted from the client computer from the image server to the image server. The image data is transmitted to the client computer, and the client computer is controlled so that the client computer searches for the image data specified by the information on the image data transmitted from the image server. Storing the computer-readable recording medium a program for. 27. A program for image synthesis in a client computer used in an image communication system in which an image server having a printing device and a client computer can communicate with each other, wherein the program is transmitted from the image server. Receiving a part of the printing template image data used for the printing process in the printing apparatus, and combining a part of the received printing template image data with a part of the user image data stored in the client computer A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling a client computer to execute the program.