JP2012129745A - Image processing device, image processing method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide means for shortening upload time when uploading photo data groups constituting an album to a print site. SOLUTION: Uploading photo data groups constituting an album from a client device to a print site via a network The recommended data size calculation means for calculating the recommended data size for upload in the photo upload device, the photo priority determination means for determining the priority order of each photo to be uploaded, and the photo data for converting the format or resolution of the photo data The image data is converted and uploaded from a lower priority photo so that the total upload size is equal to or less than the recommended data size.
[Selection] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer program for transmitting data such as photo data to a server such as a print site.

  Due to user demands for high image quality, the number of pixels in digital camera photos is increasing. Along with this, the data size of photo data tends to increase. This is also affected by JPEG compression format data (JPEG data), which is standard photo output data of a digital camera. Taking an example of the photo resolution and JPEG data size of a digital camera, what was about 2 Mbytes at 4.5 million pixels is about 6 Mbytes at about 17.9 million pixels, an increase of about 3 times. Furthermore, in a higher-order model of a digital camera, RAW data can be selected as photo output data in addition to JPEG data as a still image file format. RAW data is photographic data obtained by outputting data output from the image sensor as it is, and includes color and gradation information such as 12 to 16 bits for each color. Therefore, it is more resistant to reproducibility and readjustment than JPEG data compressed and recorded in 8 bits for each color. However, since the amount of information increases, the data size becomes larger than JPEG data. In the case of the digital camera file in the above example, the file size is about 24 Mbytes, which is about 12 times larger than 4.5 million pixel JPEG.

  Also, the album (photo album) data is created by the application on the user's personal computer, and the data is uploaded to the site (print site) that provides the print service via the network, and the album printing is ordered. System exists. The album is composed of tens to hundreds of pages, and each page includes a plurality of photos. Therefore, the total photo data size constituting the album becomes larger than one photo. As an example of the total photo data size of the album, the photo data size of the entire album composed of 75 photos is given. When it is composed of a photograph group of 4.5 million pixels, it is about 450 MB when it is composed of a photograph group of 17.9 million pixels. Furthermore, when it is composed of a group of RAW data photographs, it is 1800 Mbytes.

  In recent years, high-speed communication technology such as ADSL has been developed. In ADSL, the upload (upstream) data transfer amount is slower than that of download (downstream). As an example of the ADSL data transfer amount, the maximum downlink is 47 MBPS and the maximum uplink is 5 MBPS. In this example, uploading an album photo group with 4.5 million pixels takes about 4 minutes or more, but in the case of a photo group with 17.9 million pixels, it takes about 12 minutes or more. Furthermore, in the case of a RAW data photograph group, it takes about 48 minutes or more. Since this time is an example in which only the communication speed is taken into consideration, there is a possibility that it will be further delayed in consideration of the processing time of the server at the print site.

  As a method for shortening the photo uploading time, there is a method for compressing and reducing the data size of the uploaded photo. In Patent Document 1, if a plurality of images to be uploaded are subjected to compression processing, and the data size of the plurality of images after compression exceeds a predetermined data size, it is based on the priority given to the plurality of images. A method of changing the compression rate for each image is disclosed.

JP 2009-81481 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, compression is performed based on the attributes in the album for each photo, such as the RAW data format photo format that reflects the user's demand for high image quality, and the role of the photos constituting the album (for example, the cover). Priorities could not be set. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to set a compression priority based on these attributes for each photo, compress a photo group according to the priority, and upload the photo group.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that is connected to a transmission destination server via a network and transmits a plurality of image data corresponding to a photo album to the transmission destination server, and each of the plurality of image data On the other hand, priority order setting means for setting a priority order in which color reproducibility of the image data is prioritized based on attribute information in the photo album of each image data, and a first included in the plurality of image data The second image data having a lower priority than the priority of the first image data set by the priority setting means is converted to a data size smaller than that of the second image data. Conversion means for converting into converted image data; and transmission means for transmitting the first image data and the converted image data to the destination server. Characterized in that it.

  According to the present invention, the priority order in which the color reproducibility of the image data is prioritized is set based on the attribute information in the photo album of the image data, and the image data is converted and transmitted according to this priority order. Thereby, in the conversion of the image data, the data size of the image data to be transmitted to the server can be reduced while considering the attribute of the image data in the photo album.

The figure which shows the structure of the album creation system as one form of a present Example. The block diagram of the hardware constitutions of the client apparatus as one form of a present Example. It is a block diagram of a function structure of an album editing apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the rough flow in an album editing apparatus. It is an example of the user interface in each process of album editing. It is an example of the photograph group which comprises an album. It is an example of the attribute information of the photograph of upload object. It is an example of the priority with respect to the value of a photograph attribute, and the weighting information with respect to an attribute. It is a flowchart of an upload process. It is an example of the user interface of an upload progress summary. It is an example of the user interface of upload system selection. It is an example of the user interface of the details of upload. It is a flowchart of the calculation of the priority order of the photograph of upload object. It is a flowchart of a file format priority upload. It is a flowchart of time priority upload. It is a flowchart of the format conversion process of a photograph file.

(Example)
The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration diagram of album creation system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an album creating system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of the album creation system will be described with reference to FIG. An image input apparatus 101 is an image input apparatus that converts an optical image, which is image information, into an electrical signal, performs predetermined image processing, and records and reproduces the digital information. For example, the image input device 101 is a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or a scanner. Reference numeral 102 denotes a client device having a personal computer operated by the user, and includes applications such as an album editing device 108 and a Web browser 109. Reference numeral 103 denotes a print site (destination server) that is connected to the client apparatus 102 via the network 106. A user can place a print order for album data created using the album editing device 108 on the client device 102 by using the Web browser 109. Reference numeral 104 denotes an output device that actually prints album data sent to the print site 103 and creates an album 111. Reference numeral 105 denotes a photo site, which stores and manages multimedia information such as various Web page information, images, and sounds in a photo database (image DB) 110. Reference numeral 106 denotes a network such as the Internet, to which the client apparatus 102, the print site 103, and the photo site 105 are connected, and various types of data are transmitted and received. Reference numeral 107 denotes a local communication medium, which is a communication medium for transferring photo data acquired by the image input apparatus 101 to the client apparatus 102. Examples of the local communication medium 107 include a wired communication medium typified by USB (Universal Serial Bus) and IEEE 1394, and a wireless communication medium typified by Bluetooth. Photo data transferred from the image input device 101 to the client device 102 via the local communication medium 107 is stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) in the client device 102. Reference numeral 108 denotes an album editing apparatus that operates on the client apparatus 102. The album editing device 108 can edit an album composed of a plurality of pages on which photo data and comments can be arranged. Reference numeral 109 denotes a Web browser that operates on the client apparatus 102. A user can use the web browser 109 to access the photo site 105 via the network 106 and download template data and photo data used when creating an album using the album editing device 108. An image DB 110 on the photo site 105 stores electronic album template data and photo data downloaded by the Web browser 109. Reference numeral 111 denotes an album created by the output device 104, which is the final product of this system.

  There are roughly two types of photo data used for editing in the album editing apparatus 108. The first is an image (photograph data) registered in a storage medium such as an HDD on the client device 102. Some of the photo data stored in the HDD is acquired from the image input device 101 and transferred to the client device 102 via the local communication medium 107. The other is an image (photo data) stored in the image DB 110 of the photo site 105. Photo data stored in the image DB 110 includes data uploaded from the client apparatus 102 to the photo site 105 via the network 106. When editing the album, they are downloaded as appropriate from the photo site 105 to the client device 102 via the network 106.

  The client device 102 can request the print site 103 via the photo site 105 to order a print of the edited album, in addition to the method of directly ordering photo data prints from the print site 103 described above. The print site 103 executes print processing for an album print order using the output device 104 and outputs the album 111.

<Hardware configuration of client device>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the client apparatus 102.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a display device (CRT) whose display screen displays, for example, a document being edited, a figure, an image, other editing information, a window, an icon, a message, a menu, and other user interface information. Is done. Reference numeral 202 denotes a VRAM, and an image to be displayed on the display device 201 is drawn on the VRAM. The photographic data generated in the VRAM 202 is transferred to the display device 201 according to a predetermined rule, whereby an image is displayed on the display device 201. Reference numeral 203 denotes an external media drive for performing a recording / reproducing operation with respect to a storage medium represented by a CD or a DVD. It is responsible for control when various control programs and data including applications are exchanged between the client apparatus 102 and the storage medium. A keyboard 204 has various keys for inputting characters and performing various operations. Reference numeral 205 denotes a pointing device. For example, it is used to instruct and operate icons, menus, and other objects displayed on the display screen of the display device 201. A CPU 206 controls each device connected to the CPU 206 based on a control program including applications stored in the ROM 207, the storage device (HDD) 209, and the external media drive 203. A ROM 207 holds various control programs and data. A RAM 208 has a work area for the CPU 206, a data save area for error processing, a control program load area, and the like. Reference numeral 209 denotes a storage device such as an HDD, which stores various control programs and various data including an operation system (OS) and applications. The OS is realized by the CPU 206 loading an OS program stored in the HDD 209 into the RAM 208, developing and executing the program. In addition, the API function can be used by the OS thus realized. A local communication interface (local communication I / F) 210 is responsible for control when data is transferred from an external device such as the image input apparatus 101 via the local communication medium 107. Reference numeral 211 denotes a network interface (Net-I / F) for communicating with other information processing apparatuses and printers via the network 213. A CPU bus 212 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. The control program can be provided to the CPU 206 from the ROM 207, the storage device 209, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (not shown), and the external media drive 203. Further, it can be performed from another information processing apparatus or the like via the network 213.

  The album editing apparatus 108 according to the present exemplary embodiment is realized as an application on the client apparatus 102, and is realized by the CPU 206 executing a program (album editing program) stored in the HDD 209. Further, when the CPU 206 executes this program, the album editing apparatus 108 having the functional configuration shown in FIG. 3 and executing the processing flow shown in FIG. 4 is realized. In response to the user's operation of the pointing device 205 and the keyboard 204, the CPU 206 maps the execution program of the album editing apparatus 108 to the RAM 208 and executes it using the CPU 206. The album editing apparatus 108 displays a user interface on the VRAM 202 by calling an API function provided by the OS. In response to the user operation of the pointing device 205 or the keyboard 204 for the user interface, the OS transmits an event to the album editing apparatus 108, and the album editing apparatus 108 interprets the event and executes a corresponding process.

<Block diagram of album editing device>
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a functional configuration of the album editing apparatus 108 in the present embodiment. This functional configuration is realized by the CPU 206 executing an album editing program stored in the HDD 209 of the client apparatus 102.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a data control unit for managing and controlling photo data and drawing data for creating the album 111 as a final product. The data control unit 301 manages candidate images 3011, album configuration data 3012, cover content data 3013, and internal page content data 3014.

  A GUI control unit 302 controls the GUI for creating an album and provides a user with an operation unit and a display unit for editing contents.

  A design control unit 303 manages and controls design information (such as a layout file) used for the album. The design control unit 303 manages layout information 3031 and an image allocation table 3032.

  A communication control unit 304 creates print data necessary for a print order based on the created album information, and communicates and manages the print data and information necessary for order processing. The communication control unit 304 manages product configuration data 3041 and upload target photo information 3042.

  A candidate image 3011 is a group of images that are candidates for storage in an album selected by the user in the image selection process at the time of creating an album among images acquired from the HDD 209 or the image DB 110. The data control unit 301 creates an album by allocating the selected image to each page of the album in the editing & preview process when creating the album.

  The album configuration data 3012 is information that holds basic configuration information of the album being created. The album composition data 3012 holds album product settings, the number of constituent pages, a link to the cover content data 3013, and a link to the internal page content data 3014.

  The cover content data 3013 holds the photo data allocated to the album cover, back cover, and back cover managed by the data control unit 301, the drawing position, the album title, and data related to additional drawing on the mount. .

  The internal page content data 3014 holds photo data allocated to pages constituting the interior other than the album cover and back cover, its drawing position, comments on the photo, and data related to additional drawing on the mount portion.

  Album configuration data 3012, cover content data 3013, and internal page content data 3014, which are information on the album being created, are generated by the data control unit 301 in the editing and previewing process at the time of album creation.

  The layout information 3031 is a layout file managed by the design control unit 303, and information for determining the arrangement of images and character strings in each page spread is recorded. The image allocation table 3032 is a photo data allocation table managed by the design control unit 303, and stores an information table related to the number of photo data allocated to each page.

  The product configuration data 3041 is information regarding product configuration options that can be ordered to the print site 103. The merchandise composition data 3041 holds a booklet size such as A4, the number of configurable pages, and thickness information of album constituent sheets for each merchandise composition option. For each product configuration option that can be ordered at the print site 103, the information is stored. The communication control unit 304 updates the product configuration data 3041 to the latest state by appropriately communicating with the print site 103.

  The upload target photo information 3042 holds priority order information for each photo to be uploaded to the print site 103 among the photo data constituting the album. Further, in the upload target photo information 3042, in order to determine the priority for each photo that needs to be uploaded, the attribute information 700 of the photo to be uploaded constituting the album of FIG. 7 and the priority for each attribute of the photo of FIG. It also holds information about the degree and its weight. Furthermore, the priority order of the upload target photos generated from the information is held.

<Processing summary of album editing device>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a rough flow in the album editing apparatus 108 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a user interface diagram of the album editing apparatus 108 according to the present embodiment. The processing flow shown in FIG. 4 and the user interface shown in FIG. 5 are realized by the CPU 206 executing an album editing program stored in the HDD 209 of the client apparatus 102. An outline of the operation of the album editing apparatus 108 will be described while explaining operations on the user interface (UI).

  Step S401 is a product selection process. The album editing apparatus 108 uses the communication control unit 304 to acquire, from the print site 103, product configuration data 3041, which is information related to a product configuration that can be ordered from the print site 103. The album editing apparatus 108 configures a product selection UI 500 representing product options shown in FIG. 5A from the product configuration data 3041 and displays the UI on the CRT 201 using the GUI control unit 302. Unless otherwise specified below, the GUI control unit 302 responds and processes all UI operations to the product selection UI 500. In the present embodiment, the product selection UI 500 includes 501 and 502 as product options. By exclusive selection of the radio buttons 5011 and 5012 of the respective options, it is determined whether the product created by the album editing apparatus 108 is a free layout album or a simple album.

  The product 501 is a free layout album in which the number of pages constituting the album and the position of the photo in the page can be freely edited. The product 502 is a product whose number of pages constituting the album is limited to 12, 20, and 24 pages, and is a simple album that determines the position of a photo in the page by automatic layout. Soft covers and hard covers can be selected exclusively with radio buttons 50111/50121 and 50112/50122 as the covers of the products 501 and 502.

  After the selection on the product selection UI 500 described above, a product to be created by the album editing apparatus 108 is determined by pressing a forward button 503. Upon receiving this product determination, the GUI control unit 302 notifies the data control unit 301 of the material settings of the selected album. The data control unit 301 stores album material settings in the album configuration data 3012 as settings for the album to be created. After storing the product setting, the album editing apparatus 108 proceeds to the next step S402.

  Step S402 is an image data selection step. Using the GUI control unit 302, the album editing apparatus 108 displays on the CRT 201 an image selection UI 510 for selecting image candidates to be arranged in the album shown in FIG. Unless otherwise specified below, the GUI control unit 302 responds and processes all UI operations to the image selection UI 510. The image selection UI 510 has a folder selection area 511 for selecting an image acquisition destination. Further, folder icons of the desktop 5111 and the photo site 5112 are displayed in the folder selection area 511. A desktop 5111 is an icon representing image acquisition from the desktop folder of the HDD 209 of the client apparatus 102. When the desktop 5111 is clicked, it is in a selected state. If an image file is stored in the selected folder, a thumbnail group of images is displayed in the in-folder image area 512. The photo site 5112 is an icon representing image acquisition from the image DB 110 of the photo site 105 via the network 106. Regarding the click operation, the UI behavior is the same as that of the icon of the desktop 5111. The difference from the desktop folder is that an image displayed in the image area 512 in the folder is acquired from the photo site 105 by the communication control unit 304 via the network I / F 211 and displayed. After selecting an image in the image area 512 in the folder, the thumbnail of the selected image is copied to the selection screen area 514 in response to pressing of an add button 513. Those copied images become candidate images to be arranged in the album. A button 516 that advances when there is a candidate image in the selection screen area 514 is enabled. In response to pressing of this forward button 516, the album editing apparatus 108 uses the data control unit 301 to store the photo data of the candidate image in the selection screen area 514 in the candidate image 3011. After the candidate image 3011 is stored, the album editing apparatus 108 advances the processing to the next step S403.

  Step S403 is an editing & preview process. Using the GUI control unit 302, the album editing apparatus 108 displays an editing & preview UI 520, which is a UI for editing and previewing the album shown in FIG. Unless otherwise specified below, the GUI control unit 302 responds and processes all UI operations on the edit & preview UI 520.

  The edit & preview UI 520 is mainly composed of four areas. The first area is an operation button area 521 on which various operation buttons necessary for creating an album are arranged. A second area is a spread page editing area 522, and the editing target page is previewed in a state of a spread page of the album. A third area is a candidate image tray 523, which displays thumbnails of images selected in the image data selection process in step S402. These thumbnails are generated from an image group of candidate images 3011 managed by the data control unit 301. The last four eye areas are an entire album preview 524, and a spread page format preview is displayed for all pages constituting the entire album. The preview displayed here is generated based on the information of album configuration data 3012, cover content data 3013, and internal page content data 3014 managed by the data control unit 301. In the entire album preview 524, one of the spread page previews is always selected. The selection target can be changed to another spread preview by a selection operation for the previews using the keyboard 204 or the pointing device 205. When the preview of the selection target in the preview of the entire album preview 524 is changed, the preview displayed in the spread page editing area 522 is also changed in conjunction with the editing target preview of the entire album preview 524. FIG. 5C shows a state in which an album cover and a back cover preview 5241 are selected. A front and back cover preview 5221 is displayed in the spread page editing area 522. The text areas 5222 and 5223 are selected by receiving a click with the pointing device 205 and accept character input from the keyboard 204. The input character information is stored and managed by the data control unit 301 as cover content data 3013. Further, a cover image area 5224 is displayed on the cover preview. After selecting an image on the candidate image tray 523 with the pointing device 205, an operation dragged and dropped on the cover image area 5224 is received, and the selected image is assigned to that area. The assigned image is transmitted to the data control unit 301, and stored and managed as cover content data 3013. Similarly, when a page other than the front cover and the back cover is displayed in the spread page editing area 522, the text area and the image area can be edited using the keyboard 204 and the pointing device 205. In that case, the edited content is stored in the internal page content data 3014.

  In the operation button area 521, a layout change button 5211 and a page add / delete button 5212 are arranged. When the layout change button 5211 is pressed, a dialog 530 capable of changing the arrangement position of the text area and the image area in FIG. 5D is displayed for the editing target page displayed in the spread page editing area 522. The dialog 530 displays selectable layout configurations 5301 calculated by the design control unit 303 based on the layout information 3031 and the information in the image allocation table 3032. In response to the selection in the layout configuration 5301, the design control unit 303 changes the arrangement position of the text or photo on the editing target page displayed in the spread page editing area 522. The result of changing the layout of the editing target page is stored by the data control unit 301 in the cover content data 3013 or the internal page content data 3014. In response to the saving, the GUI control unit 302 changes the preview of the spread page editing area 522 and the entire album preview 524.

  When the advance button 525 is pressed, the album editing apparatus 108 uses the data control unit 301 to perform verification and shaping processing of the album data (3012 to 3014) created in S403 as a product. If there is no problem in the verification and shaping process, the album editing apparatus 108 advances the process to S404. If there is a problem in the verification and shaping process, a warning message is issued to the user to prompt the user to re-edit the album in S403.

  Step S404 is an upload process. The album editing apparatus 108 uploads information to the print site 103 based on the album data (3012 to 3014) created in step S403 using the communication control unit 304. This embodiment relates to uploading of photo data among album data constituting this album. Detailed processing will be described later as an embodiment. After the upload is completed, the print site 103 returns an ID associated with the upload.

  Step S405 is an album order process. The album editing apparatus 108 requests the WEB browser 109 to display the order page of the print site 103 using the ID returned from the print site 103 in step S404. Using the order page displayed on the WEB browser, an album settlement method and a destination are designated. Since these processes are the same as those of the WEB-based album ordering site, description thereof is omitted.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, a description will be given of the attributes and values of the photos used for determining the priority order of the photos constituting the album, and the priorities related to the attribute values.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the album created in the edit & preview step S403 for the purpose of explaining the present embodiment. In the album shown in this example, a photo 601 is arranged on the cover with a layout size “large”. Also, a photo 602 with a layout size “medium” is arranged on page 1, and a photo 603 with a layout size “large” is arranged on page 2. Furthermore, a photo 604 having a layout size “double spread” is arranged across page 3 to page 4. On the back cover, a photo 605 having a layout size “small” is arranged. When FIG. 6 is a general album, another photo continues from page 5 to the page before the back cover.

  FIG. 7 shows attribute information 700 in a photo album of photographs that constitute the example of the album of FIG. FIG. 8 shows an example of a priority table 800 to 803 for each possible value for each attribute of the photograph and a table 804 of weighting information for each attribute.

  Information on the photograph 601 is stored in a column 701. Hereinafter, the correspondence relationship is a photo 602-row 702, a photo 603-row 703, a photo 604-row 704, and a photo 605-row 705. The photo ID is an ID for identifying an individual photo. Each column 701 to 705 stores a value for an attribute such as “role of photo”, “layout size”, “photo format”, “part”, and “favorite” along with the photo ID. .

  The “role of photo” attribute (role attribute) indicates the role of a cover in a photo album or a photo of a normal page. In this example, the photo 601 is arranged on the cover of the album, and the photo 605 is arranged as a photo on the back cover. Columns 701 and 705 have attribute values “front cover” and “back cover”, respectively. Since the photos 602 to 604 are arranged as photos of pages in the album, they have an attribute value of “normal photo”. Compared to the photos on the pages of the album, the front cover and back cover are photos that are prominently placed. Therefore, the photos on the front and back covers are high priority photos because they want to maintain high color reproducibility. Table 800 in FIG. 8 set based on this idea shows priority values for the attribute values of “photo role”. The higher the priority value, the higher the priority. In this example, the priority of the cover attribute value is set highest. In addition to the roles such as the cover and the main page, when the album is composed of a plurality of chapters, a role related to the page configuration such as “chapter representative” may be set in the first photo at the chapter break. Further, when a plurality of photos are laid out and arranged in one page, a role such as “main role” may be set for the photos arranged in a conspicuous position in the layout of the page.

  The “layout size” attribute (layout size attribute) indicates the size of the area occupied by the photo layout on the album page. In this example, the size that can be placed on one page of the album is “large”, the size that can be placed on two is “medium”, and the size that can be placed on three or more is “small”. Further, a thing extending over two pages, such as a photograph 604, is expressed as “two-page spread”. The larger the area of the photos placed on the album pages, the more prominent it is, so I think that it is a high priority photo that maintains high color reproducibility. Table 801 in FIG. 8 set based on this idea shows priority values for the layout size. The larger the number, the higher the priority, and “spread” is the highest priority for the photo.

  The “photo format” attribute (format attribute) is a type of format in which individual photographs such as JPEG and RAW are recorded. In RAW, after shooting with a digital camera, information indicating whether or not color adjustment has been performed by an application for various color adjustments is added. The attribute value of the color adjusted by the application by the user is RAW (color adjustment: set) as shown in a column 701. The attribute value of the color that has not been color-adjusted after being photographed by the digital camera is RAW (color adjustment: standard) as shown in a column 705. Generally, RAW has higher color reproducibility than JPEG. Therefore, it is determined that the RAW is an image having a high priority. The user also considers applying color adjustments in the application to reflect their color preferences. Therefore, it is determined that RAW (color adjustment: already set) has a higher priority than RAW (color adjustment: standard). Whether RAW data is not color-adjusted is determined by the following two conditions. The first condition is that the color adjustment setting file is not saved together with the RAW file, or that no additional color adjustment setting is stored in the RAW file. The second condition is that the color adjustment setting inside the RAW file is not changed with the setting value prepared in advance in the digital camera. When both conditions are satisfied, it is determined as RAW (color adjustment: standard), and when either one is not satisfied, it is determined as RAW (color adjustment: set).

  Also in JPEG, the size of the photo resolution is reflected in the attribute value. It is determined that the higher the resolution of the JPEG, the higher the priority. In addition to the resolution, JPEG compression parameters may be reflected in the attribute value. In that case, it is determined that the higher the priority is, the more the photo is set with the compression parameter with less loss during compression.

  Table 802 in FIG. 8 shows priority values for the attributes of the photo format set based on the above idea. The larger the number, the higher the priority. As described above, in this example, the priority of the RAW attribute is set higher than that of JPEG.

  An album is configured by combining various parts such as a cover, inner paper, and belt. The attribute of “part” (part attribute) is an attribute representing those parts on which each photograph is printed. Since the photograph 601 and the photograph 605 are printed on the cover parts, as shown in the columns 701 and 705, they have the attribute value “cover parts”. The photos 602 to 604 are printed on an internal page constituting the contents of the album. Therefore, as shown in columns 702 to 704, the attribute value is “internal page”. The parts of the album may have different paper sizes, thicknesses, and materials in order to preserve storage and high quality. In that case, there is a possibility that the type of printing apparatus for printing for each part of the album is different. The resolution of the photographic output and the color reproducibility of each color depend on the printing apparatus and often differ depending on the part. It is determined that a photograph having a part attribute value printed by a printing apparatus with high color reproducibility has a higher priority. As shown in the remarks of the table 803 in FIG. 8, in this example, the color reproducibility of the “cover part” is higher than that of the “internal page”, so the priority is set higher.

  When “favorite” is set for each photo, the value is also stored for each photo as shown in FIG. In this example, the favorite degree is specified in three stages from 1 to 3, and the favorite degree is treated as a priority as it is. This favorite degree can be set for each photo, and the favorite degree is increased for a photo whose color reproducibility is to be enhanced. If the favorite degree is not specified, 1 is set.

  A table 804 in FIG. 8 is an example of weighting for the priority for each attribute. When the maximum value of the priority that can be taken for each attribute is different, it is used to adjust the weight. Further, it is used for weighting when there is a difference in priority weight between attributes. The priority and weighting information of the attribute values for each attribute shown in FIG. 8 is acquired from the print site 103 via the network 106 by the communication control unit 304 and stored in the upload target photo information 3042.

  The flowchart of FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a detailed processing flow of the upload process in step S404 of FIG. Details of the upload process S404 in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the subject of the processing in this flowchart is the communication control unit 304.

  In S901, the attribute information 700 of the upload target photograph shown in FIG. 7 is generated. A group of photos constituting the album is managed and held by the data control unit 301 as cover content data 3013 and internal page content data 3014. The communication control unit 304 requests the data control unit 301 to acquire photo information related to the upload target album.

  Further, the role and layout information of the photos in the album are stored in the layout information 3031 and the image allocation table 3032 by the design control unit 303. The communication control unit 304 obtains the information from the design control unit 303 via the data control unit 301. Further, information regarding the product configuration of the album such as parts is stored in the product configuration data 3041. The communication control unit 304 generates photograph attribute information 700 using the product configuration data 3041. Then, the communication control unit 304 stores the attribute information 700 of the photo in the upload target photo information 3042, and the process proceeds to step S902.

  In step S <b> 902, album configuration data 3012 that is an outline of the album configuration is uploaded to the print site 103. Since the album configuration data 3012 is managed by the data control unit 301, the communication control unit 304 obtains a request from the data control unit 301 and uploads it to the print site 103 via the network 106. During the communication, the communication speed of the network 106 is measured. Then, the process proceeds to step S903.

  In step S903, the recommended upload data size in the environment is calculated based on the communication speed measured in step S902. In the present embodiment, a threshold value (for example, 10 minutes) of a general user's allowable waiting time in album upload processing is set in advance. Based on the measured communication speed, a recommended data size that is the amount of data that can be transferred within the threshold time is calculated. Then, the process proceeds to step S904.

  In step S904, the data size of the upload target photo group is acquired from the data control unit 301, and it is determined whether the acquired upload target data size is smaller than the recommended data size. At the time of S904, whether upload process priority or file format priority is not selected for upload processing. If the acquired data size to be uploaded is equal to or smaller than the recommended upload data size calculated in S903 (in the case of “Yes” in S904), the process proceeds to upload with priority on the file format in S905. In this case, if the communication speed is constant, even if the photo is uploaded in the file format as it is, it can be transferred within the threshold of the general user's allowable waiting time. If the recommended upload data size is larger than the acquired upload target data size (in the case of “No” in S904), the upload time is likely to be longer than the allowable waiting time threshold. In that case, the process proceeds to the display of the upload method selection screen in S906.

  Details of the processing in step S905 will be described later with reference to a flowchart for uploading with priority on the file format in FIG. First, the operation of the upload progress summary dialog 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. The GUI control unit 302 is requested to display the dialog 1000 on the CRT 201. This dialog 1000 has a text display area 1001 for the estimated remaining time until completion of uploading and a status bar 1002 for the progress of uploading in order to show an overview of upload processing. The estimated remaining time displayed in the text display area 1001 is estimated by dividing the remaining transfer data amount of upload by the average of the network communication speed. The status bar 1002 represents the ratio (%) of the already uploaded data amount when the total data amount of the photo group to be uploaded is 100%. The communication control unit 304 changes the status bar status according to the amount of uploaded data. Furthermore, the dialog 1000 includes a button 1003 for changing to time-priority upload processing and a button 1004 for canceling the upload processing. A button 1003 is prepared for changing the processing from the file format priority to the time priority when the upload time exceeds the time allowed by the actual user. When the button 1003 is pressed, the GUI control unit 302 is requested to display the upload details dialog 1200 shown in FIG. 12, and the upload progress summary dialog 1000 is closed. When the cancel button 1004 is pressed, the GUI control unit 302 is requested to close the upload progress summary dialog 1000. When the upload process is completed with priority on the file format in step S905, the process proceeds to S909, and the upload process ends. When the transfer of all the photos to be uploaded has been completed, the communication control unit 304 requests the GUI control unit 302 to close the dialog 1000. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S909, and the upload process ends.

  In step S906, the GUI control unit 302 is requested to display an upload method selection dialog 1100 as shown in FIG. This dialog 1100 is a dialog for accepting selection of an upload method (data transmission method) from the user. The text areas 1101 and 1102 display the expected upload time and the file outline of the upload target photo, respectively. The estimated time displayed in the text area 1101 is estimated by dividing the total data amount of the upload target photo group by the communication speed measured in S902. In the text area 1102, the number of files and the total data size are displayed for each file format for the group of photos to be uploaded. Further, the dialog 1100 has two check boxes, time priority 1103 and file format priority 1104, for accepting selection of an upload method. One of these check boxes is selected by exclusive selection. When the user presses the OK button 1105 of the dialog 1100, the GUI control unit 302 closes the dialog. Upon receiving the notification from the GUI control unit 302, the communication control unit 304 advances the process to S907. In step S907, it is determined whether the time priority 1103 or the file format priority 1104 has been selected by checking the dialog 1100. If the file format priority 1104 is selected, the process proceeds to S905. If the time priority 1103 has been selected, the process proceeds to S908.

  Details of the processing flow in S908 will be described later with reference to a flowchart for time-priority upload processing in FIG. First, the operation of the upload details dialog 1200 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S908, the communication control unit 304 requests the GUI control unit 302 to display the dialog 1200 on the CRT 201. The dialog 1200 has a UI area 1201 for displaying the priority order, the photo preview, and the status of the photo group to be uploaded. The UI areas 1210 to 1240 correspond to individual photos to be uploaded. The correspondence with the photograph in FIG. 6 is as follows. [UI region-photograph of FIG. 6]: 1210-604, 1220-605, 1230-603, 1240-602. UI areas 1210 to 1240 are sorted and displayed in descending order of priority based on the priority of photos. When the number of photos to be uploaded is large, a slider bar 1202 is displayed on the UI area 1201 in order to select a photo to be displayed.

  Hereinafter, UI items for display / operation arranged in the UI areas 1210 to 1240 will be described using the UI area 1210 as an example. Buttons 1211 and 1212 are buttons for changing the priority of the photo 604 in the photo group to be uploaded. When a notification of pressing of the button 1211 is received via the GUI control unit 302, the communication control unit 304 switches the order in the priority order with the photograph one above. In addition, when a notification of pressing the button 1212 is received via the GUI control unit 302, the communication control unit 304 changes the order in the priority order with the next lower photo. When uploading of the corresponding photo is started, the buttons 1211 and 1212 change to a gray state that cannot be selected. In the photo preview area 1213, a photo preview regarding the photo 604 is displayed. In addition, the role of the photograph, the layout size, and the file format are displayed based on the attribute information 700 of the photograph. Reference numeral 1214 denotes an upload status bar related to the photo 604, which is 0% for all upload target photos in the initial state of S908. Corresponding to the upload progress of the corresponding photo, it changes from 0% to 100% to indicate the upload progress. Upon receiving a notification of pressing of the upload start button 1203 via the GUI control unit 302, the communication control unit 304 executes time-priority uploading processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. Detailed processing will be described later with reference to FIG. When all the upload target photos have been transferred, the communication control unit 304 requests the GUI control unit 302 to close the upload details dialog 1200 via the data control unit 301. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S909, and the upload process ends. When the communication control unit 304 receives a notification of pressing the cancel button 1204 from the GUI control unit 302, the communication control unit 304 requests the GUI control unit 302 to close the upload details dialog even during transfer. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S909, and the upload process ends.

<Calculation process for priority of uploaded photos>
The calculation processing of the priority order of the photos to be uploaded in step S1401 in the file format priority upload process in FIG. 14 and in step S1501 in the time priority upload process in FIG. 15 is a common process in the flowchart in FIG. Therefore, processing for calculating the priority order of uploaded photos will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the subject of the processing in this flowchart is the communication control unit 304.

  In step S <b> 1301, it is determined whether the upload target photo information 3042 includes priority information of the upload target photo group. If this priority information exists (if “Yes” in S1301), the process proceeds to S1306, and the priority order calculation process for the photos to be uploaded ends. If the priority information of the photo does not exist (“No” in S1301), the process proceeds to S1302. In a series of processing from step S1302 to S1304, the priority for each photo in the photo group to be uploaded is calculated.

  In step S1302, it is determined whether there is a photo for which priority is not calculated. If there is a photograph whose priority has not been calculated (if “Yes” in S1302), the process proceeds to S1303. When the series of processing from S1303 to S1304 has been performed and the priority of all the photos has been calculated, the processing proceeds to S1305. In S1303, one photo whose priority is not calculated is selected as the current photo, and the process advances to S1304. In step S <b> 1304, the communication control unit 304 acquires the current photo attribute information (information corresponding to the column of the photo attribute information 700 in FIG. 7) from the photo attribute information 700 of the upload target photo information 3042. Further, the communication control unit 304 acquires priority and weighting information (information corresponding to the tables 800 to 804 in FIG. 8) of the attribute values for each attribute stored in the upload target photo information 3042. Then, the attribute information of the attention photograph is converted into a priority (attribute priority) according to the priority of the acquired attribute value (corresponding to the tables 800 to 803 in FIG. 8), and further, the attribute weight (table 804 in FIG. 8). (Corresponding to) is multiplied (weighted addition) by multiplying the corresponding attribute weights. This calculation determines the “overall priority” (overall priority) of the current photo. The following is a formula for calculating “overall priority”. After the “overall priority” is determined, the process proceeds to step S1302 for the next photo.

Overall priority =
Priority of photo role x Weight of photo role +
Layout size priority x Layout size weight +
Photo format priority x Photo format weight +
Part priority x Part weight +
Favoriteness x Favoriteness weight

  In step S1305, the photos to be uploaded are sorted in descending order of the “total priority”, and the priority order of each photo (number 1, number 2,..., Number N) is determined. The one with the highest “overall priority” is number one. The determined order is set for each photo, and is stored in the upload target photo information 3042 as photo priority information. After saving, the process proceeds to S1306, and the calculation process of the priority order of the photos to be uploaded ends. The priority order set in this way is used as a priority order that prioritizes color reproducibility for each photograph. In the processing flow of FIG. 15 described later, the order of compression and upload of photo data in the photo group to be uploaded is determined based on the priority order information. Therefore, the reverse order of priority (No. N,..., No. 2, No. 1) is synonymous with the compression priority for the photo data of the photo group.

<Upload processing with priority on file format>
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of processing (format priority method) when uploading with file format priority. This process is executed in S905 of FIG. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the subject of the processing in this flowchart is the communication control unit 304.

  In step S1401, the communication control unit 304 calculates the priority order of the upload target photo group described with reference to FIG. 13, and advances the process to step S1402. In S1402, it is determined whether there is a photo that has not been uploaded yet. The photo that has not been uploaded here is a photo before conversion before the conversion processing of S1504 described later is performed. When all the photos have been uploaded (“No” in S1402), the process proceeds to S1408, and the upload process with priority on the file format ends. If there is a photo that has not been uploaded (in the case of “Yes” in S1402), the process proceeds to S1403, and in S1403, the highest priority among the unuploaded photos is set as the current photo. Then, the process proceeds to S1404.

  In step S <b> 1404, the communication control unit 304 requests the data control unit 301 to acquire the current photo, and uploads it to the print site 103 via the network 106 without converting the file format. The reason for uploading from the one with the highest priority is that when the button 1003 is pressed during the upload process prioritizing the file format and the time-priority upload process is switched, the photos processed with time priority are grouped with lower priority. This is to make a photo. After uploading the current photo, the status bar 1002 of the upload progress summary dialog 1000 is updated in S1405. Then, the process proceeds to step S1406.

  In step S1406, it is determined whether the upload progress priority dialog change button 1003 of the upload progress summary dialog 1000 has been pressed. If the button 1003 has not been pressed (“NO” in S1406), the process proceeds to S1402, and the upload process with priority on the file format is continued. If it is determined that the button 1003 has been pressed (“YES” in S1406), the process proceeds to S1407, and the time-priority upload process of FIG. 15 is executed. When the time-priority upload process in S1407 is completed, the process proceeds to S1408, and the upload process with file format priority is completed.

<Time-priority upload processing>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of processing (time priority method) when uploading with time priority. This process is executed in S908 of FIG. 9 or S1407 of FIG. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the subject of the processing in this flowchart is the communication control unit 304.

  In step S1501, the communication control unit 304 calculates the priority order of the upload target photo group described with reference to FIG. 13, and advances the process to step S1502.

  In step S1502, the communication control unit 304 determines whether there is a photo that has not yet been uploaded. If all the photos have been uploaded, the process proceeds to S1508, and the time-priority upload process is terminated. If there is a photo that has not been uploaded, the process advances to step S1503, and an unuploaded (untransmitted) photo with the lowest priority is set as the current photo. Then, the process proceeds to S1504, and the format format of the current photo file is converted in S1504. This photo file format conversion process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 1505, the file (converted image data) whose format has been converted is uploaded to the print site 103 via the network 106. The communication control unit 304 periodically notifies the GUI control unit 302 of the current photo upload progress during the upload process. Based on this information, the GUI control unit 302 updates the status bar of the corresponding photo in the upload details dialog 1200 of FIG. If uploading of the current photo file is completed, the process advances to step S1506.

  Calculate the sum (total data size) of the total data size of the photo files that have already been uploaded in S1506 and the total data size of the photo files that have not yet been uploaded (unsent data). To do. The transmitted data can be classified into unconverted photo files uploaded in S1404 and unconverted photo files uploaded in S1505, and all untransmitted data are pre-converted photo files. Therefore, the total data size is also the sum of the data sizes of the photo file before conversion and the photo file after conversion. If the total data size is equal to or smaller than the recommended upload data size calculated in S903, the process proceeds to S1507. If the total data size is larger than the recommended upload data size, the process advances to S1502 to continue the upload process with the file format conversion process. In step S <b> 1507, the communication control unit 304 uploads the photo file group that has not been uploaded to the print site 103 via the network 106 without converting the format. The communication control unit 304 periodically notifies the GUI control unit 302 of the upload progress status during the process of uploading each photo file. Based on this information, the GUI control unit 302 updates the status bar of the corresponding photo in the upload details dialog 1200 of FIG. When uploading of all the photos to be uploaded is completed, the process proceeds to S1508 and the time-priority upload process is terminated.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the processing order of S1505 and S1506 described above. For example, the communication control unit 304 may upload the photograph in S1505 after the determination in S1506, and proceed to S1502 to S1507. Alternatively, the determination in S1506 may be performed during the photo upload in S1505, and the process may proceed to S1502 to S1507 after the upload.

<Photo file format conversion process>
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of photo file format conversion processing. This process is executed in S1504 of FIG. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the subject of the processing in this flowchart is the communication control unit 304. In step S1601, it is determined whether the original file format of the photograph subject to format conversion processing is the JPEG format or the RAW format. In the case of the RAW format, the process proceeds to S1602. If it is in the JPEG format, the process proceeds to S1605. In order to convert the photo file to JPEG, RAW development processing is performed on the RAW format file to generate a plain format bitmap of the photo (S1602). The original file performs resolution conversion for the RAW format on the plain bitmap of the developed photo. If the bitmap of the developed photo has a resolution higher than 600 DPI, the resolution is converted to a resolution of 600 DPI, and if the resolution is 600 DPI or lower, the resolution is converted to the resolution as it is (S1603). The original file is subjected to JPEG compression conversion for the RAW format for the resolution-converted plain format bitmap (S1604). In the JPEG compression processing in S1604, a parameter with a low compression rate is applied which is less likely to deteriorate the image quality than the JPEG compression conversion processing in S1607 described later. After the JPEG conversion is completed, the process proceeds to S1608, and the format conversion process for the RAW format photo file ends.

  In step S1605, the JPEG photo file is decompressed to generate a plain-format bitmap of the photo. The original file performs resolution conversion for the JPEG format on the plain format bitmap of the photograph. If the developed photo bitmap has a resolution higher than 300 DPI, the resolution is converted to 300 DPI, and if the resolution is 300 DPI or lower, the bitmap is converted to the resolution as it is (S 1606). The original file is subjected to JPEG compression conversion for the JPEG format with respect to the resolution-converted plane format bitmap (S1607). After the JPEG conversion is completed, the process proceeds to S1608, and the format conversion process for the JPEG photo file ends. The processing of S1603 and S1606 is the resolution conversion processing of the plain format bitmap. Both the processing in S1604 and S1607 are JPEG compression conversion processing of a plain format bitmap. The reason why the photo files before conversion are divided into RAW format or JPEG format is to maintain high color reproducibility during the RAW format printing process. That is, the communication control unit 304 uses a conversion parameter with higher color reproducibility than a conversion parameter for a JPEG format photo when converting a RAW format photo that is a file format with higher color reproducibility than the JPEG format. RAW format photos are converted. This conversion parameter is, for example, the above-described resolution conversion parameter, compression parameter, or the like.

  As shown in the above embodiment, when uploading a photo group constituting a photo album to the print site, the file format is converted according to the priority order of the photos until the recommended data size is obtained. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of data to be uploaded than when uploading in the same format. As a result, upload time can be reduced.

(Other examples)
In the above embodiment, the priority of the photo is determined using the five attributes shown in FIG. It is not necessary to limit to a combination of these attributes. For example, a histogram of colors constituting a photograph may be generated, and an attribute (color component attribute) of an image including red and purple color components exceeding a specified value may be used for determining the priority. In this case, since an image including red and purple color components exceeding the specified value is likely to generate block noise when JPEG conversion is performed, the priority of such a photo may be set high.

  Also, when the user can select the number of album configuration pages as the product configuration, there is a high possibility that an album with a large number of configuration pages can be tolerated even if the waiting time for uploading is longer than a small number. In that case, the threshold of the allowable waiting time for general users may be increased in accordance with the increase in the number of pages.

  Although not specifically described in the above-described embodiment, among the photos constituting the album, the photos obtained from the photo site 105 are not uploaded to the print site 103 from the client device 102, but these photos are uploaded. The print site 103 may directly acquire from the photo site 105.

  Furthermore, in the upload details 1200 of FIG. 12 of the above embodiment, a UI that can individually specify the file format (JPEG and resolution designation) to be uploaded for each photo in the UI areas 1210 to 1240 may be provided. In that case, when the upload start button 1203 is pressed, the communication control unit 304 converts and uploads the photo in the designated file format in S902.

  In the above embodiment, when it is determined in step S904 in FIG. 9 that the recommended upload data size is larger than the acquired upload target data size, the upload method is selected in step S906. However, when implementing the present invention, when it is determined in S904 that the recommended upload data size is larger than the acquired upload target data size, the upload method with the upload time priority is automatically selected as the upload method. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, the upload process is changed by detecting that the user has pressed the change button to give priority to the upload time in step S1406 of FIG. 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the elapsed time from the start of uploading a photo group with priority on the file format may be measured, and when this elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, the upload process may be switched to an upload time priority process. By doing so, it is possible to execute upload processing in consideration of fluctuations in communication speed.

  In the above embodiment, in order to change the upload process from upload time priority to file format priority, the total data size of the transmitted and unsent photo data in step S1506 in FIG. 15 is less than the recommended data size. Was a condition. However, a button for switching the upload process from the upload time priority to the file format priority is provided separately on the UI screen showing the upload progress summary, and the upload process is changed to the file format priority process during the upload time priority process. Also good. In this way, it is possible to flexibly cope with a case where a user who uploads a group of photos with priority on upload time wants to prioritize the image quality of the photos during the upload.

  Further, the upload process described in the above embodiment employs a configuration in which image data is transmitted to the print site 103 without being converted according to the priority order, or after being converted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, before uploading the photo data to be uploaded, it is determined whether or not all the photo data to be uploaded has been converted, and after converting a plurality of photo data that needs to be converted, You may make it upload collectively.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. In this process, software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus executes the program. It is a process to read and execute.

102 Client Device 103 Print Site 104 Output Device 105 Photo Site 108 Album Editing Device 109 Web Browser 110 Album 301 Data Control Unit 302 GUI Control Unit 303 Design Control Unit 304 Communication Control Unit

Claims (20)

An image processing apparatus that connects to a destination server via a network and transmits a plurality of image data corresponding to a photo album to the destination server,
Priority order setting means for setting a priority order in which color reproducibility of the image data is prioritized based on attribute information in the photo album of each image data for each of the plurality of image data;
The first image data included in the plurality of image data is not converted, and the second image data having a lower priority than the priority of the first image data set by the priority setting means is Conversion means for converting into converted image data having a data size smaller than the second image data;
Transmitting means for transmitting the first image data and the converted image data to the destination server;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The conversion means converts the priority of the first image data lower than the first image data by the conversion means until the total data size of the first image data and the converted image data is equal to or less than a predetermined data size. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image data that has not been converted is converted from the lowest priority order.   The converting means does not convert image data that has a lower priority than the first image data and has not been converted by the converting means when the total data size is equal to or smaller than the predetermined data size. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. An image processing apparatus that connects to a destination server via a network and transmits a plurality of image data corresponding to a photo album to the destination server,
Priority order setting means for setting a priority order in which color reproducibility of the image data is prioritized based on attribute information in the photo album of each image data for each of the plurality of image data;
Conversion means for converting the image data into post-conversion image data having a data size smaller than the image data, the conversion before the conversion means converts the plurality of image data set with the priority order. Conversion means for converting the pre-conversion image data in order of low priority until the total data size of the pre-image data and the post-conversion image data is equal to or less than a predetermined data size;
Transmitting means for transmitting the plurality of image data to the destination server;
For the plurality of image data, a first transmission method for transmitting the converted image data to the transmission destination server, and a second transmission method for transmitting the pre-conversion image data to the transmission destination server, Selection means for enabling selection as a data transmission method of the transmission means;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The transmitting means transmits the post-conversion image data in the first transmission scheme in ascending order of priority, and the second transmission scheme transmits the pre-conversion image data in the descending order of priority. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image processing apparatus transmits the image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selection unit selects the second transmission method when the sum of the data sizes is equal to or smaller than the predetermined data size.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selection unit selects the first transmission method when the total of the data sizes is larger than the predetermined data size.   5. The selection unit according to claim 4, wherein when the total of the data sizes is larger than the predetermined data size, the first transmission method and the second transmission method can be selected by a user instruction. Or the image processing apparatus of 5.   The selection unit can switch to the first transmission method according to a user instruction during transmission of the image data set with the priority in the second transmission method by the transmission unit. Item 9. The image processing apparatus according to any one of Items 4 to 8.   The selection means can switch to the second transmission method according to a user instruction during transmission of the converted image data by the first transmission method by the conversion means. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the above. Data size calculating means for calculating a recommended data size of the plurality of image data to be transmitted;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined data size is the recommended data size. The attribute information in the photo album has at least one information of role attribute of image data, layout size attribute, format attribute, part attribute, favorite degree, color component attribute,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority order setting unit sets the priority order based on an attribute priority of the attribute information. The priority setting means increases the priority as the attribute priority increases.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the attribute priority is higher as color reproducibility for the image data is higher.   The priority order setting means sets weights for the attribute information, and sets the priorities based on a total priority obtained by weighting and adding the attribute priorities of image data with the weights. Item 14. The image processing apparatus according to Item 12 or 13.   When converting the image data of the first format and the second format having higher color reproducibility than the first format, the conversion means uses conversion parameters used for converting the image data of the first format. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data in the second format is converted using a conversion parameter having high color reproducibility.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first format is a JPEG format and the second is a RAW format.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the conversion parameter includes at least one of a resolution conversion parameter and a compression parameter. An image processing method for connecting to a destination server via a network and transmitting a plurality of image data corresponding to a photo album to the destination server,
A priority setting step for setting a priority in which color reproducibility of image data is prioritized for each of the plurality of image data based on attribute information in the photo album of each image data; ,
The converting means does not convert the first image data, but converts the second image data having a lower priority than the priority of the first image data set in the priority setting step to the second image. A conversion process for converting to converted image data having a data size smaller than the data;
A transmission step of transmitting the first image data and the converted image data to the transmission destination server;
An image processing method comprising: An image processing method for connecting to a destination server via a network and transmitting a plurality of image data corresponding to a photo album to the destination server,
A priority order setting step in which priority order setting means sets a priority order in which color reproducibility of the image data is prioritized for each of the plurality of image data based on attribute information in the photo album of each image data. When,
A converting step of converting the image data into post-conversion image data having a data size smaller than the image data, wherein the plurality of image data set with the priority order are converted in the conversion step; A conversion step of converting the pre-conversion image data in the order of low priority until a total data size of the pre-conversion image data and the post-conversion image data is equal to or less than a predetermined data size;
A transmission step of transmitting the plurality of image data to the destination server;
For the plurality of image data, a first transmission method for transmitting the converted image data to the transmission destination server, and a second transmission method for transmitting the pre-conversion image data to the transmission destination server, A selection step that enables selection as a data transmission method in the transmission step;
An image processing method comprising:   The computer program for functioning a computer as each means of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 17.

Images