JPWO2013114931A1 - Image management system, portable information terminal, image management apparatus, image management method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

The image management system 30 includes an image management apparatus 10 and a portable information terminal 20. The image management apparatus 10 includes an attribute information adding unit 11 that adds attribute information including keywords to an image file. The portable information terminal 20 receives an image file to which attribute information is added from the image management apparatus 10 and includes an attribute information extraction unit 21 that extracts attribute information for each received image file, and is included in the extracted attribute information. The storage unit 22 that stores the keyword to be extracted and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other, and when a search keyword is input, the search keyword is matched with the keyword stored in the storage unit 22 And a search unit 23 for searching for an image file.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image management system for managing a large amount of image files, a portable information terminal and an image management apparatus used therefor, an image management method, and a computer-readable recording program for realizing these. The present invention relates to various recording media.

  Recent portable information terminals represented by smartphones and tablet terminals are equipped with a large-screen display panel, a large-capacity memory, and a high-performance processor, and display information as compared to conventional portable information terminals. It has improved dramatically in terms of capacity and processing capacity.

  For this reason, recent portable information terminals can handle a large amount of image files, and portable information terminals are used not only for personal use but also for business use. For example, portable information terminals, especially tablet-type terminals, are utilized for introducing products to clients using their large screens. In this case, it is convenient for the sales staff to carry only the portable information terminal instead of the catalog or the like.

  In addition, the image file is usually generated by photographing with a digital camera. Many digital cameras employ the Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF), and information about the image, such as the manufacturer name, resolution, image direction, shooting date, and position information of the digital camera, is added to the image file. Is done.

  The generated image file is taken into a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), and then the necessary image file is transferred from the PC to the portable information terminal by image transfer software. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-20910 A

  By the way, since the image file is generally displayed as a thumbnail in the portable information terminal, the user (sales representative) can display the target image on the screen by selecting the thumbnail of the target image file. . At this time, if there are a large number of stored image files, the user needs to search visually while scrolling the screen, which is a heavy burden.

  On the other hand, since the PC can search for a file by file name, the target image file can be easily searched by setting a file name including a keyword suitable for the search to each image file. Therefore, it is considered that even in a portable information terminal, if an application program that enables a search by file name is introduced, a search similar to a PC can be performed.

  However, since the portable information terminal has a smaller storage capacity than the PC, the file name is changed when the image file is transferred from the PC to the portable information terminal, and the file name after the change is changed again. Searching by file name is difficult because it is not permitted.

  Further, it is conceivable to search for an image file based on the information added by EXIF described above, but the added information is information preset on the digital camera side. Therefore, even if a search is executed based on information added by EXIF, it is difficult for the user to specify a target image.

  An example of an object of the present invention is to provide an image management system, a portable information terminal, an image management apparatus, an image management method, and a computer-readable recording medium that can solve the above problems and enable search of an image file by a keyword. It is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, an image management system according to an aspect of the present invention is an image management system including an image management device and a portable information terminal,
The image management device includes:
The image file includes an attribute information adding unit that adds attribute information including keywords,
The portable information terminal is
An attribute information extraction unit that receives the image file to which the attribute information is added from the image management device, and extracts the attribute information from the received image file;
A storage unit for storing the keyword included in the extracted attribute information and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other;
A search unit that, when a search keyword is input, compares the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the storage unit and searches for the corresponding image file. Features.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image management apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an attribute information adding unit that adds attribute information including a keyword to an image file.

In order to achieve the above object, a portable information terminal according to one aspect of the present invention provides:
Receiving an image file to which attribute information including a keyword is added, and extracting the attribute information from the received image file;
A storage unit for storing the keyword included in the extracted attribute information and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other;
A search unit that searches the corresponding image file by comparing the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the storage unit when a search keyword is input. And

In order to achieve the above object, an image management method according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
An image management method using an image management device and a portable information terminal,
(A) adding attribute information including a keyword to an image file by the image management apparatus;
(B) receiving the image file to which the attribute information is added from the image management device by the portable information terminal;
(C) extracting the attribute information from the image file received in the step (b) by the portable information terminal;
(D) storing the keyword included in the attribute information extracted in the step of (c) and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other by the portable information terminal;
(E) When a search keyword is input from the outside, the portable information terminal searches the corresponding image file by comparing the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the storage unit. And a step.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first computer-readable recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute a step of (a) adding attribute information including a keyword to an image file. A program including instructions is recorded.

In order to achieve the above object, a second computer-readable recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention is provided in a computer.
(A) receiving an image file to which attribute information including a keyword is added, and extracting the attribute information from the received image file;
(B) storing the keyword included in the extracted attribute information and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other;
(C) When a search keyword is input, execute the step of searching the corresponding image file by comparing the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the step (b). A program including an instruction is recorded.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to search for an image file by a keyword.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image management system in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image management apparatus shown in FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the portable information terminal shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 receives an image file. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable information terminal shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when searching for an image file. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computer that implements the image management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, an image management system, an image management apparatus, a portable information terminal, an image management method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[System configuration]
First, configurations of an image management system, an image management apparatus, and a portable information terminal according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image management system in the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image management system 30 according to the present embodiment includes an image management apparatus 10 that manages image files and a portable information terminal 20. In the present embodiment, the image management apparatus 10 is constructed by a program installed in the computer 50. The portable information terminal 20 is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image management apparatus 10 includes an attribute information adding unit 11. The attribute information adding unit 11 adds attribute information including a keyword to the image file. As the attribute information, for example, if the image displayed in the image file is a product image, the product name, product type, product material, product color, age group using the product, product origin Etc.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the portable information terminal 20 includes an attribute information extraction unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a search unit 23. Among these, the attribute information extraction unit 21 receives the image file to which the attribute information is added from the image management apparatus 10, and extracts the attribute information from the received image file.

  In addition, after extracting the attribute information, the attribute information extraction unit 21 stores the keyword included in the extracted attribute information and the image file of the extraction source in the storage unit 22 in a state of being associated with each other. When a search keyword is input, the search unit 23 compares the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the storage unit 22 and searches for a corresponding image file.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, attribute information including a keyword is added to the image file received by the portable information terminal 20, so that the search for the image file can be performed by comparing the search keyword with the attribute information. Is possible. According to the present embodiment, the user can search for an image file by a keyword.

  Here, the configuration of the image management system 30, the image management apparatus 10, and the portable information terminal 20 in the present embodiment will be described more specifically. First, as shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the image management system 30 further includes a transfer device 40 that transfers an image file to the portable information terminal 20. The attribute information extraction unit 21 receives an image file via the transfer device 40.

  The transfer device 40 is also constructed by a program installed in the computer 50, as with the image management device 10. As a program for constructing the transfer device 40, a commercially available or commonly distributed file transfer program is listed.

  In the present embodiment, the transfer device 40 changes the file name of each image file in order to facilitate the management of the image file in the portable information terminal 20 and to suppress the data amount of the image file. Then, the image file can be transferred to the portable information terminal 20.

  In this case, in the portable information terminal 20, it is impossible to search for an image file using a file name as in the conventional case. However, since the attribute information is added to the image file as described above, even if the file name of the image file is changed at the time of transfer in the portable information terminal 20, the user can select the image by the keyword. You can search for files. Further, the same applies to the case where the portable information terminal 20 does not permit the change of the file name of the image file.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the image management apparatus 10 includes an image file storage unit 12 that stores image files, and an attribute information storage unit 13. The attribute information storage unit 13 stores each attribute information in association with an image file identifier (for example, a file name) corresponding to the attribute information.

  Therefore, the attribute information adding unit 11 can acquire the corresponding attribute information from the attribute information storage unit 13 for each image file based on the identifier of the image file, and adds the acquired attribute information to the image file. be able to. In this embodiment, the attribute information adding unit 11 converts attribute information (text data) into structured data, for example, structured data defined by xml, and adds the structured data to the image file. Yes.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image management apparatus 10 automatically adds attribute information to an image file simply by preparing an image file and attribute information associated with an identifier of the image file in advance. Is done. That is, the user captures an image file generated by a digital camera, a scanner, or the like into the computer 50, and creates a file (text data) of attribute information associated with the identifier (for example, file name) of the image file. Just good.

  Further, the image file storage unit 12 and the attribute information storage unit 13 may be constructed as an external database. In this case, the attribute information adding unit 11 accesses an external database and acquires an image file and attribute information.

  In the present embodiment, the portable information terminal 20 includes a display unit 24, an input unit 25, and a display panel 26 in addition to the attribute information extraction unit 21, the storage unit 22, and the search unit 23. Yes. Among these, the display panel 26 is a liquid crystal display panel, an organic EL panel, electronic paper, or the like. The input unit 25 is an input device such as a touch panel, and accepts operations such as image file designation, search keyword input, pinch-in, and pinch-out from the user.

  The display unit 24 creates thumbnails of the image files stored in the storage unit 22 and displays them on the display screen of the display panel 26. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 26a denotes a thumbnail of each image file displayed on the display screen. Further, when the search unit 23 executes a search, the display unit 24 displays the search result on the display screen of the display panel 26.

  The display unit 24 displays a search window 26 b on the display screen of the display panel 26 when the user instructs a search via the input unit 25. Further, when the user pinches out a specific image via the input unit 25, the display unit 24 enlarges and displays the image on the display screen of the display panel 26. On the other hand, when the user pinches in a specific image via the input unit 25, the display unit 24 reduces the image on the display screen of the display panel 26.

[System operation]
Next, operations of the image management system 30, the image management apparatus 10, and the portable information terminal 20 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the image management method is implemented by operating the image management system 30. Therefore, the description of the image management method in the present embodiment is replaced with the following description of the operation of the image management system 30.

  First, the operation of the image management apparatus 10 constituting the image management system 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image management apparatus shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, first, in the image management apparatus 10, the attribute information adding unit 11 accesses the image file storage unit 12 and acquires the file name of the image file to be transferred to the portable information terminal 20. (Step A1). In step A1, the image file to be transferred is designated by the user via the input device of the computer 50.

  Next, the attribute information adding unit 11 accesses the attribute information storage unit 13, searches the attribute information of the image file to be transferred based on the file name acquired in step A1 (step A2), and corresponds. It is determined whether attribute information exists (step A3).

  Specifically, in steps A2 and A3, the attribute information adding unit 11 compares the file name acquired in step A1 with the file name associated with the attribute information and determines whether or not they match. .

  Subsequently, the attribute information adding unit 11 ends the process when the corresponding attribute information does not exist as a result of the determination in step A3. At that time, the attribute information adding unit 11 displays on the display screen of the computer 50 that the corresponding attribute information does not exist.

  On the other hand, if the corresponding attribute information exists as a result of the determination in step A3, the attribute information adding unit 11 acquires the corresponding attribute information from the attribute information storage unit 13, and the text data (keyword) included therein is acquired. It is converted into structured data by xml (step A4).

  Next, when step A4 is completed, the attribute information adding unit 11 takes out the image file whose file name has been acquired in step A1 from the image file storage unit 12, and puts the obtained structured data in the taken out image file. It is added (step A5). Specifically, in step A5, for example, if the image file is JPEG data, the attribute information adding unit 11 describes the obtained structured data in a segment of JPEG data (for example, APP1-Exif). To do.

  Thereafter, the attribute information adding unit 11 outputs the image file to which the structured data is added to the transfer device 40 (step A6). When step A6 is executed, the processing in the image management apparatus 10 ends. In addition, the transfer device 40 receives the output image file in accordance with a user instruction, and transfers it to the portable information terminal device 20.

  Next, the operation of the portable information terminal 20 constituting the image management system 30 will be described separately for receiving an image file and for searching using FIG. 4 and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the portable information terminal shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 receives an image file. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable information terminal shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when searching for an image file.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, in the portable information terminal 20, the attribute information extraction unit 21 receives an image file to which attribute information is added from the image management device 10 via the transfer device 40 (step B1). ).

  Next, the attribute information extraction unit 21 extracts attribute information for each image file from each image file received in step B1 (step B2). Specifically, in step B2, structured data described in the image file is specified, and keywords included in the specified structured data are extracted.

  Next, the attribute information extraction unit 21 associates the keyword included in the extracted attribute information with the image file of the extraction source, and outputs them to the storage unit 22 (step B3). Thereby, the storage unit 22 stores the keyword and the image file of the extraction source in a state of being associated with each other.

  Then, when Steps B1 to B3 are executed, the process at the time of receiving the image file in the portable information terminal 20 ends. Thereafter, when the user inputs a search keyword through the input unit 25, the portable information terminal 20 executes the process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the user inputs a search keyword via the input unit 25, the search unit 23 receives an input of the search keyword (step C1). Next, the search unit 23 searches the information stored in the storage unit 22 using the received search keyword (step C2).

  Specifically, in step C2, the search unit 23 matches the search keyword with each keyword stored in the storage unit 22, and searches for a keyword that matches the search keyword. Then, if there is a matching keyword, the search unit 23 specifies an image file associated with the keyword.

  Next, the search unit 23 determines whether there is an image file that matches the search keyword based on the search result of Step C2 (Step C3). If the result of determination in step C3 is that there is no image file that matches the search keyword, the search unit 23 ends the process. Further, in this case, the fact that the corresponding image file does not exist is displayed on the display screen of the display panel 26 via the search unit 23 and the display unit 24.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step C3 is that there is an image file that matches the search keyword, the search unit 23 displays the image file specified by the search on the display panel 26 via the display unit 24. It is displayed on the screen (step C4).

  When step C4 is executed, the image of the image file specified by the search is displayed on the display screen of the display panel 26, so that the user can enlarge or reduce the image as necessary. Can do. In addition, when the search result does not conform to his / her intention, the user can input the search keyword again. In this case, steps C1 to C4 are executed again.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, even when the file name of the image file is rewritten when being transferred from the computer 50 to the portable information terminal 20, the user can Image files can be searched by keyword.

  Further, the user only needs to prepare an image file and a text file of attribute information corresponding to each image file on the image management apparatus 10 side, and a large burden is not generated on the user.

[program]
Here, the program in the present embodiment will be described. First, the first program in the present embodiment may be a program that causes a computer to execute steps A1 to A6 shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can be realized by installing and executing this program on a computer. In this case, a central processing unit (CPU) of the computer functions as the attribute information adding unit 11 and performs processing.

  A storage device such as a hard disk provided in the computer functions as the image file storage unit 12 and the attribute information storage unit 13 shown in FIG. The storage device functioning as the image file storage unit 12 and the attribute information storage unit 13 may be provided in another computer connected to the computer via a network.

  Moreover, the 2nd program in this Embodiment should just be a program which makes apparatuses, such as a smart phone or a tablet-type terminal, perform step B1-B3 shown in FIG. 4, and step C1-C4 shown in FIG. The portable information terminal 20 in the present embodiment can be realized by installing and executing this program on these devices. These devices are also a kind of computer, and have a configuration similar to the computer shown in FIG.

  In this case, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) of these devices functions as the attribute information extraction unit 21, the search unit 23, and the display unit 24 to perform processing. In addition, a memory or a storage medium provided in the device functions as the storage unit 22.

  Here, a computer 50 that realizes the image management apparatus 10 by executing the first program in the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computer that implements the image management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the computer 50 includes a CPU 111, a main memory 112, a storage device 113, an input interface 114, a display controller 115, a data reader / writer 116, and a communication interface 117. These units are connected to each other via a bus 121 so that data communication is possible.

  The CPU 111 performs various calculations by developing the program (code) in the present embodiment stored in the storage device 113 in the main memory 112 and executing them in a predetermined order. The main memory 112 is typically a volatile storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). Further, the program in the present embodiment is provided in a state of being stored in a computer-readable recording medium 120. Note that the program in the present embodiment may be distributed on the Internet connected via the communication interface 117.

  Specific examples of the storage device 113 include a hard disk drive and a semiconductor storage device such as a flash memory. The input interface 114 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and an input device 118 such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display controller 115 is connected to the display device 119 and controls display on the display device 119.

  The data reader / writer 116 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and the recording medium 120, and reads a program from the recording medium 120 and writes a processing result in the computer 50 to the recording medium 120. The communication interface 117 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and another computer.

  Specific examples of the recording medium 120 include general-purpose semiconductor storage devices such as CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) and SD (Secure Digital), magnetic storage media such as a flexible disk, or CD- An optical storage medium such as ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) can be used.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

  This application claims the priority on the basis of Japanese application Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-16709 for which it applied on January 30, 2012, and takes in those the indications of all here.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to search for an image file by a keyword. The present invention is useful in fields where smartphones, tablet terminals, and the like are used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image management apparatus 11 Attribute information addition part 12 Image file storage part 13 Attribute information storage part 20 Portable information terminal 21 Attribute information extraction part 22 Storage part 23 Search part 24 Display part 25 Input part 26 Display panel 26a Image file thumbnail 26b Search window 30 Image management system 40 Transfer device 50 Computer 111 CPU
112 Main Memory 113 Storage Device 114 Input Interface 115 Display Controller 116 Data Reader / Writer 117 Communication Interface 118 Input Device 119 Display Device 120 Recording Medium 121 Bus

The present invention relates to an image management system for managing a large number of image files, portable information terminal and an image management device used therefor, and further relates to a program for implementing image managing method, these.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image management system, a portable information terminal, an image management apparatus, an image management method, and a program that can solve the above-described problems and enable search of an image file by a keyword. .

Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, a first program in one aspect of the present invention causes a computer, to (a) an image file, adds the attribute information including the keyword, to execute the steps, and wherein the this To do.

In order to achieve the above object, a second program according to one aspect of the present invention is stored in a computer.
(A) receiving an image file to which attribute information including a keyword is added, and extracting the attribute information from the received image file;
(B) storing the keyword included in the extracted attribute information and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other;
(C) When a search keyword is input, execute the step of searching the corresponding image file by comparing the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the step (b). make, and wherein a call.

Claims (14)

An image management system comprising an image management device and a portable information terminal,
The image management device includes:
The image file includes an attribute information adding unit that adds attribute information including keywords,
The portable information terminal is
An attribute information extraction unit that receives the image file to which the attribute information is added from the image management device, and extracts the attribute information from the received image file;
A storage unit for storing the keyword included in the extracted attribute information and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other;
A search unit that, when a search keyword is input, compares the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the storage unit and searches for the corresponding image file;
An image management system characterized by that. The image management apparatus further includes an attribute information storage unit that stores the attribute information and the identifier of the image file corresponding to the attribute information,
In the image management apparatus, the attribute information adding unit acquires, for each image file, the corresponding attribute information from the attribute information storage unit based on an identifier of the image file, and acquires the acquired attribute information. Add to the image file,
The image management system according to claim 1. In the image management apparatus, the attribute information adding unit converts the attribute information into structured data, and adds the structured data obtained by the conversion to the image file.
The image management system according to claim 1.   An image management apparatus comprising an attribute information adding unit that adds attribute information including a keyword to an image file. An attribute information storage unit for storing the attribute information and the identifier of the image file corresponding to the attribute information;
The attribute information adding unit acquires, for each image file, the corresponding attribute information from the attribute information storage unit based on the identifier of the image file, and adds the acquired attribute information to the image file. ,
The image management apparatus according to claim 4. The attribute information adding unit converts the attribute information into structured data, and adds the structured data obtained by the conversion to the image file;
The image management apparatus according to claim 4 or 5. Receiving an image file to which attribute information including a keyword is added, and extracting the attribute information from the received image file;
A storage unit for storing the keyword included in the extracted attribute information and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other;
A search unit that, when a search keyword is input, compares the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the storage unit and searches for the corresponding image file;
A portable information terminal characterized by that. An image management method using an image management device and a portable information terminal,
(A) adding attribute information including a keyword to an image file by the image management apparatus;
(B) receiving the image file to which the attribute information is added from the image management device by the portable information terminal;
(C) extracting the attribute information from the image file received in the step (b) by the portable information terminal;
(D) storing the keyword included in the attribute information extracted in the step of (c) and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other by the portable information terminal;
(E) When a search keyword is input from the outside, the portable information terminal searches the corresponding image file by comparing the input search keyword with the keyword stored in the storage unit. , Steps and
An image management method characterized by comprising: (F) The image management apparatus further includes a step of storing the attribute information and the identifier of the image file corresponding to the attribute information in association with each other,
In the step (a), for each image file, the corresponding attribute information is acquired based on the identifier of the image file stored in the step (f), and the acquired attribute information is used as the image file. Append to file,
The image management method according to claim 8. In the step (a), the attribute information is converted into structured data, and the structured data obtained by the conversion is added to the image file.
The image management method according to claim 8 or 9. On the computer,
(A) A computer-readable recording medium on which a program including an instruction is added to which attribute information including a keyword is added to an image file and a step is executed. (B) The program further includes an instruction that causes the computer to execute a step of associating and storing the attribute information and an identifier of the image file corresponding to the attribute information,
In the step (a), for each image file, the corresponding attribute information is acquired based on the identifier of the image file stored in the step (b), and the acquired attribute information is stored in the image. Append to file,
The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 11. In the step (a), the attribute information is converted into structured data, and the structured data obtained by the conversion is added to the image file.
The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 11 or 12. On the computer,
(A) receiving an image file to which attribute information including a keyword is added, and extracting the attribute information from the received image file;
(B) storing the keyword included in the extracted attribute information and the image file of the extraction source in association with each other;
(C) when a search keyword is input, the input search keyword is matched with the keyword stored in the step (b) to search for the corresponding image file;
The computer-readable recording medium which records the program containing the instruction | command which performs these.

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