JP2002117127A - System and method for providing information, device and method for processing information and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that it is necessary to prepare a bulk memory card or a large number of memory cards when it is desired to record a large number of digital images in the destination of visit. SOLUTION: Only information required for a user is selected out of information recorded on a memory card and can be recorded o an inexpensive disk-like recording medium readable for an ordinary PC and the medium is given. An information processor 100 is composed of a CPU 110 for performing various kinds of processing, memory 120 for temporarily storing various data and programs, HDD 130 for storing processing programs and data for providing information, memory card reader 140 for reading/erasing data on various memory cards, optical disk drive device 150 for writing information on an optical disk, printer 160 for printing the list of information contents or the like, input device 170 such as keyboard for performing entry operation, and display device 180.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides information recorded on a memory card on an inexpensive and large-capacity recording medium and provides each user with a minimum purchase of an expensive memory card. The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information recording medium which can make information captured by a digital image capturing device usable without purchasing the information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a still image photographed by using a digital image photographing device such as a digital camera and a digital video camera has been transferred to a smart media, a compact flash (registered trademark) memory, a multimedia card, an SD memory card, a memory stick, and the like. IC (semiconductor)
Recording is performed on a memory card (hereinafter referred to as a memory card). Since such a memory card is small and lightweight and does not require a drive circuit when performing recording and reproduction, it is possible to manufacture a digital image photographing device in a small and lightweight and inexpensive manner. It is used as a recording medium for digital image photographing equipment. However, depending on the type of memory card, it is necessary to mount a flash memory circuit inside the memory card, and the production requires advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology. I have. In addition, the storage capacity per memory card is smaller than other recording media such as an optical disk and a hard disk, and it is difficult to record many images.

[0003] For these reasons, it is not suitable to permanently store information recorded on a memory card from the viewpoint of usability and cost performance. As a result, the user captures information such as images recorded on the memory card into a PC or the like and prints out the information, or copies the information onto another recording medium such as a hard disk or a CD-R, and then records the information on the memory card. It is common practice to erase the information that has been recorded and use it repeatedly for subsequent recording (used for temporary recording).

[0004]

However, it is difficult to carry and use a PC or a printer on the go when traveling, and it is almost impossible to print out or record on another recording medium. Therefore, when recording a large number of digital images on the go, a large-capacity memory card or a large number of memory cards must be prepared. This imposes a very heavy burden on users, and users who do not need many memory cards for normal use will
I had to buy many memory cards just for travel. Furthermore, in order to prevent accidental erasure of recorded memory cards, it is necessary to manage recorded and unrecorded memory cards separately. There was a problem that the usability was poor.

[0005] In addition, it is conceivable to lend a digital image photographing device to a user who does not own a digital image photographing device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera at a tourist spot or the like. However, in a system in which a memory card on which a captured image is recorded is brought back as it is, a very high usage fee is required because the price of the memory card is added, which is unsuitable as a business system. In addition, it is rare for a user who rents a digital camera or the like to have a peripheral device for connecting a memory card on which a captured image is recorded to a PC. Cannot be read out.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention is intended to select only the information required by the user from the information recorded on the memory card, record it on an inexpensive disk-shaped recording medium readable by a normal PC, and deliver it. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problem.

[0007]

As means for achieving the above object, an information providing system, an information providing method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information recording medium described below are provided.

[0008] 1. A memory card reading unit for reading image data from a memory card on which image data captured by a digital image capturing apparatus is recorded; and a storage unit that reduces the amount of data recordable on a secondary medium provided at a lower cost than the memory card. A calculating unit for calculating a required number of the secondary media, an amount calculating unit for calculating a service providing fee from a recording data amount, and a recording unit for recording information on the secondary medium; An information providing system wherein image data is read from the memory card on which image data is recorded, and information is recorded on the secondary medium and provided.

[0009] 2. Reading image data from a memory card on which image data captured by a digital image capturing device is recorded; and reading the image data necessary for recording from a data amount recordable on a secondary medium provided at a lower cost than the memory card. The method includes a step of calculating the number of secondary media, a step of calculating a service providing fee from a recording data amount, and a step of recording information on the secondary medium, wherein image data photographed by a user is recorded. An information providing method, wherein image data is read from the memory card, and information is recorded and provided on the secondary medium.

[0010] 3. A memory card reading means for reading information recorded on a memory card; an information content list creating means for creating an information content list indicating the information content read by the memory card reading means; Calculating means for calculating the number of the secondary media required for recording from the amount of data recordable on the secondary medium provided at low cost; the information content list created by the information content list creating means; An information processing apparatus comprising: display means for displaying the number calculated by the means; and recording means for recording information on the secondary medium.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a selection unit for selecting desired information from an information content list displayed on the display unit.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a printing unit configured to print an information content list of information contents recorded on the secondary medium by the recording unit.

6. Reading the information recorded on the memory card, creating an information content list showing the information content read from the memory card, and providing a secondary medium provided at a lower cost than the memory card. The above-mentioned 2 necessary for recording from the recordable data amount
An information processing method, comprising: calculating the number of sheets of the next medium; displaying the information content list and the number of sheets; and recording information on the secondary medium.

7. A RAM area in which information different for each recording medium can be recorded at least once or more;
An information recording medium, comprising: a ROM area in which an application program for reproducing information recorded in an area is recorded in advance.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An information providing system and an information providing method according to the present invention automatically read information recorded on a memory card, and use a relatively inexpensive other recording medium such as an optical disk (hereinafter abbreviated as a secondary medium). ) And provide it to the user. In addition, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information recording medium used on the business side for that purpose.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus 100 is a CP that performs various processes in order to carry out the present invention.
U (Central Processing Unit) 110, a memory (RAM) 120 for temporarily storing various data and programs for the CPU 110 to perform processing, and a hard disk device for storing a processing program and data for providing information ( HDD) 130, a memory card reader 140 for reading / erasing data recorded corresponding to various memory cards, and a C for writing information to an optical disk.
Optical disk drive 1 such as a DR / RW drive
50, one or more printers 160 for printing a list of information contents, labels and bills to be attached to the optical disk, receipts, etc., and an input device 170 such as a keyboard for inputting titles and other operation inputs. And a display device 180 for performing various displays. And
The HDD 130 includes at least an information providing program,
Data (and / or a program) to be commonly recorded on all the optical disks and image data read by the memory card reader 140 and temporarily stored by the user are stored, and the digital image When renting a photographing device, data for user management is also stored. Furthermore, the above information providing program,
It can be roughly divided into a main processing program, a program for controlling reading / erasing of data in the memory card reader 140, a program for controlling recording of the optical disk drive 150, a program for controlling the printer 160, and a cost charged to the user. , And a user management processing program (when renting a digital image capturing device).

The information processing apparatus 100 can execute the following processing by executing the information providing program stored in the HDD 130 by using the CPU 110 while using the memory 120.

1. Read the information recorded on the memory card using the memory card reader 140,
If necessary, delete the information recorded on the memory card.

2. The information read from the memory card by the memory card reader 140 is temporarily stored in the HDD 13.
0, and a list of information contents as shown in FIG. 3 is created and displayed on a screen or printed out. Further, as needed, the information read from the memory card is processed or a part of the data is deleted.

3. The information read from the memory card stored in the HDD 130 is recorded on the optical disc in a form desired by the user. At this time, data (and / or a program) to be commonly recorded on all the optical disks may be simultaneously recorded. Further, information read from the memory card may be additionally written in an optical disk in which data (and / or a program) to be commonly recorded on all the optical disks is recorded in advance. Here, the data (and / or program) commonly recorded on all the optical discs is, for example, a program for displaying image data shot by a user or a thumbnail thereof on a PC, a charge table or a service provider service. Promotional data that records the location of the station,
The table shows data (and / or programs) commonly recorded on the optical disc for each user, such as homepage address (URL) data of a service provider.

4. An information content list of data recorded on the optical disc is created and printed out. In addition, a label to be attached to the optical disc is created and printed out.

5. Calculate the service provision cost and display the billed amount on the screen or issue a bill. It is also possible to arrange to issue a receipt as needed.

The information processing apparatus 100 includes the following units implemented by computer software as needed.

1. By dividing the total data amount of the data amount of the data read from the memory card 4 and the total amount of application software and data commonly recorded on the secondary medium by the recordable capacity of an inexpensive secondary medium for recording, 2
Means for calculating and displaying the required number of next media (data amount check, comparison, calculation means).

2. A means for selecting data to be left on the memory card from data recorded on the memory card.

3. Means for selecting a portion to be recorded on the secondary medium from data recorded on the memory card.

4. According to 1 above, only when it is detected that the data amount of the data recorded on the memory card is larger than the recordable capacity of the secondary medium, 2. ,
3. Means for selecting data by means of (1).

5. Means for creating a thumbnail of the data recorded on the memory card (thumbnail creating means), means for displaying the created thumbnail, and means for individually specifying the data in the displayed thumbnail.

6. When there is no data to be recorded on the secondary medium or when data cannot be read from the memory card 4, a message to that effect is displayed and the memory card or the like is returned to the user (display, card return, Fee return means).

7. Means for creating information, including thumbnails, for printing directly on a secondary medium or on another medium.

8. Means for detecting that the information processing apparatus 100 does not have a necessary supply and means for displaying the detection result.

9. Means for prohibiting or restricting processing by displaying a message that processing is not accepted or displaying processing restriction contents when it is detected that the information processing apparatus 100 does not have necessary supplies.

10. With respect to the secondary medium, in addition to the image data read from the memory card 4, an application program for easily displaying this image data on a PC or the like, thumbnail data, recording date and time, input means from the user Means for recording other data such as the title input by 170 together.

11. Means for rejecting recording of data recorded on the memory card 4 on a secondary medium according to the copy protection information in the information processing apparatus 100 or the memory card 4 (specification and copyright confirmation means).

Next, an embodiment of an information providing system and an information providing method using the information processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, a frame is described as a portion related to the user (user) 1 and a portion related to the service provider 2. Then, the user brings the memory card 4 in which a still image captured by the digital image capturing device 3 such as a digital camera or a digital video camera is recorded to the service provider (or the unmanned information processing device 100) (or the unmanned information processing device 100). The description will be made assuming that a service is received (by inserting a memory card into the memory card reader 140 of the information processing apparatus 100). It should be noted that the service provider may provide an optical disk (2) in which only unrecorded data or data that is commonly recorded for each user is recorded in advance.
The print medium such as the next medium), the ink (ribbon) of the printer, the printing paper and the label, etc., are supplied to the information processing apparatus 100, and the shortage is continuously checked (step 21). In addition to displaying the service support conditions such as the type of memory card and recording format that can be used and the service provision fee to the user, if a shortage occurs, the available service contents or inability to handle Is displayed to the user, and the reception is restricted or not received (step 22).

The user gives the memory card 4 in which the photographed digital image data is recorded to the service provider, declares a desired title name if necessary, and lists an information content list and the required number of optical discs. Or do you need a group)? The service provider inserts the received memory card 4 into the memory card reader 140 of the information processing apparatus 100 to read the recorded image information, and inputs the desired title name and the required number of sheets. Enter from. In a service center in which the user operates the information processing apparatus 100, the above operation is performed by the user himself.

The information processing apparatus 100 reads the image information recorded on the memory card 4 inserted into the memory card reader 140 (step 5), and determines whether or not the image information is recorded in a recordable format that can be processed. It is checked whether or not the data being copied is prohibited from being copied due to copyright protection (step 6). If the recording format is incompatible or information such as copy prohibited is obtained,
(Step 6 → N), the processing is interrupted according to the information, a message indicating that the processing cannot be performed is displayed on the display device 180, and the memory card 4 is inserted into the memory card reading device 1
It is taken out from 40 and returned to the user (step 7).
If there is a problem with some of the image information, perform the processing after obtaining the user's consent that the corresponding image information cannot be erased or copied. 8 may be performed.

When data which can be read and has no problem such as copyright is recorded on the memory card 4,
(Step 6 → Y), the amount of data recorded on the memory card 4 is checked (Step 8), and the amount of data to which information to be additionally recorded (such as information common to all users) is added to the secondary medium (optical disk) If the recording capacity becomes larger than the recording capacity of one sheet, the number of secondary media capable of recording all data is calculated (step 9). At this time, if the number of copies required by the user is plural, a value multiplied by the number is calculated. Also, if necessary, an information content list (thumbnail) of simultaneously recorded information is created (step 11), and the user billing cost is calculated from the data amount, the number of secondary media, etc. The user billing amount is displayed on the display device 180 together with the number and the thumbnail (step 10). The user performs an operation input to delete unnecessary image information (file), if any, by referring to the information content list (or requests the service provider). If there is data to be left on the memory card 4 or data to be deleted, the instruction is also input. In this way, the data to be recorded on the secondary medium and the data to be left on the memory card 4 are determined, the necessary number of disks is re-determined, the new fee, and a new thumbnail are displayed again. If the user is satisfied with the displayed content, the user pays the displayed fee (inputs the fee).

When the information processing apparatus 100 automatically selects information to be recorded on the secondary medium and information to be left on the memory card 4 from the relationship between the number of secondary media and the data capacity required by the user. By selecting the order of file creation date and time or file name, information with the oldest shooting date and time is recorded on the secondary medium, and only the most recent data can be left on the memory card 4.

After the image information to be recorded on the secondary medium is selected and processed as necessary, application software for displaying thumbnails and images, and advertisements for service providers are common to all optical disks. New data is added as necessary (step 12), and these data are recorded on the secondary medium (step 14). Note that this 2
The next medium is pre-formatted as needed (step 13).

The printer 160 prints the thumbnails, titles, and the like previously displayed on the screen as needed. The printing of the thumbnails and title names, for example, is as shown in FIG. 3, and can be printed directly on the surface opposite to the signal recording / reproducing surface of the secondary medium on which the data has already been recorded, or by another label such as labels. Printing is performed on a print medium (step 15). If the printing medium has an adhesive applied to the back surface so that it can be attached to the secondary medium, the user or the like later attaches the adhesive or automatically attaches it in the information processing apparatus (step 16). In addition, instead of attaching to a secondary medium, it may be printed as a print for attachment.

Then, a read test of the data recorded on the secondary medium and a comparison and verification of the data before recording are performed (step 17). If the data is recorded correctly, the process proceeds to the next step, and the data is recorded correctly. If not, re-record. In the case of a medium that can be written only once, such as a CD-R, this re-recording is performed after replacing the secondary medium. Also, a CD-RW capable of repeatedly recording
In the case of a secondary medium as described above, re-recording may be performed on the same medium, or re-recording may be performed after replacing the medium. In addition, this verification process may be performed immediately after data recording (before printing), but may be performed after all processing on the secondary medium is completed (immediately before reaching the user), so that any one of the processes is performed. It is possible to detect the case where reading becomes impossible after recording on the secondary medium due to the accident occurring in the above.
Alternatively, by performing the process twice immediately after recording and after all processes are completed, unnecessary processing such as printing on a defective product can be omitted although the processing time is slightly increased, and a defective product due to an accident in a subsequent process is eliminated. Processing is also possible.

Then, according to the user's previously input request, all or part of the image data in the memory card 4 is deleted, and the image data can be used again by a digital camera or the like (step 18).

Then, a process for storing the previously received expenses is performed (step 19), and the memory card 4 is returned to the user and a secondary medium on which data is recorded is supplied (step 23). If a thumbnail or the like is printed separately from the secondary medium, the printed matter is supplied at the same time (step 20).

By performing the processing described above, the information providing system and the information providing method of the present invention can be realized using the image processing apparatus 100.

In the information providing system and the information providing method described above, the service fee is paid after the thumbnail is displayed and the content of the image data to be recorded is determined. When providing an unattended service to operate, a certain usage fee may be collected when the user first inserts the memory card. In this case, if the usage fee changes depending on the amount of image data to be recorded, it is necessary to collect an additional fee in step 10 or to perform a fee refund process in step 7.

As the above-mentioned secondary medium, an optical disk such as a CD-R or a CD-RW which can be recorded at least once and has a larger storage capacity than the memory card 4 is used. The image data can be read by a normal PC having a memory card reader, and even a user who does not have a memory card reader can use image data. DVD-R, DVD-R
The medium may be recorded on a medium having a larger recording capacity, such as W or DVD-RAM. If the type of the secondary medium can be selected according to the user's request, the medium can be used by more users. You will be able to get it.

When the secondary medium is a card-type optical disk capable of recording at least once or more, the recording capacity is smaller than that of the 12-cm optical disk but larger than the capacity of the memory card 4, but the capacity of the memory card 4 itself is small. Is close to the memory card 4, so it is convenient for the user to handle storage, organization, distribution, and the like.
Cost reduction can be achieved.

Then, for example, a program for displaying image data and thumbnails thereof taken by the user on a PC, advertisement data recording a service provider's fee table, service station location, and the like, a service provider's homepage The data (and / or program) commonly recorded on the optical disk for each user, such as address (URL) data, is recorded on the secondary medium together with the data recorded on the memory card as in the above-described embodiment. Instead, by recording the information on a secondary medium in advance, a series of processing times can be reduced. In order to pre-record data (and / or a program) to be recorded on the optical disk common to each user, it is only necessary to pre-write the data on the data recordable portion, but it is necessary to pre-write all the secondary media. Also takes time. However, in the card-type hybrid optical recording medium proposed by the present applicant in the earlier application, the ROM area and the RA
Since it has both the M area (or write-once area), by using this card type hybrid optical recording medium, it is possible to record on the ROM area at the time of disc production, and the recording time is almost Can be zero.

Here, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-222.
No. 002 (filed on July 24, 2000) “Card-type hybrid optical recording medium (hereinafter referred to as card-type optical disk)” proposed in “Method of manufacturing card-type information recording medium, apparatus of manufacturing card-type information recording medium”. This will be described below with reference to the schematic configuration diagram shown in FIG. The outer shape of the card-type optical disk 31 shown in FIG.
m is a card type with a short side of 58 mm and is a normal CD
A central hole 32 having the same size and a diameter of 15 mm is formed. Then, a step 3 is located outside the diameter of 80 mm from the center.
The recording / reproducing apparatus can be mounted on the disc tray in accordance with the recess for a single CD. An organic dye film is provided on at least a portion having a diameter of 40 mm to 57 mm of the card type optical disk 31 having such an outer shape, and a ROM area 34 is provided on an inner peripheral side, and a recordable RAM area (or a write-once area) is provided on an outer peripheral side. ) 35 is formed.

The card type optical disk 31 having such a configuration
Can be manufactured by die-cutting a disk created by using a normal CD manufacturing apparatus having a diameter of 120 mm, so that it can be manufactured at almost the same cost as in the past. The card-type optical disk 31 has a smaller storage capacity than a normal CD-R or CD-RW having a diameter of 120 mm. However, since several tens of MB of data can be recorded in each of the areas 34 and 35, Data recorded on one memory card can be sufficiently recorded in the RAM area 35. Since data can be recorded in the ROM area 34 by pressing at the time of manufacturing the card-type optical disc 31, programs and data commonly recorded in all the card-type optical discs 31 are recorded in the ROM area 34. In this state, it can be supplied to the information processing apparatus 100. In this case, in the step of recording on the secondary medium in step 14 of FIG. 2, only the data recorded on the memory card 4 may be recorded on the secondary medium. Can be greatly reduced.

[0053]

The information providing system, the information providing method, the information processing apparatus, and the information processing method according to the present invention record information on an expensive memory card on an inexpensive secondary recording medium (such as an optical disk) which can be read by an ordinary PC. Information, so that it is easy to store, organize, and distribute the captured images, and transfer the captured image data to an inexpensive optical disk at any time without having to carry a large number of expensive memory cards, even on sightseeing trips. It can be provided that the same memory card can be used to keep a sufficient shooting capacity at any time.

Also, in the case of lending a digital image photographing device, an inexpensive secondary medium can be used instead of an expensive memory card as a means for bringing back photographed image data, thereby lowering the service price. be able to.

Furthermore, in order to allow a user to play back digital image data taken with a lent digital camera or the like on a home PC, an optical disk (eg, an optical disk that is not provided with a memory card reader or the like) that can be played on a normal PC. By recording the image data on a secondary medium) and providing it to the user, the digital image photographing apparatus can be lent to many users.

In the information recording medium of the present invention, since the program common to each recording medium is recorded in the ROM area in advance, the recorded secondary medium can be provided to the user quickly. There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an information providing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an information content list in the information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a secondary medium in the information providing system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Category Related to User 2 Category Related to Service Provider 3 Digital Camera, Digital Video Camera (Digital Image Shooting Apparatus) 4 Memory Card 23 Information Contents List 100 Information Processing Apparatus 110 CPU (Central Processing Unit) 120 Memory (RAM) ) 130 Hard disk drive (HDD) 140 Memory card reader (Memory card reader) 150 Optical disk drive (Recorder) 160 Printer 170 Input device 180 Display device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/30 230 G06F 17/30 230Z 310 310B G06K 17/00 G06K 17/00 D G H04N 5/907 H04N 5/907 B 5/91 5/91 J F term (reference) 5B058 KA06 KA08 KA12 KA31 YA18 5B075 ND08 PP03 PP13 PQ02 PQ46 5C052 AA03 AA12 AA17 AB04 AB08 AC01 CC11 DD02 DD04 EE02 EE03 EE08 5C053 FA24 FA04 JA21 KA04 KA24 KA26 LA03 LA06

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A memory card reading means for reading image data from a memory card on which image data photographed by a digital image photographing device is recorded, and recording on a secondary medium provided at a lower cost than the memory card. Calculating means for calculating the number of the secondary media required for recording from the data amount, amount calculating means for calculating a service providing fee from the recorded data amount, and recording means for recording information on the secondary medium, An information providing system, wherein image data is read from the memory card in which image data captured by a user is recorded, and information is recorded and provided on the secondary medium. 2. A method for reading image data from a memory card on which image data photographed by a digital image photographing device is recorded, and a method for reducing the amount of data recordable on a secondary medium provided at a lower cost than the memory card. Calculating the number of the secondary media required for recording; calculating a service providing fee from a recording data amount; and recording information on the secondary medium, the image data captured by a user. An information providing method, wherein image data is read from the memory card on which is recorded, and information is recorded and provided on the secondary medium. 3. A memory card reading means for reading information recorded on a memory card, an information content list creating means for creating an information content list showing the information content read by the memory card reading means, Calculating means for calculating the number of secondary media required for recording from the amount of data recordable on a secondary medium provided at a lower cost than the memory card; and the information content created by the information content list creating means An information processing apparatus, comprising: display means for displaying a list and the number calculated by the calculation means; and recording means for recording information on the secondary medium. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising selection means for selecting desired information from an information content list displayed on said display means. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising printing means for printing an information content list of information contents recorded on said secondary medium by said recording means. 6. A step of reading information recorded on a memory card, a step of creating an information content list showing the information contents read from the memory card, and provided at a lower cost than the memory card. Calculating the number of the secondary media required for recording from the amount of data recordable on the secondary medium, displaying the information content list and the number, and recording information on the secondary medium And an information processing method. 7. A RAM area in which information different for each recording medium can be recorded at least once or more, a ROM area in which an application program for reproducing information recorded in the RAM area is recorded in advance, An information recording medium comprising: