KR100583617B1 - A Photograph-Community Service System and A Service Method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a photo community service system and a method for uploading a photographic photo image directly to a community on the Internet so that those who wish to view the photo image can easily view it.

The photo community service system of the present invention includes an image receiving unit for receiving image data from a camera phone of a first user through a communication network, a community component providing a community service associated with the image data, and user information associated with the image data. And a controller for controlling signal processing in the image receiver and the community component, wherein the community component comprises: at least one image storage configured to store the image data; Providing a photo community service system including an access authority control unit for granting access rights to a second user to allow access to the stored image data and a community unit for designating a member of a group in connection with the access permission of the image data. .

According to the present invention, there is provided a photo community service and a method of uploading image data photographed by a user's camera phone on a network by wireless communication.

Camera Phone, Image Data, Photo Community, Texting

Description

A Photograph-Community Service System and A Service Method

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a photo community service system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating in detail the photo community service system of FIG. 1.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a community service method for managing image data of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a text message including a callback URL that is a connection permission signal.

5 is an internal block diagram of a general purpose computer device that may be employed to perform the photo community service method according to the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100, 200: Photo Community Service System

210: image receiving unit 220: community composition unit

222: image storage unit 224: access authority control unit

226: Community Department 230: Database Department

240 control unit 250 message transmission unit

150a, 150b, 150c: user 155a, 155b, 155c: camera phone

160: communication network

The present invention relates to a photo community service system and a method of providing the same, and more particularly, those who want to view the uploaded photo image immediately after uploading it to a community on the Internet can view the uploaded photo image in a convenient way. The present invention relates to a photo community service system and a method thereof.

In order to check people or objects taken by a general camera, it takes a cumbersome process of developing and printing, whereas in the case of a digital camera, the image taken by the display device mounted therein is digitally signaled, so that the camera is immediately taken. It is possible to confirm on the liquid crystal. In addition, a storage medium such as a memory stick or an XD picture card is mounted inside the digital camera, which stores a digital signal of a subject and transmits it to a terminal device such as a PC through various interfaces. As such, digital cameras have the advantage of being able to visualize digital signals by making them into digital images, and storing them in mass storage devices such as hardware for a long time, thus emerging as new devices that can replace existing cameras. .

A camera phone is a mobile device that adds the function of a digital camera to a conventional mobile phone. The user can check images taken with the camera phone through the LCD of the camera phone, or upload it on a PC to check image data. It can be edited and processed accordingly, and the images can be provided by other people through convenient means such as e-mail. In addition, through a web service that stores, organizes, and publishes pictures uploaded on the Internet, such as an actual album, a user can provide images taken with a camera phone to the public. Recently, the community on the Internet has been activated to facilitate the exchange of image data, and it is also possible to create a portfolio such as a portfolio using photographs collected through download.

However, if you check the image on the camera phone immediately after shooting with the camera phone, there is a disadvantage that people who are not at the site cannot see it, and also if you transfer the image to a PC and upload it on the Internet to check it. Since there is a need for an intermediate process of temporarily storing image data in a communication terminal such as a PC, there is a limitation in time according to the place. In addition, if you upload image data to the Internet community or create your own portfolio and make it available to the public, privacy is an issue. In order to solve this problem, the Internet community site stores the information (user name, location, phone number, organization, login ID, password, etc.) for each member on the server, and the conditions established by the community creator. In some cases, a service providing area for the stored members may be limited. However, in the case of the community described above, even if the provider of the image data is allowed, it is not possible to immediately disclose it unless the user is registered as a member. It must go through a complicated process such as sending a secret key.

Therefore, there is a demand for the emergence of a new Internet community that can conveniently upload image data onto the Internet community, and can efficiently manage the person who has provided the image data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to improve the prior art as described above, and an object thereof is to provide a photo community service and a method of uploading image data photographed by a user's camera phone on a network by wireless communication. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photo community service and a method of forming a community in which a user is directly granted access permission of image data uploaded by a user, and the access permissioned people are members of the group.

The present invention also provides a photo community service and a method for allowing access to image data by providing a network address by a text message to a terminal means of a person who wishes to access and accessing the network address in response thereto. There is another purpose.

In order to achieve the above object and to solve the problems of the prior art, the photo community service system of the present invention is a community service system for managing image data, which receives image data from a camera phone of a first user through a communication network. A community unit for providing a community service associated with the image data, a database unit for managing user information associated with the image data, and a controller for controlling signal processing in the image receiver and the community unit; The community configuration unit may include at least one image storage unit for storing the image data, an access authority controller for granting access rights to a second user to allow access to the image data stored in the image storage unit, and the Provided is a photo community service system including a community unit for designating a member of a group in association with permission of access to image data.

It is also an object of the present invention to maintain information about a group associated with a first user in a predetermined database, to receive image data from a camera phone of the first user via a communication network, Storing the image storage unit in association with a group, receiving an access request for the image data from a second user, determining an access right of the image data of the second user; 2 designating a user as a member of a group associated with the first user and allowing the second user access to the image data.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a photo community service system and a service method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a network connection of a photo community service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the photo community service system of FIG. 1 in detail.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the photo community service system 100,200 of the present invention, the image data photographed by the camera phone (155a, 155b, 155c) of the user (150a, 150b, 150c) is a communication network ( The image receiving unit 210 received through the 160, the community configuration unit 220 for providing a community service associated with the management of the image data, and the photo community service system (100,200) of the present invention in association with the image data Database unit 230 for storing information of the user (150a, 150b, 150c) connected to the control unit 240, Control unit 240 for controlling and processing the signal flow in the image receiving unit 210 and the community configuration unit 220 ) And a message transmitter 250 for notifying a member of the community that the upload of the third user 150c is completed.

Here, the first user 150a refers to a user who uploaded image data to the image storage unit 222 assigned to the user, and the second user 150b accesses the image data by the first user 150a. Means an allowed user, and the third user 150c is another member of a community group having the first user 150a and the second user 150b as members, and uploads new image data to the community. it means.

First, the database unit 230 stores personal information, group information, and the like of the users 150a, 150b, and 150c connected to the photo community service system 100 and 200 of the present invention. The group information refers to information about a community generated by grouping the users 150a, 150b, and 150c into predetermined group members. The group information may include a list of members and a community name for each community.

The image receiving unit 210 receives image data photographed by each camera phone 155a, 155b, 155c of the user 150a, 150b, or 150c, and additionally includes a message including detailed information about the image data. Also receives. For example, the image data may be photographic data, and the message includes a description of the image data by using a user's voice, letters, and numbers. In the present specification, the image data is described as an example of the image data, but may include video data by a camcorder or music or animation data by another terminal device. It may be a back.

The community constructing unit 220 stores the received image data and the message corresponding to the image data according to a predetermined sorting method, and provides a community service related to the management of the image data to the users 150a, 150b, and 150c. do. The community configuration unit 220 may include at least one image storage unit 222 storing the image data, and a second user 155b to allow access to the image data stored in the image storage unit 222. And a community unit 226 which designates members of the group in connection with the access permission of the image data.

In the image storage unit 222, respective areas are allocated to the users 150a, 150b, and 150c, and the image data and the detailed information message are stored in the allocated areas. That is, the image storage unit 222 is a unique area of the users 150a, 150b, and 150c, and the image data stored therein is not disclosed or leaked to others without permission of the user 150a, 150b, or 150c. Therefore, using the image data of the image storage unit 222, for example, the user 150a, 150b, 150c may provide a service such as a photo album or photo diary of its own.

The access right control unit 224 allows access to the image data stored in the image storage unit 222 to other people, that is, the second user 150b, to the photo community service system 100 or 200 of the present invention. It is a role to grant the access authority of. The subject granting the access right is given to the first user 150a, which is the corresponding user of the image storage unit 222. The access right control unit 224 receives a request for permission to access the image data from the first user 150a, that is, a second user 150b, and responds to the second user 150b. Transmits a connection permission signal to the terminal means. As an example, the access permission signal may include a callback URL text message including network address information of the photo community service system 100 or 200.

In addition, the user can simply access the photo community by pressing the "call" button on his terminal means in response to the callback URL text message.

The community unit 226 forms a community of which the first user 150a or the second user 150b is allowed to access the image data of the image storage unit 222. When the first user 150a uploads the image data to the image storage unit 222 allocated to the first user 150a, the community unit 226 forms a community of only the first user 150a as a member of the group. If the first user 150a is allowed to access the image data of the second user 150b, the community unit 226 may group the first user 150a and the second user 150b as a group member. You will form a community. In addition, the information and group information of the second user 150b designated as the group member is stored in the database 130. The series of community forming process is to designate the users 150a and 150b as a group based on the image storage unit 222 to facilitate the access of the image data stored in the image storage unit 222 and to a third time later. When the new image data is uploaded by the user 150c, the new image storage unit 222 is not required to be allocated, thereby saving system resources.

The control unit 240 is a device for controlling and processing all the signals in the community configuration unit 220, in particular, the image data is stored in the image storage unit 222 by the camera phone 155c of the third user (150c) When uploaded to the control unit, the message transmitter 250 is controlled so that the upload fact is notified to the group members of the corresponding community.

The notification job is transmitted to the predetermined terminal means of the group member by the message transmitter 250 in the form of a normal text message or an electronic mail.

The photo community service method of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a community service method for managing image data of the present invention.

First, an authentication procedure of the first user 150a in the photo community service system 100 or 200 proceeds according to a predetermined procedure. After the authentication procedure, the image storage unit 222 is assigned to the first user 150a.

1 to 3, the photo community service system 100 or 200 of the present invention allocates a predetermined image storage unit 222 to a first user 150a and assigns the first user 150a to a member. Create a community. In addition, group information related to the created community is recorded and maintained in the database 130 (S301).

Next, the image data photographed by the camera phone 155a of the first user 150a is received through the communication network 160 (S302). In the present invention, the camera phone is taken as an example, but may be a digital camera or a digital camcorder capable of transmitting captured image data by wireless data communication.

The received image data is stored in the image storage unit 222 allocated to the first user 150a (S303). As described above, since the group based on the image storage unit 222 uses only the first user 150a as a group member, the uploaded image data is not a group member, and the first user 150a is not leaked to the outside. ) Can only be seen to ensure personal secrecy. Accordingly, a personal community service, that is, a photo album service for managing the image data, a photo diary for managing their schedule, a photo diary service, and the like may be provided.

In operation S304, a request for permission to access the image data of the second user 150b is received from the first user 150a. In this step, the first user 150a allows the second user 150b to view image data stored in the image storage unit 222 so that a friend or colleague, that is, the second user 150b, can view the image data. To grant access to the user. The first user 150a may generate a signal including information on the terminal means of the second user 150b to request an access permission, and the access permission request may be an access right control unit 224 of the present invention. Is received on.

After receiving the access permission request, and transmits the access permission signal of the community configuration unit 220 to the terminal means of the second user (150b) (S305). The access permission signal is a text message including a network address of the community configuration unit 220, ie, a callback URL, for the second user 150b to access the image storage unit 222 of the first user 150a. Is transmitted to the terminal means of the second user 150b. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a text message including a callback URL that is a connection permission signal. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second user 150b that receives the text message including the callback URL receives the callback URL text. In response to the message it is possible to simply access the photo community by pressing the "call" button on its terminal means.

An access request for the image data is received from the second user 150b (S306), and an access right to the image data of the second user 150b is determined (S307). Receiving an access request for the image data and determining the access right is made by the access right control unit 224. The access right determination determines that the second user 150b has access authority to the image data by receiving a predetermined response input to the text message from the terminal means of the second user 150b. That is, the second user 150b can access the community composition unit 220 through a keypad input for confirming the URL address included in the text message.

Next, the second user 150b is designated as a member of the group associated with the first user 150a (S308). The community unit 226 of the present invention additionally adds the second user 150b that is allowed access to the image data from the first user 150a as a member of a group designated by the first user 150a. Can be specified to form a community. In addition, the image storage unit 222 of the second user 150b may be allocated separately from the group of the first user 150a to form a new group community. With the configuration of such a community, a closed community group service based on a camera phone may be provided by sharing a photographed image. In other words, by forming a community of only close people who know each other, we can improve the ties of each other, and by sharing image data only within a certain range, it is possible to prevent illegal information or personal privacy exposure to satisfy stability and reliability. . In addition, since it is possible to form a differentiated private community in which people having a certain sense of homogeneity are members of the group, it is possible to provide a service that can give a sense of belonging and homogeneity to group members. In addition, the first user 150a may allow an unspecified user of the photo community service system 100 or 200 to access the community, thereby controlling the community as a public community.

That is, the photo community service of the present invention is given permission to the first user 150a to determine different levels of confidentiality (eg, secret, public, private) for the community to which they belong, for example, the community. Only some of the image data stored in the public may be disclosed to the unspecified user.

The second user 150b allows access to the image data (S309). The second user 150b who is allowed to access can view, share, and download free image data in a community grouped with the first user 150a.

In addition, when new image data is received from the camera phone 155c of the third user 150c who is a member of the group, the new image data is uploaded to the image storage unit 222 of the group, and the member of the same group is the new image data. Can be viewed, shared and downloaded. Therefore, it is possible to secure a wide range of image data and services that can publish a work such as a portfolio using it. In addition, the group user of the community is notified of the completion of the upload of the image data of the third user 150c by text message or e-mail so that the image data can be viewed in real time.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a wireless network using a camera phone has been described as an example, but the technical idea of the present invention can be applied to the photo community service through a wired network such as the Internet. It is obvious to one.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect of generating network traffic by uploading and downloading of image data by a camera phone or by image forwarding.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to give a friend or a colleague an access right to the image data by a text message, and the friend or colleague who has received it can conveniently access the image data only by checking the text message. It can provide an interface.

According to the present invention, it is possible to secure as a member friends and colleagues around them who want to show their own image data, thereby greatly expanding the spread of the community.

Embodiments of the invention include a computer readable medium containing program instructions for performing various computer-implemented operations. The computer readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The medium or program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and magnetic disks, such as floppy disks. Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. The medium may be a transmission medium such as an optical or metal wire, a waveguide, or the like including a carrier wave for transmitting a signal specifying a program command, a data structure, or the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

5 is an internal block diagram of a general purpose computer device that may be employed to perform the photo community service method according to the present invention.

Computer device 500 includes one or more processors 510 connected to a main memory device including random access memory (RAM) 520 and read only memory (ROM) 530. The processor 510 is also called a central processing unit (CPU). As is well known in the art, the ROM 530 serves to transfer data and instructions to the CPU unidirectionally, and the RAM 520 typically transfers data and instructions bidirectionally. Used to. RAM 520 and ROM 530 may include any suitable form of computer readable media. Mass storage 540 is bidirectionally coupled to processor 510 to provide additional data storage capability and may be any of the computer readable recording media described above. The mass storage device 540 is used to store programs, data, and the like, and is a secondary memory device such as a hard disk which is generally slower than the main memory device. Certain mass storage devices such as CD ROM 560 may be used. The processor 510 may include one or more input / output interfaces, such as video monitors, trackballs, mice, keyboards, microphones, touchscreen displays, card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers, voice or handwriting readers, joysticks, or other known computer input / output devices. 550 is connected. Finally, the processor 510 may be connected to a wired or wireless communication network through the network interface 570. Through this network connection, the procedure of the method described above can be performed. The apparatus and tools described above are well known to those skilled in the computer hardware and software arts.

The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the claims below, but also by the equivalents of the claims.

As can be seen from the above description, the present invention provides a photo community service and a method for uploading image data photographed by a user's camera phone on a network by wireless communication.

In addition, according to the present invention, a user may be directly given access permission to upload image data uploaded by a user, and a photo community service and a method of forming a community in which the access allowed members are members of a group may be provided.

In addition, the present invention can provide a photo community service and a method for allowing access to image data by accessing the network address by a text message to the terminal means of a person who wishes to access, and in response to the network address. have.

Claims (14)

In the community service system for managing image data, An image receiver configured to receive image data from a camera phone of a first user through a communication network, wherein the image data is at least one of photo data, video data, and animation data; A community configuration unit including a predetermined image storage unit, an access authority control unit, and a community unit, and providing a community service related to the received image data; A database unit for managing user information associated with the first user that has transmitted the image data; And A control unit for controlling signal processing in the image receiving unit and the community composition unit, The image storage unit of the community configuration unit stores the received image data for each of the first user, The access authority control unit of the community configuration unit (1) receives an access permission request relating to granting access rights of the second user to the image data stored in the image storage unit from the first user, and (2) the received access In response to the permission request, transmitting a text message including the network address of the image storage unit to the terminal means of the second user, and (3) sending the second user according to the input of the second user to the text message. Access the image storage, And a community unit of the community configuration unit designates the second user as a member of a group related to the first user. delete delete delete delete delete delete  The method of claim 1, When the new image data is received through the communication network from the first user or the second user who is a member of the group, the community configuration unit stores the new image data in an image storage unit associated with the group, The control unit controls a predetermined message transmitter to provide information related to the storage of the new image data to other members of the group in conjunction with storing the new image data in the image storage unit. Service system. delete In the community service method for managing image data, Receiving image data from a camera phone of a first user via a communication network, wherein the image data is at least one of photo data, video data, and animation data; Storing the received image data in a predetermined image storage unit allocated to each of the first users; Receiving an access permission request relating to granting a second user's access right to the image data stored in the image storage unit from the first user; In response to the received access permission request, transmitting a text message including the network address of the image storage unit to the terminal means of the second user; Accessing the second user to the image storage unit according to the second user's input to the text message; And Designating the second user as a member of a group associated with the first user Photo community service method comprising a. delete delete delete  A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 10.

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