JP2010079788A - Content management device, system, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easy for non-content creators to find target content from shared resources.
When a server 2 receives an image and classification information from a camera 1a, the classification information and classification information attached to an image (one or more) registered in an image DB are collated for each identical item, The degree of coincidence is determined. For example, if the search keyword matches the category name, if the subject name matches, if the subject location matches, or if the shooting location matches, it corresponds to the classification information including the category name, subject name or shooting location. The directory information of the image storage directory is determined as storage destination candidate information. The storage location candidate information determined by the server 2 is transmitted to the camera 1a.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system, a method, and a program for encouraging content classification according to the content.

  Patent Document 1 adds specific classification information to an image according to a determination result of at least one of a determination unit based on subject information and a determination unit based on setting conditions of an imaging device when an image is captured. To do. In addition, when the setting condition of the imaging device when capturing an image matches at least one of a plurality of specific setting conditions, specific one or a plurality of classification information is added to the image. In addition, when the setting condition of the imaging device when capturing an image matches the specific setting condition, a plurality of specific classification information is added to the image.

  In Patent Document 2, a digital still camera is provided with a frame classification mode for classifying captured frame images into specific scenes of a photo movie. On the display panel of the camera body, a category display area for displaying a plurality of scene categories included in the photo movie is provided beside an image display area for displaying a through image. For example, when an athletic meet scenario is selected as a photo movie scenario, the opening ceremony, morning section, lunch break, afternoon section, and closing ceremony are included in the scenario. The scene category such as is displayed. The user performs shooting by designating any one of these scene categories through the operation unit. Along with the data of the shot frame image, the attribution information of the frame image to a specific scene is stored in the image file.

In Patent Document 3, the environmental information sensor outputs environmental information to the CPU in conjunction with a half-press operation of the shutter button. The CPU records the environment information, distribution information, and audio ID in a predetermined tag (such as an image description tag) in the header portion of the Exif file in conjunction with the release of the shutter button full press operation. Since the Exif file contains environment information, distribution information, and audio ID, when viewing the image at a later date, the photographer can refer to the audio information corresponding to the environment information, distribution information, and audio ID. Can easily recall the situation at the time of shooting, and memorable image recording becomes possible.
JP 2008-72497 A JP 2006-60652 A JP 2006-86823 A

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-260260, the simple classification is similar to the photographing mode such as “portrait mode” and “night view mode”, and only the photographer can recall the photographing scene from the classification name. You can't give a really useful taxonomy name.

  In Patent Document 2, it is possible to share a category name among different camera users, but there is no freedom in setting and selecting a category name.

  In Patent Document 3, a photographer's favorite classification can be set, but conversely, a burden is placed on the photographer. In addition, even for images taken at the same place, there is a high possibility that the assigned classification name will be different depending on the person, and it is difficult to share with others. Even if the GPS information is used, the same subject is not always photographed at the same position every time. Therefore, the same classification is not always given to the same subject, which causes confusion.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible for a non-content creator to easily find a target content from a shared resource.

  A content management apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit capable of storing content and classification information corresponding to the content in a directory with a classification name, and a reception unit that receives classification information corresponding to the desired content from a desired terminal A storage destination candidate determination unit that compares the classification information received from the terminal with the classification information in the storage unit, and determines a storage destination candidate that is a directory for storing content from the terminal according to the comparison result; A transmission unit that transmits the classification name of the storage destination candidate determined by the storage destination candidate determination unit to the terminal.

  According to the present invention, according to a comparison between content classification information already stored in the storage unit and content classification information from the terminal, a storage destination candidate that is a directory for storing content from the terminal is determined and stored. Send the candidate to the terminal.

  A person who wants to store desired content in the storage unit from the terminal is expected to store content corresponding to the same or similar classification information in the same directory according to the storage destination candidate.

  In addition, a person other than the content creator can easily know what kind of content is stored in the directory by simply referring to the directory classification name and some contents of the directory. Desired contents can be easily found from the directory.

  In response to a request from the terminal, the transmission unit transmits the classification name assigned to each directory in the storage unit and information indicating the content stored in the directory to the terminal.

  A creation unit that creates a directory with a new classification name in the storage unit in response to a request from the terminal is included.

  A storage control unit that stores desired content transmitted from the terminal in a desired directory of the storage unit designated by the terminal in response to a request from the terminal is included.

  The classification information includes the classification name of the directory in which the content is stored.

  A search keyword setting unit that receives a search keyword setting from the terminal, and the storage destination candidate determination unit compares the search keyword with the classification name of the storage unit, and stores the content storage destination from the terminal according to the comparison result The storage destination candidate that is a directory is determined.

  The classification information includes at least one of the position where the terminal has acquired the content, the date and time when the content was acquired, information about the subject of the image included in the content, and the image capturing condition.

  The information related to the subject of the image includes at least one of the subject name, the location of the subject, and the size of the subject.

  A content management system according to the present invention includes the above-described content management device and a terminal having a classification information creation unit that creates classification information associated with desired content.

  The terminal includes a different first terminal and second terminal, and the first terminal responds to a request from the second terminal, and the content corresponding to the content and content registered by the first terminal in the content management apparatus The information is transmitted to the second terminal, and the second terminal receives the content and the classification information corresponding to the content from the first terminal.

  The classification information creation unit of the second terminal creates classification information corresponding to the desired content based on all or part of the classification information received from the first terminal.

  In the content management method according to the present invention, the computer stores the content and the classification information corresponding to the content in the storage unit in the directory to which the classification name is assigned, and the classification information corresponding to the desired content from the desired terminal. A step of receiving, comparing the classification information received from the terminal with the classification information of the storage unit, and determining a storage destination candidate that is a directory for storing content from the terminal according to the comparison result; Transmitting the determined storage destination candidate classification name to the terminal.

  A content management program for causing a computer to execute the content management method is also included in the present invention.

  According to the present invention, according to a comparison between content classification information already stored in the storage unit and content classification information from the terminal, a storage destination candidate that is a directory for storing content from the terminal is determined and stored. Send the candidate to the terminal.

  A person who wants to store desired content in the storage unit from the terminal is expected to store content corresponding to the same or similar classification information in the same directory according to the storage destination candidate.

  In addition, a person other than the content creator can easily know what kind of content is stored in the directory by simply referring to the directory classification name and some contents of the directory. Desired contents can be easily found from the directory.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a content sharing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The content sharing system includes digital cameras 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, a server 2, and a personal computer 3 that can record still images, moving images with audio, and text information (file names, shooting comments, etc.) attached thereto. These devices can be connected to each other via various communication networks. In particular, the camera 1a and the personal computer 3 are connected to the server 2, and the camera 1b is connected to the camera 1c. The server 2 and the personal computer 3 are connected by communication means such as the Internet or LAN, the camera 1a and the personal computer 3 are connected by communication means such as USB, and the camera 1b and camera 1c are connected by communication means such as Bluetooth or infrared communication.

  By connecting the camera 1 a and the personal computer 3, it is possible to cause the personal computer 3 to capture content (such as still images and moving images) recorded by the camera 1 a and contents such as audio and text information attached to the image. Alternatively, a portable recording medium in which an image is recorded by the camera 1 a can be read by the personal computer 3 and an image recorded by the camera 1 a can be captured by the personal computer 3. Hereinafter, for the sake of brevity, it is assumed that the content is an image, but the content may include data other than the image. The storage format and playback format of content data are not limited.

  The digital cameras 1a, 1b, and 1c are owned by different users, and have the same configuration. Four or more digital cameras 1 may be connected to the network. These are collectively represented by the digital camera 1.

  Numbers # 1 to # 7 in FIG. 1 indicate an outline of processing performed between the devices. The camera 1a or the personal computer 3 requests the server 2 to register an image already taken by the camera 1a, contents including sound and text information related to the image, and a directory name (category name) for storing incidental information. Then, a request for storing and uploading the image and the classification information attached to the image is made (# 1). The server 2 transmits a list of classification names registered in the database of the storage unit 55 or an image registered in each classification to the camera 1a or the personal computer 3 in response to a request for storing classification names and images. (# 2). The user of the camera 1a or the personal computer 3 refers to what kind of image is registered in the category name registered in the database and the directory to which the category name is assigned. This is to decide whether to store in the directory.

  The camera 1b designates an arbitrary search keyword (typically, the classification name of the storage directory of the photographed image desired by the user) at the time of taking an image, and transmits the search keyword to the server 2. A search is made as to whether the same classification name as the search keyword is registered in the database (# 3). When the server 2 receives the search keyword from the camera 1b, the server 2 extracts a category name that matches or is similar to the received search keyword from the database, a list of names of directories having the category name (storage destination candidate information), and the directory The image stored in is transmitted to the camera 1b and released (# 4). In response to this, the camera 1b selects an arbitrary category name of a directory storing an image that will be shot from now on, and sends information indicating the directory of the selected category name to the server 2 together with the taken arbitrary image. Upload (# 5).

  When the camera 1b selects the search word, not only the storage location information of the server 2, but also an image taken by another camera 1c (which can be uploaded # 1 and public # 2 as with the camera 1a) It is also possible to refer to subject information and other classification information associated with the image.

  The camera 1b requests the camera 1c to disclose the image, subject information, and other classification information (# 6), and the camera 1c responds to the request by the camera 1c and the subject information set for the image. Is sent to the public (# 7).

  When accessing the cameras 1a, 1b, 1c, the server 2 and the personal computer 3, the access destination device may have the authority to authenticate the access source and permit or deny access. Further, the server 2 may limit the number of other terminals (camera 1 and personal computer 3) that access the server 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the server 2 includes an operation unit 51 (keyboard, mouse and other pointing devices, a touch panel, etc.), a display unit 52 (liquid crystal display and an onboard graphic card), a communication unit 53 (network card, etc.), Information processing unit 54 (CPU, microcomputer, etc.), storage unit 55 (RAM, ROM, flash memory, hard disk, DVD, CD-RW or other computer-readable recording medium), information reading / writing unit 56 (CD- It is composed of a personal computer equipped with a RW drive. A database is constructed in the storage unit 55 (typically a large-capacity storage medium such as a hard disk) of the server 2. Since the personal computer 3 has the same configuration as the server 2, the illustration is omitted. Further, the personal computer 3 may have the same configuration as the camera 1.

  The information processing unit 54 controls the operation of each unit of the server 2, for example, transmission / reception of data by the communication unit 53, storage of data in the storage unit 55, or reading of information from the storage unit 55. Also, software-based arithmetic processing, for example, classification information and images to be described later, creation of a new directory, determination of storage destination candidate information, and the like are performed. Access to the storage unit 55 from an external device such as the camera 1 or the personal computer 3 connected to the communication unit 53 is permitted or restricted by the information processing unit 54. The storage unit 55 separately stores identification information such as the device ID, user ID, and password of the external device, and permits access to the external device that has transmitted the same information as the identification information. Otherwise, access is denied. External devices that are permitted to access can share each other by browsing, uploading, downloading, etc., the content stored in the storage unit 55.

  FIG. 3 conceptually shows the contents of information stored in the database. The database is provided with a directory corresponding to a desired classification name (an image file or other content or a unit for storing content incidental information, also called a folder). Directories can have a hierarchical structure.

  In this figure, two directories with classification names of “Shinjuku” and “2008/07/30” are provided in the highest hierarchy. In addition, a directory with classification names “snap”, “scenery”, and “others” is provided immediately below “Shinjuku”. In addition, a directory with classification names “people” and “animals” is provided immediately below “snap”. On the other hand, a directory with classification names “building”, “square”, and “others” is provided immediately below “landscape”.

  A directory with classification names “Shinjuku” and “Akihabara” is provided immediately below “2008/07/30”. A directory with a classification name of “building” is provided immediately below “Akihabara”.

  “Shinjuku” at the highest level and “Shinjuku” at “2008/07/30” are distinguished because they have different levels. Assume that directories with the same classification name are not created in the same hierarchy, and the classification names are unique within the same hierarchy. Combining the classification name with path information indicating the hierarchical structure provides completely unique information. Although this is called directory information, the storage location of the image and its accompanying information is specified by the directory information. The directory information includes the name given to the directory.

  The directory stores an image uploaded from a terminal such as a personal computer, a camera, a PDA, or a mobile phone owned by the user of the camera 1a or other users, and classification information attached to the image. It is assumed that each user is free to store which image and classification information in which directory. For example, the user may create a new directory by himself / herself and store images and classification information therein, or may store in an existing directory.

  The directory shown in the figure is not intrinsically linked to the structure of the database of the server 2, but may take another structure. In the initial state, the directory may not exist at all in the database of the server 2. In this case, the server 2 may create a directory in accordance with an instruction from a device such as the camera 1 or the personal computer 3 that is permitted to be accessed. When creating each directory, the server 2 sets a specific storage rule for each directory, such as a storage expiration date, accessible electronic device or user identification information, the number of accessible users, and the maximum number of stored images. Limit storage and viewing of images that violate storage rules. For example, the directory is deleted when the expiration date has passed.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the digital camera 1 includes a data transmission / reception unit (communication I / F) constituted by a well-known data communication unit such as a USB port, a wired line, a wireless LAN adapter, a modem, and electrodes for inputting and outputting a weak current for human body communication. / F) 11, a storage unit 12 including a portable recording medium such as a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and a memory card.

  The digital camera 1 also includes an imaging lens that forms a subject image on a light receiving surface of the imaging device, an imaging device such as a CCD or CMOS that outputs the subject image by photoelectric conversion to an analog image signal, and an analog output from the imaging device. Image processing unit 15 that includes an AD conversion unit that converts an image signal into digital image data, changes in the number of pixels of image data output from the image capturing unit 15, sharpness correction, gamma correction, contrast correction, white balance correction, and the like Part 14 is included.

  Further, the digital camera 1 performs data processing such as a microphone for collecting sound, an analog audio signal acquired from the microphone, converted into digital data after amplification, and compressed in a predetermined compression recording format (such as MPEG4). The recording unit 16 that stores the compressed audio in the storage unit 12 together with the still image or the moving image acquired by the unit 15 or separately from the image is included.

  The storage unit 12 stores image data (still images, moving images) obtained by shooting, audio data obtained by recording, data (for example, MP4 files) recorded both, supplementary information or other content described in text data. For example, a memory card called smart media is used. The form of the recording medium is not limited to this, and may be a PC card, a compact flash (registered trademark), a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a memory stick, etc., electronic, magnetic, optical, or a combination thereof A readable / writable medium can be used in accordance with the above-described method. A configuration in which a plurality of media can be mounted regardless of different types or the same type of recording media may be adopted. Further, the storing means is not limited to a removable removable medium, but may be a built-in recording medium (built-in memory). The storage unit 12 stores identification information (ID) unique to each digital camera 1 or its user.

  The digital camera 1 is stored in advance in a non-volatile storage medium (such as a ROM or a magnetic disk) of the storage unit 12 or stored in the recording unit 16 such as voice, operation sound, shutter sound, AF focusing sound, and the like. The audio processing circuit 17 that performs data processing such as analog audio signal conversion and amplification on the various audio data and outputs the data to a speaker is included.

  An RTC (real time clock) 18 outputs current date and time information. This current time information can be stored in the storage unit 12 as the shooting date / time information of the image to be recorded by the imaging unit 15 together with the content such as an image or sound, for example, as meta information or header information described in text data. . Information derived from the shooting date / time information, for example, time zone information such as morning, afternoon, daytime, evening, night, and morning, and seasonal information such as spring / summer / autumn / winter can also be included in the shooting date / time information.

  The position information acquisition unit 19 is composed of a GPS receiver, and obtains current position information by receiving radio waves from GPS satellites and measuring the distance from the orbit. This current position information can be stored in the storage unit 12 as, for example, meta information or header information described in text data, together with content such as an image or sound, as shooting position information of an image for recording by the imaging unit 15. . The acquisition source of the current position information may not be a GPS receiver. The position information is notified from the nearest position notification server within the communication range of the content recording apparatus 1, and is received by the outline of the content recording apparatus 1. The position information can also be used.

  The electronic compass 21 is a sensor for detecting geomagnetism and obtaining an azimuth.

  The distance measuring unit 22 measures the distance to the subject measured based on a known distance measuring technique such as triangulation or TOL (time of flight).

  The information processing unit (CPU) 30 is a digital camera based on instructions input to user operation members from various buttons and keys of the operation unit 20 configured by known devices such as a release switch, a mode dial, a numeric keypad, and a touch panel. The processing of each circuit in 1, for example, the recording process of the image and its accompanying information, the transmission process of the image and its accompanying information, and the communication process with the server 2, the personal computer 3 and the other camera 1 can be centrally controlled. A program executed by the CPU 30 is stored in a ROM, a DVD, or the like of the storage unit 12, and is appropriately loaded into the RAM and executed. However, the program may be received from an external program distribution server (not shown) via the communication I / F 11, and may be interpreted and executed by the CPU 30, and the program is not always stored in the storage unit 12 as local data. May be.

  The display unit 13 includes a decoder and a display, and displays a video according to an instruction from the information processing unit 54.

  The CPU 30 creates classification information related to the image, and associates the classification information with the image as supplementary information (metadata, tag information, header information, etc.) of the image. The classification information includes subject information and acquisition status information. The subject information includes a subject name arbitrarily input from the operation unit 20, information that can be acquired using various types of image analysis, for example, position information of a focused subject in an image, a subject size, and the like. The acquisition status information includes shooting location information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 19 when a shooting instruction is input to the operation unit 20, date and time information output by the RTC 18 when a shooting instruction is input to the operation unit 20, and a shooting instruction. The shooting conditions set in the imaging unit 15 at the time of input, such as the focal length, aperture value, zoom ratio, the shooting direction (shooting direction) acquired by the electronic compass 21 when the shooting instruction is input, and the distance measuring unit 22 measure The subject location information including the subject location (for example, P in FIG. 5) estimated by the CPU 30 based on the distance to the subject, the shooting location information, and the shooting direction. The acquisition status information may be edited by the operation unit 20.

  In short, the acquisition status information is information that cannot be acquired from the content itself, but can include any information related to the status at the time of content acquisition (when an image is taken, when it is audio, when recorded). Information included in the classification information is divided into items according to types and attributes. Specifically, large items of subject information and shooting status information, subject names dependent on the subject information, small items such as focused subject position information, subject size, or shooting conditions dependent on the shooting status information, shooting direction Including small items such as subject distance. If the content is audio, the classification information items may include the name of the sound source, the distance to the sound source, the location where the sound was acquired, and the level of ambient noise.

  Hereinafter, the flow of processing executed in this system will be described. There are three processes for registering an image and its classification name: a new classification name registration process, an image registration process, and an image registration process after searching for registered classification names. It is assumed that the camera 1a can arbitrarily select which of these processes is executed. For example, the CPU 10 displays a menu of three processes on the display unit 13, receives a selection of one desired process from the operation unit 20, and performs a process in which the selection is received.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the new classification name registration process. This process is a detailed description of the processes # 1 and # 2 of FIG. The camera 1a for this process may be the personal computer 3. Programs for causing the camera 1 and the server to perform these processes are stored in respective storage media (the storage unit 12 of the camera 1 and the storage unit 55 of the server 2), and are stored in the respective information processing means (the CPU 30 of the camera 1). The information processing unit 54) of the server 2 reads and executes.

  In S <b> 1, the classification information creation unit 31 of the camera 1 a transmits to the server 2 information requesting the disclosure of the images stored in each of the classification names registered in the database and the directories having the classification names. .

  In S2, the server 2 transmits a list of classification names accumulated in the image DB of the storage unit 55 to the camera 1a. In addition, if requested by the camera 1a, the image sharing server 2 lists images corresponding to a desired category selected from the camera 1a or alternatives thereof (a reduced image or icon obtained by thinning the image may be used). Is transmitted to the camera 1a.

  In S <b> 3, the camera 1 a displays a list of received category names and a list of images stored in a directory having the category names or alternatives thereof on the display unit 13. And the input of the classification name to be registered is accepted via the operation unit 20. The classification name that can be input from the operation unit 20 is arbitrary, but the user can input the classification name that is most suitable for an image that is to be uploaded by referring to the list of classification names and the list of images. However, an image to be uploaded by the camera 1a is selected via the operation unit 20, and classification information corresponding to the image, for example, a subject name (for example, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government), a shooting situation type (for example, a snap or a landscape), Subject type (for example, person, animal, building, or plaza), shooting location (for example, Shinjuku or Akihabara), shooting date and time (for example, 2008/07/30) are presented as default category names on display unit 13, and the default category name May be registered as a new classification name as it is, or a part or all of the contents modified.

  In S4, the camera 1a transmits registration request information including the inputted classification name to be registered to the server 2.

  In S5, the server 2 newly registers the classification name received from the camera 1a in the database. However, if the same classification name as that received already exists in the image DB, registration is not performed and a warning that the classification name already exists is returned to the camera 1a. Thereafter, the received image can be stored in the directory corresponding to the newly registered classification name, but it is also allowed not to upload the image to the directory registered by itself. Note that the category name of the image storage destination directory may be included in the category information of the image. In S6, the server 2 notifies the camera 1a that image registration has been completed. The server 2 stores the total number of registration request information received from each camera 1 in a database in association with the identification information of the camera 1, and when the total reaches a predetermined threshold (for example, 30), Thereafter, even if registration request information is received from the camera 1 having the identification information, it may be ignored and a warning that the registration number has reached the specified number may be returned to the camera 1. This is to prevent a specific user from registering an unlimited number of classification names.

  Next, a process when registration of an image is requested in a directory not registered or registered in the database of the server 2 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the image registration process. This process corresponds to # 3, # 4, # 6, and # 7 in FIG. Programs for causing the camera 1 (or the personal computer 3) and the server 2 to perform these processes are stored in the respective storage media (the storage unit 12 of the camera 1 and the storage unit 55 of the server 2). The means (the CPU 30 of the camera 1 and the information processing unit 54 of the server 2) read and execute.

  In S11 to 12, the camera 1a accepts designation of a desired image via the operation unit 20, accepts designation of a category name of a directory in which the image is to be registered, and receives the designated image and category name as a server. 2 to send.

  In S13, the server 2 determines whether or not the category name received from the camera 1a matches any of the category names stored in the database. If they match, the received category name is not newly registered in the database, and the received image is stored in the directory corresponding to the matching category name. In addition, directory information including the category name of the image storage destination directory is included in the category information of the image. For example, “Shinjuku”-“Snap”-“People” is recorded in the “Directory Information” item of the classification information corresponding to the images stored in the “Shinjuku”-“Snap”-“People” directory of FIG. To do. Alternatively, the server 1 may notify the camera 1a that there is already a classification.

  If they do not match, the process proceeds to S14, and the received classification name is newly registered in the database. This is the same as S5 described above. Subsequently, in S15, the received image is stored in the directory corresponding to the newly registered classification name.

  Regardless of whether or not the classification names match, when storing an image, the file name of the received image is determined according to the naming convention of the registered reference information, and the determined image file name is newly assigned to the received image. And store it in the directory. The camera 1a gives the determined file name as a new file name for publication to the selected image. This is because if the file name of the received image file remains the same, there is a possibility that a conflict with an image file name that already exists in the storage destination directory may occur.

  The naming convention of the file name is arbitrary. For example, the identification information of the camera 1a stored in the storage unit 12 is combined with information such as unique numbers that do not overlap (such as the order in which the server 2 has accepted uploading of images and the date and time thereof), characters, and the like. Name. The file name naming rule is described in a format that can be interpreted by the CPU of the server 2 and its operating system.

  Then, the server 2 notifies the camera 1a that image registration has been completed. The server 2 registers registration reference information such as a classification naming rule, an image storage period, a storage data capacity allocated for each user (or camera 1a identification information), and a file name of an image file determined in accordance with the naming rule. May be transmitted to the camera 1a.

  In S16, the server 2 transmits to the camera 1a directory information regarding the directory in which the image received from the camera 1a and the classification information are stored. The registration request may also be notified as to whether the classification name is an existing one. In this way, a storage location suitable for the image taken by the user is found and presented to the user to prompt the user to store the image, and the classification name increases randomly, so that the image can be shared with other users. You can prevent it from becoming difficult.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an image registration process after searching for registered classification names. Programs for causing the camera 1 (or the personal computer 3) and the server 2 to perform these processes are stored in the respective storage media (the storage unit 12 of the camera 1 and the storage unit 55 of the server 2). The means (the CPU 30 of the camera 1 and the information processing unit 54 of the server 2) read and execute.

  In S <b> 21, the CPU 30 of the camera 1 a (or the personal computer 3 is acceptable, the same applies hereinafter) accepts selection of a desired image to be registered via the operation unit 20. Next, the input of the classification information of the selected image is received from the operation unit 20, the position information acquisition unit 19, the RTC 18, or the like, or the CPU 30 itself creates according to a predetermined program (particularly a program related to image analysis). The server 2 itself may generate the classification information by analyzing the image received from the camera 1, and even if the classification information is not attached to the image received from the camera 1, the server 2 creates the classification information later. It can be attached, and the camera 1 does not necessarily need to create all items of classification information.

  The classification information M1 shown in FIG. 9 is related to the image I1, and includes “search keyword”, “subject name”, and “shooting location (GPS)”. The other classification information may include items such as “subject location”, “shooting date / time”, and “shooting condition”. The keyword for searching the image input from the operation unit 20 is “search keyword”, the text information indicating the subject name input from the operation unit 20 is “subject name”, and the position information acquisition unit 19 acquires it at the time of shooting. The position information is classified as “shooting location”, the date / time information output by the RTC 18 during shooting, “shooting date / time”, and the shooting conditions set during shooting by the CPU 30 as “shooting conditions”. Is classified information attached to the selected image, and the image and the classification information are transmitted to the server 2 via the communication I / F 11. However, if these pieces of information are already recorded as part of the image file as part of the image file, the supplementary information may be used as it is for the classification information. Alternatively, desired information transmitted from the personal computer 3 to the camera 1a, for example, a subject name, a photographer name, and the like may be used for classification information. The classification information is limited to information that has been acquired and recorded in the camera 1a. There is no need.

  Alternatively, the CPU 30 accepts designation of the main subject in the image received by the CPU 30 via a known graphical user interface in which display contents of the display unit 13 such as cursor movement, frame setting, touch operation, and the input instruction to the operation unit 20 are linked. The coordinate information of the existing area can also be included in the classification information.

  Alternatively, the whole or part of the object detected by the CPU 30 using a known person detection technique such as detection of a skin color area or edge detection when an image is captured is within a known focus evaluation value calculation area (typically near the center of the image). If the in-focus evaluation value is maximal, that is, in-focus, at the time of image capture, the coordinate information in which the person subject in the in-focus evaluation value calculation area exists can be included in the classification information.

  Alternatively, the coordinate information of the existence area of an object other than a person detected by a known object detection technique such as pattern matching when the CPU 30 captures an image can be included in the classification information.

  Alternatively, the CPU 30 accepts selection of object priority or person priority from the operation unit 20 as a subject type in advance prior to image shooting, and if the selected type of subject is detected by the person detection or object detection, the selection is made. The coordinate information of only the types of subjects can be included in the subject information.

  Alternatively, the camera 1b requests the camera 1c to disclose the classification information and image set by the camera 1c, and selects from the classification information corresponding to the image received from the camera 1c via the operation unit 20 accordingly. The desired classification information itself or information obtained by partially modifying it can be included in the classification information.

  The method of associating the image with the classification information is arbitrary, and each may be a separate data entity, or the classification information may be stored as meta information, header information, or tag information of the image file.

  In FIG. 10, the classification information M2 is associated with the image I2 taken by the camera 1c, and the camera 1b can request the disclosure of the classification information M2 and receive it from the camera 1c.

  Referring to FIG. 8 again, in S22, the camera 1a transmits the selected image and the classification information to the server 2, and requests the search for the optimum classification name based on the classification information.

  In S23, when the server 2 receives the image and the classification information from the camera 1a, the classification information and the classification information attached to the image (one or more) registered in the image DB are collated for each identical item, and the match Determine the degree. For example, for any image in a directory, whether the search keyword matches the classification name, whether the subject name matches, whether the shooting location matches, whether the subject location matches, It is determined whether or not the conditions match, and whether the shooting year, month, date, or time matches. In addition, in addition to being completely matched, “matched” means that even if not completely matched, the result is within a predetermined error range (for example, the degree of matching between individual characters constituting the character string is 95% or more). Yes, including substantially matching.

  Here, for any image stored in a certain directory, if the search keyword matches the classification name, the subject name matches, the subject location matches, or the shooting location matches, the classification Directory information of an image storage directory corresponding to classification information including a name, a subject name, or a shooting location is determined as storage destination candidate information. If there is no classification information matching the received classification information in the image DB, there is no storage destination candidate information. Alternatively, if the database has one or more classification information that matches the received classification information, one or more storage destination candidate information is determined accordingly. It is arbitrary what kind of conditional expression the server 2 searches for storage destination candidate information, and an arbitrary conditional expression consisting of logical sum or logical product of arbitrary items included in the classification information is set from the operation unit 20 of the camera 1a. Then, the server 2 may use the directory information corresponding to the classification information in the database that matches the classification information of the camera 1a according to this conditional expression as the storage destination candidate information. When there are a plurality of items for which matching is determined, the storage destination candidate information is determined depending on the size of the matching items. If the ratio of items with matching classification information exceeds a certain threshold, a directory storing an image having the classification information becomes storage destination candidate information.

  In S24, the storage destination candidate information determined by the server 2 is transmitted to the camera 1a. Further, the server 2 may send an image stored in a directory corresponding to the storage destination candidate information or an alternative thereof in response to a request from the camera 1a. If there is no storage destination candidate information, the server 2 transmits a message prompting the registration processing of the new classification name in FIG. 6 to the camera 1a or immediately starts the processing in FIG. A directory for storing freely named classification names may be created except for prohibition of duplication with names, and images and classification information may be stored there.

  In S <b> 25, when the camera 1 a receives the storage destination candidate information from the server 2, the directory classification name indicated therein is displayed on the display unit 13. When an image stored in the directory is received, the received image is displayed in association with the classification name for each storage destination directory. When there are a plurality of pieces of storage destination candidate information, they are displayed in a predetermined order. For example, display is performed preferentially in descending order of matching with the search keyword. Displayed preferentially from those corresponding to directories with a small number of stored images (low usage record) or many (high use record). Alternatively, a directory is created or displayed with priority from the newest date and time when an image is stored in the directory. Alternatively, the subject name or subject location sent from the camera 1a is preferentially displayed from the one corresponding to the directory storing more images having subject names or subject locations.

  Then, the camera 1a receives from the operation unit 20 a selection of a desired directory in which to store the sent image and its classification information from the received storage destination candidate information. When the selection is accepted, the directory is determined as the storage destination directory, and the camera 1 a transmits information indicating the storage destination directory to the server 2. Upon receiving the information indicating the storage destination directory, the server 2 stores and registers the image and classification information received in S12 in the storage destination directory.

  After the completion of this process, when the server 2 receives another image from the camera 1a, all the images are stored in the storage destination directory determined in S25. In this way, it is not necessary to determine a directory every time an image is sent. However, if there is a request for searching for a new classification name from the camera 1a, naturally a new storage location is determined accordingly.

  The camera 1c may perform this process instead of the server 2. That is, in response to a request from the camera 1a, the camera 1c collates the classification information sent from the camera 1a with the classification information registered in the server 2 by the camera 1c, so that they match or are similar to each other. An image from the camera 1c stored in the directory having the registered classification name by the camera 1c and the registered classification name may be provided. This is particularly convenient when the user of the camera 1a and the camera 1c are friends and share images taken with each other, when storing similar images in a directory with a shared category name. Easily unify image upload destinations. However, since the camera 1c is disclosed to the camera 1a, the image stored in the directory having the registered category name and the registered category name is stored in the storage unit 12 of the camera 1c or another connected to the camera 1c. It is necessary to save it in an electronic device such as a personal computer.

  Also, an image with no classification information can be stored in a directory having a desired classification name.

  For example, similarly to S1 and S2, when the server 2 publishes a list of category names and a list of images to the camera 1a, and the camera 1a selects a desired category name, the category name selected by the server 2 is changed. The desired image sent by the camera 1a is stored in the directory having the same. If the camera 1a does not select a desired category name from the list of category names and selects new registration, the server 2 creates a new category name directory as in S4 and receives it from the camera 1a in that directory. The desired image is stored.

 The server 2 authenticates an image browsing or download request from an external device (camera 1, personal computer 3, PDA, mobile phone, etc.) according to user identification information. A device that has been authenticated by the server 2 can view and download images stored in each directory of the image DB. Here, in order to search for an image to be used, the device designates a desired category name as a search keyword, and acquires directory information of a directory having a category name that matches the search keyword from the server 2. In the directory corresponding to each classification name, images with the same or similar classification information, that is, similar subjects, similar locations, images taken under similar shooting conditions are stored together. The user of the terminal can easily find the image he wants to use by relying on the classification name. Further, the server 2 accepts a new image search keyword designation for a desired directory designated by the device, extracts an image corresponding to classification information matching or similar to the image search keyword from the image DB, and transmits it to the device. By doing so, it is possible to find an image that the user wants to find from a desired directory.

Schematic configuration diagram of content sharing system Server block diagram A diagram that conceptually illustrates the structure of a directory Camera block diagram The figure which shows an example of the location of the subject estimated based on the distance to the subject, shooting location information, and shooting direction New classification name registration process flowchart Flow chart of image registration processing Flow chart of image registration process after searching for registered classification names The figure which shows an example of classification information and an image The figure which shows another example of classification information and an image

Explanation of symbols

1: Camera, 2: Server, 3: PC

Claims (13)

A storage unit capable of storing content and classification information corresponding to the content in a directory with a classification name;
A receiving unit for receiving classification information corresponding to desired content from a desired terminal;
Storage destination candidate determination that compares the classification information received from the terminal with the classification information in the storage unit, and determines a storage destination candidate that is a directory that is a storage destination of content from the terminal according to the comparison result And
A transmission unit for transmitting the storage destination candidate classification name determined by the storage destination candidate determination unit to the terminal;
A content management device.   2. The content according to claim 1, wherein, in response to a request from the terminal, the transmission unit transmits, to the terminal, a classification name given to each directory of the storage unit and information indicating the content stored in the directory. Management device.   The content management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a creation unit that creates a directory with a new classification name in the storage unit in response to a request from the terminal.   The storage control part which stores the desired content transmitted from the said terminal in the desired directory of the said memory | storage part designated from the said terminal according to the request | requirement from the said terminal. Content management device.   The content management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the classification information includes a classification name of a directory in which the content is stored. A search keyword setting unit for receiving a search keyword setting from the terminal;
The storage destination candidate determination unit compares the search keyword and the classification name of the storage unit, and determines a storage destination candidate that is a directory that is a storage destination of content from the terminal according to the comparison result. The content management apparatus according to claim 5.   The classification information includes at least one of a position at which the terminal has acquired content, an acquisition date and time of the content, information on a subject of an image included in the content, and shooting conditions of the image. A content management apparatus according to claim 1.   The content management apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information about the subject of the image includes at least one of a subject name, a subject location, and a subject size. The content management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A terminal having a classification information creation unit for creating classification information associated with desired content;
Content management system including The terminals include different first terminals and second terminals,
In response to a request from the second terminal, the first terminal transmits the content registered by the first terminal to the content management apparatus and classification information corresponding to the content to the second terminal,
The content management system according to claim 9, wherein the second terminal receives the content and classification information corresponding to the content from the first terminal.   The content management system according to claim 10, wherein the classification information creating unit of the second terminal creates classification information corresponding to desired content based on all or part of the classification information received from the first terminal. . Computer
Storing the content and the classification information corresponding to the content in the storage unit with the classification name assigned to the directory;
Receiving classification information corresponding to desired content from a desired terminal;
Comparing the classification information received from the terminal with the classification information of the storage unit, and determining a storage destination candidate that is a directory for storing content from the terminal according to the comparison result;
Transmitting the determined storage destination candidate classification name to the terminal;
Content management method.   A content management program for causing a computer to execute the content management method according to claim 12.

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