JP2002157574A - Image storing service system, image storing server and portable telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image storing service system for confirming that image information transferred in a movement destination is surely stored in a transfer destination. SOLUTION: A user who wants to transfer digital image information photographed by a digital camera mounts a recording medium 6 which is attached/detached to the digital camera and records a photographed image to a portable telephone 5 and transmits digital image information to be stored to an image storing server 2 through a base station 4 and a network 1. When digital image information is received, an image storing server 2 stores received image information and transmits storage processing information comprising whether storage is normally performed or not to the portable telephone 5. The portable telephone 5 receives storage processing information and, then, performs the erasure processing of transmitted digital image information which is recorded in the recording medium 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage service system for storing digital image information, an image storage server, and a portable telephone for transmitting image information to be stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image information taken by a digital camera is:
It is recorded on the built-in memory for image storage built into the camera or on a recording medium that is removable from the camera.However, the capacity of the memory built into the camera is limited, and it is removable because of the ease of handling image data. Recording media have been commonly used. However, a recording medium that can be attached to and detached from a digital camera that records image information has a limited recording capacity, is expensive, and has limited sales locations. Therefore, it has been proposed to transfer image information captured at a destination to a home computer or the like using a mobile phone, and then delete and reuse the recorded information on a recording medium.

A hard copy of an image photographed by a digital camera can be printed by a color printer at home. However, if a high-quality image print is required, a service providing a high-quality print service is required. In the store,
It is common to order a high-quality print by bringing a recording medium on which digital image data is recorded, or by transmitting digital image data via the network 3.

[0004]

However, when the photographed image information is transferred using a mobile phone at the destination, it is unclear whether the transferred image information is reliably stored in the storage device of the transfer destination. Therefore, anxiety remains when erasing the image information recorded on the recording medium.

[0005] One feature of the digital camera is that the photographed image can be checked at any time.
There is naturally a need to obtain the confirmed image print immediately. However, as mentioned above, print orders based on digital images must be brought to a service store or ordered via a network using a personal computer at home, etc., and the request to obtain image prints immediately has been answered. Did not. Further, transferring image information to a print destination every time a print order is placed places a heavy burden on the user and the ordering system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image storage service system capable of confirming that image information transferred at a transfer destination is reliably stored at a transfer destination. It is another object of the present invention to provide a service system capable of easily ordering a print of a digital image taken at a destination from a destination or from a home computer.

[0007]

An image storage service system for storing digital image information according to the present invention includes an image storage server connected to a network and a removable recording medium storing digital image information. And a mobile phone connectable to the network, the mobile phone transmits digital image information recorded on the recording medium to the image storage server via the network, The image storage server
Storing the received digital image information, and after storing processing,
The storage processing information is transmitted to the transmitted mobile phone.

After the transmission and reception of the digital image information is completed, the connection between the portable telephone and the image storage server is established.
Once disconnected, the image storage server reconnects with the mobile phone when transmitting the storage processing information.

The portable telephone in the image storage service system of the present invention further has a function of transmitting the print request information of the transmitted and stored digital image information to the image storage server. Further, when the print request information is received,
It has a function of transmitting the stored digital image information to a predetermined printing destination.

An image storage server for storing digital image information according to the present invention receives digital image information to be stored transmitted from a mobile phone via a network, stores the received digital image information, and performs a storing process. Thereafter, the storage processing information is transmitted to the transmitted mobile phone. The storage processing information must indicate whether the storage processing has been completed (storage has failed), but may also include remaining storage capacity, storage period, service charge, and the like.

[0011] Further, after the reception of the digital image information is completed, the connection with the mobile phone is temporarily disconnected, and the connection with the mobile phone is reconnected when the storage processing information is transmitted.

[0012] Further, it has a function of receiving a print request for the stored digital image information and a function of transmitting the stored digital image information to a predetermined printing destination when the print request is received. is there.

[0013] Further, it has a function of receiving a request to download the stored digital image information and a function of transmitting the stored digital image information to a download request destination when the download request is received.

A portable telephone which can access an image storage server for storing digital image information according to the present invention via a network can be mounted with a detachable recording medium for recording digital image information. After transmitting the digital image information recorded in the image storage server,
There is provided a means for deleting the transmitted digital image information from the recording medium in accordance with the storage processing information received from the image storage server.

Further, after the transmission of the digital image information is completed, the connection with the image storage server is temporarily disconnected, and the reception of the storage processing information is performed after the image storage server reconnects with the mobile phone. It is.

Further, after receiving the accumulation processing signal, the content is output, and after transmitting an erasure instruction signal, the transmitted digital image information is erased from the recording medium.

Further, the image storage server has a function of transmitting the print request information of the transmitted and stored digital image information to the image storage server.

Further, it has a function of transmitting a download request for the stored digital image information and a function of recording digital image information received based on the download request on the recording medium.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image storage system of the present invention. An image storage server 2 is connected to a network 1 including a mobile phone service network for connecting base stations to each other.
The image storage server 2 is connectable to the print server 3. The print server 3 is provided in a service shop or a lab that executes print processing based on digital image information, and causes one or a plurality of printing apparatuses to perform predetermined print processing. Although only one print server is shown in the figure, it can be connected to a plurality of print servers.

A user who wishes to transfer digital image information captured by a digital camera mounts a recording medium 6 which is detachable to the digital camera and records a captured image on a mobile phone 5, via a base station 4 and a network 1. The digital image information to be stored is transmitted to the image storage server 2. At this time, if a print of the digital image taken at the same time is required, order request information is also transmitted. The order request information includes print condition information for designating at least one of a print method, a print size, and the number of prints for each digital image to be printed. A mobile phone number is used as the user identification information.

Upon receiving the digital image information, the image storage server 2 stores the received image information, and stores the storage processing information including whether or not the storage was normally performed, in the mobile phone 5.
Send to When a print order request is sent at the same time, delivery information necessary for delivery, such as digital image information to be printed, printing conditions, and print service user name and registered delivery destination information, is sent to the print server at the print destination. Send

Upon receiving the storage processing information, the mobile phone 5 deletes the transmitted digital image information recorded on the recording medium 6. Deletion of digital images is performed when storage processing is performed normally, but even if it is automatically deleted upon reception, the contents of storage processing information are displayed once, and after the user's instruction, it is deleted. Is also good. The charge for the storage service may be paid in advance at the time of contract with the specific server, or may be collected in addition to the telephone charge according to the usage amount of the service.

At the printing destination, the order print created based on the information transmitted to the print server is delivered to the registered delivery destination transmitted. Delivery may be requested to a delivery company. Then, after the delivery is completed, the print fee is added to the telephone fee and collected.

The terminal device 7 is a computer or the like of a user who can be connected to a network, and downloads digital image information stored in the image storage server 2 and orders printing of the stored digital images. .
In the figure, only one is illustrated by way of example.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the image storage server. The image storage server 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a file device 23, and a communication unit 24. The control unit 21
The overall operation of the print image storage server 2 is controlled, and specifically, a processor that operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 22 is mainly configured. The storage unit 22 stores the program and various data for controlling the operation of the image storage server 2, and also serves as a temporary storage area for digital image information and order request information transmitted from the mobile phone and a work area for the processor. used. The file device 23 includes at least a storage unit for digital image information transmitted from the mobile phone, various data used for print orders, and a service user table. The communication unit 24 controls transmission and reception with the network 1 and the print server 3.

The storage section included in the file device 23 is an area in which image information transmitted from the mobile phone is stored for each user at each transmission date and time. The data used for the print order includes data in which the print processing capacity and delivery area information of the print destination are recorded in association with the print destination or the print server. The print processing capability includes acceptable print methods, print sizes, and their processing speeds.

The service user table contains the ID of the mobile phone owner registered in advance as a storage service user,
A telephone number can be used as the ID, which is recorded in correspondence with a name and print delivery destination information when a print order is made. In addition, a service user using a mobile phone may be recorded together with a password for confirming that the user is a true user. These service user tables are created by performing image storage and use registration, for example, when purchasing a mobile phone. Although the file device 23 is provided inside the image storage server 2 in the figure, it may be provided outside the server 2 and connected directly or via a network.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a portable telephone capable of requesting image storage. The mobile phone 5 includes a call processing unit 58 for performing normal call processing, a communication unit 57, an antenna unit 59, and an image storage and deletion processing unit 50 for performing image storage request processing, image deletion processing, and print order reception processing. Since the call processing unit 58 and the communication unit 57 are the same as those of the related art, detailed description will be omitted.

The image storage / erase processing unit 50 includes an interface unit 51 for inputting digital image data from the removable image recording medium 6 and an input unit 5 for a user to perform an operation input.
2. Communication interface unit 53 for inputting and outputting data to and from communication unit 57, display unit 54, storage unit 56, control unit 5
Consists of five. The control unit 55 controls the entire image storage and erasing process, and mainly includes a processor that executes a process according to a program stored in the storage unit 56. The input unit 52, the display unit 54, the storage unit 56,
And a processor that constitutes the control unit 55 includes a call processing unit 5
8 can be shared. Further, since the image recording medium 6 differs depending on the maker and model of the digital camera, the interface unit 51 is configured to be connectable to a plurality of types of image recording media.

Next, a flow of making an image storage request using the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

A user who makes a digital image storage request using a mobile phone is registered in advance as a digital image storage service user when a mobile phone contract is made. When it is necessary to store a digital image captured by the digital camera, the image recording medium 6 storing the digital image information is taken out of the digital camera and connected to the interface unit 51 of the mobile phone 5 (step 101). Then, an image based on the digital image information is displayed on the display unit 54, and an image to be requested to be stored is selected (Step 10).
2).

Next, a connection is made to the image storage server 2 using a predetermined telephone number (step 103). The image storage server 2 checks the automatically received telephone number of the service user in the service user table of the file device 23 (step 104), and if the storage request can be accepted, responds to that effect (step 105). . At this time, an input of a password may be required. If it is not registered in the service user table, the process may end in response to that fact, or if new registration is possible from the mobile phone, the process may shift to registration processing. If the mobile phone number is not used as the service user ID,
Instruct and confirm transmission of D.

After receiving the acceptable response, the user transmits image information and print condition information (step 10).
6). Image storage server 2 that has received image information to be stored
Transmits a reception completion response to the mobile phone 5 (step 1).
07), the communication is terminated, and the line is temporarily disconnected (step 108). The reason why the mobile phone 5 is once disconnected is to enable the mobile phone 5 to perform other processing such as a telephone call, and to prevent an increase in the line usage in the connected state. Also, before connecting
The reason for selecting the images to be stored in advance is to reduce the communication time. However, when all the images recorded on the recording medium 6 are transmitted, this process is unnecessary.

After the line is disconnected, the image storage server 2 stores the received image information in the storage area of the file device 23 (Step 109). Then, a line is connected to the mobile phone that has received the storage request, and the storage processing information is transmitted (step 110). The storage processing information includes at least whether the storage processing has been performed normally, and if not, the stored image ID information.

The mobile phone that has received the accumulation processing information performs post-processing including erasure of the transmitted digital image information recorded on the recording medium 6. Various post-processing methods can be selected. When the accumulation processing information indicates that the image data has been normally accumulated, for example, the transmitted image information is automatically deleted. In this case, it is assumed that the recording medium used at the time of transmitting the image is mounted on the mobile phone 5. Since a method for confirming the identity of the recording medium is well known, the description is omitted. When the same recording medium is not mounted, it is possible to display on the display unit 54 that the same recording medium should be mounted.

If only some of the images have been stored, this is displayed on the display unit 54. In this case, a process of transmitting the image of the storage failure to the image storage server may be performed, or the user may select whether to automatically delete the normally stored image information and end the process. .

If it is uneasy to automatically delete the recorded digital image, the erasing process may be executed after confirming whether or not to execute the erasing process.

The system shown in FIG. 1 can simultaneously make a print order request when making an image storage request. The flow at that time will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the flow of FIG. 5 is basically the same as that of FIG.

In step 102, when an image based on digital image information is displayed on the display unit 54 and an image to be requested to be stored is selected, an image for which a print order is requested is extracted from the images. Then, in step 120, print conditions are input. At least one of a print method, a print size, and the number of prints for each digital image to be printed is input as print conditions. As a printing method,
In addition to the specification of glossy or matte color paper print, ink jet printing, and creation of a transmission film, it is possible to specify a print medium such as glossy paper or plain paper. When the same print conditions are selected for a plurality of selected images, the print conditions may be collectively input after selecting the images.

Then, after receiving the acceptable response from the image storage server (step 105), print condition information is transmitted together with the image information (step 106). At this time,
Request information other than print conditions, for example, delivery time designation information may be transmitted.

After performing the image storage processing in step 109, the image storage server 2 connects the line to the mobile phone that has received the storage request in step 110, and transmits the storage processing information. Along with the received image information and print conditions, delivery information necessary for delivery, such as the print service user name and registered delivery destination information acquired from the service user table of the file device 23, is transmitted (step 121).

The print destination performs print processing based on the image information and print conditions transmitted to the print server (step 122), and delivers the created order print to the registered registered destination (step 12).
3). Delivery may be requested to a delivery company. And once the delivery is complete, using a print server or other means,
Send a delivery completion notification to the image storage server (Step 1)
24).

Image storage server 2 that has received the delivery completion notification
Performs a print fee charging process. The billing method is conveniently added to the telephone charge, but another account or a credit settlement method may be selected in advance. In the case of another method, the account number or the like is recorded in the service user table in advance.

By performing such processing, a print order can be easily requested at the same time as storing images from the destination, so that the necessary prints can be obtained quickly.

The system shown in FIG. 1 can request a print order again after storing images. This order request can be made not only from the mobile phone but also from the terminal device 7 at home. FIG. 6 shows a flow when an order is requested from a mobile phone.

The flow of FIG. 6 shows a case where a print request is made in a state where the stored image information has not been deleted. A user who places a print order for a digital image displays an image based on the stored image information recorded on the image recording medium 6 on the display unit 54 and selects an image to be ordered for printing (step 130). At least one of a print method, a print size, and the number of prints for each digital image to be printed is input (step 131).
Next, the image storage server 2 is connected to the image storage server 2 using a predetermined telephone number (step 132), and the image storage server 2 checks the automatically received telephone number of the service user in the service user table of the file device 23. (Step 13
3) If the storage request can be accepted, a response to that effect is made (step 134).

After receiving the acceptable response, the user transmits print condition information (step 135). At this time, request information other than print conditions, for example, delivery time designation information or the like may be transmitted. The order reception server 2 that has received the print condition information to be printed transmits a reception completion response to the mobile phone 5 (step 136), and ends the communication. The order information may be transmitted to the mobile phone 5 together with the reception completion response so that the user can confirm the order details.

When the image on the recording medium 6 has been erased,
Alternatively, when a print order is requested by the terminal device 7 at home, since selection of an image and input of print conditions are not possible before connection to the image storage server 2, the process starts from step 132 and after connection to the image storage server 2. After receiving necessary image information, the user selects an image and inputs print conditions.
In this case, the transfer image information need not be of high precision.

The image storage server 2 sends the received image information and print conditions to the predetermined print server together with the received image information and print conditions, such as the name of the print service user and registered delivery destination information obtained from the service user table of the file device 23. The necessary delivery information is transmitted (step 137).

The print destination performs print processing based on the image information and print conditions transmitted to the print server (step 138), and delivers the created order print to the registered delivery destination that has been transmitted (step 13).
9). Delivery may be requested to a delivery company. And once the delivery is complete, using a print server or other means,
Send a delivery completion notification to the image storage server (Step 1)
40).

Image storage server 2 that has received the delivery completion notification
Performs a print fee charging process. The billing method is conveniently added to the telephone charge, but another account or a credit settlement method may be selected in advance. In the case of another method, an account number or the like is recorded in the service user table in advance.

The image information stored in the image storage server 2 is
Not only can it be used for print order requests, but it can be downloaded to the home terminal device 7 and used for various processes such as editing. It is also possible to forward to a friend by e-mail.

When downloading the stored image information, the user accesses the image storage server and selects predetermined image information in the same manner as described above. The download itself is a well-known technique, and thus the description is omitted.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description, in the system of the present invention, the image information transmitted from the destination to the image storage server by the portable telephone is securely stored in the file in the image storage server. Can be confirmed, and the image information of the medium can be erased with confidence. By using the stored image information, it is possible to easily place a print order for a captured digital image using a mobile phone at a destination or using a terminal device at home.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image storage service system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image storage server.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a mobile phone capable of requesting image storage;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart when an image storage request is made.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart when a print order request is made simultaneously with an image storage request.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart when a print order request is made.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network 2 ... Print image storage server 3 ... Print server 4 ... Base station 5 ... Mobile telephone 6 ... Image recording medium 21, 55 ... Control part 22, 56. ..Storage unit 23 ... File devices 24, 57 ... Communication unit 50 ... Reception processing unit 51 ... Interface unit 52 ... Input unit 53 ... Communication interface unit 54 ... Display unit 58: Call processing unit

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image storage service system for storing digital image information, comprising: an image storage server connected to a network; a detachable recording medium storing digital image information; A mobile phone that can be connected to the mobile phone, wherein the mobile phone transmits digital image information recorded on the recording medium to the image storage server via the network. An image storage service system that stores the received digital image information, and after the storage processing, transmits the storage processing information to the transmitting mobile phone. 2. The image storage service system according to claim 1, wherein after the transmission and reception of the digital image information is completed, the connection between the mobile phone and the image storage server is temporarily disconnected. An image storage service system that reconnects with the mobile phone when transmitting the storage processing information. 3. The image storage service system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile phone deletes the transmitted digital image information from the recording medium in accordance with the received storage processing information. An image storage service system. 4. The image storage service system according to claim 3, wherein the mobile phone outputs the content after receiving the storage processing signal, and waits for an input of an erasure instruction signal, and then transmits the transmitted digital image. An image storage service system for erasing information from the recording medium. 5. The image storage service system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile phone further transmits print request information of the transmitted and stored digital image information to the image storage server. The image storage server further has a function of transmitting the stored digital image information to a predetermined printing destination when the print request information is received. Image storage service system. 6. An image storage server for storing digital image information, comprising: receiving digital image information to be stored transmitted from a mobile phone via a network; storing the received digital image information; After treatment,
A print image storage server for transmitting the storage processing information to the mobile phone that has transmitted the print image storage server; 7. The image storage server according to claim 6, wherein the connection with the mobile phone is temporarily disconnected after the reception of the digital image information is completed, and the mobile phone is reconnected when the storage processing information is transmitted. Image storage server. 8. The image storage server according to claim 6, further comprising: a function of receiving a print request for the stored digital image information; An image storage server having a function of transmitting the stored digital image information. 9. The image storage server according to claim 6, further comprising: a function for receiving a download request for the stored digital image information; and a download request when the download request is received. An image storage server having a function of transmitting the stored digital image information. 10. A mobile phone accessible via a network to an image storage server for storing digital image information, wherein a detachable recording medium storing digital image information can be mounted. A mobile phone comprising: means for transmitting digital image information recorded on a medium to the image storage server, and then deleting the transmitted digital image information from the recording medium in accordance with storage processing information received from the image storage server. 11. The mobile phone according to claim 10, wherein after the transmission of the digital image information is completed, the connection with the image storage server is temporarily disconnected, and the storage processing information is received by the image storage server. A mobile phone which is performed after reconnection with the mobile phone. 12. The mobile phone according to claim 10, wherein after receiving the accumulation processing signal, the content is output, and the transmitted digital image information is input to the recording medium after an erasure instruction signal is input. A mobile phone that is to be erased from. 13. The mobile phone according to claim 10, further comprising a function of transmitting the print request information of the transmitted and stored digital image information to the image storage server. Phone. 14. The mobile phone according to claim 10, further comprising: a function of transmitting a download request for the stored digital image information; and a digital image information received based on the download request. A mobile phone having a function of recording the information on the recording medium.