JP4339386B2 - Image data management apparatus and image service system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data management apparatus for managing image data and an image service system including the image data management apparatus.

  Until the widespread use of digital cameras, printing using silver halide photographic film was the mainstream. Prints using silver halide photographic film can be used in various ways, such as looking at the image, showing it to a friend for communication, printing it to an acquaintance, decorating it by enlarging it, or pasting it on an album. ing. However, a large number of prints using silver halide photographic films accumulate if neglected, and it is difficult to organize if the prints or negative films are lost. Also, it takes a lot of time to classify by print and theme. Further, even if the sheets are arranged, it is sometimes difficult to maintain a arranged state because a part of the print or the negative film may be taken out and forgotten to be restored.

  For this reason, a photographic image is stored as digital data by using image data acquired by reading an image recorded on a negative film with a scanner or image data acquired by a digital camera. However, such digital image data is often stored in the hard disk of the user's personal computer, and when the personal computer is replaced, it is troublesome to transfer the image data. In some cases, image data is stored on a medium such as a CD-R. However, since the medium itself deteriorates, there is a risk of losing image data if image data is stored for a long time. In addition, there is a case where a device for reproducing a specific medium is lost due to technology obsolescence. In such a case, it is not possible to reproduce image data.

  Therefore, an image storage system has been proposed in which image data is transmitted to an image storage server that provides a service for storing image data via a network such as the Internet, and the image storage server stores the image data. In some systems, image processing such as auto setup is performed on image data to improve the image quality of stored images.

These image storage systems generally store image data together with the date of photographing, the above-described auto setup parameters, image data color information, and the like as image data attribute information along with the corresponding image data. The user can access the storage server via a terminal such as a personal computer and browse the image data, or search for desired image data using the attribute information described above as a keyword.
JP 2001-118330 A JP 2000-172666 A JP 2000-308038 A

  However, it is difficult to search for desired image data using only the attached information described above as a keyword. There is a need for a convenient image storage system that can be searched based on photographer information, subject information (such as the name of a person in the case of a person), and shooting location, and such information must also be included in the attribute information of the image data. There is.

  On the other hand, the image storage system described above is based on the premise that many people use the image data being stored, whereas the attribute information described above includes image data such as the shooting date and color information of the image data. Apart from what can be extracted from, the photographer, subject information, etc. are related to privacy, so the owner of the image data does not want to make it public or wants to make it public only to a specific subject There are no circumstances.

  Further, in the conventional image storage system, the attribute information of the image data is embedded in the tag information of the image data. Therefore, if the attribute information increases, the size of the image data cannot be avoided. On the other hand, the user does not want all the attribute information, so when downloading the image data, it is necessary to download even the attribute information that is not desired, meaning it takes time and is not efficient. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables image data management that enables the handling of attribute information to be classified according to the nature of the attribute information of the image data being managed and improves the use efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and an image service system including the image data management apparatus.

An image data management device of the present invention is an image data management device connected to a terminal device via a network so as to be communicable,
Attribute information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of attribute information of the image data for each image data uploaded from the terminal device;
Security processing method setting means for setting whether or not to perform security processing for each of the plurality of acquired attribute information, and setting the security processing method when the security processing is performed,
Security processing using the security processing method set by the security processing method setting unit for each of the attribute information set when the security processing is performed by the security processing method setting unit among the plurality of attribute information Security processing means for performing
Combining means for attaching the plurality of attribute information set not to perform the security processing or security processing by the security processing means to the image data;
Image data storage means for storing the image data attached with the plurality of attribute information obtained by the combining means;
Image data transmission means for transmitting the image data stored in the image data storage means and the plurality of attribute information attached to the image data in response to a transmission request from the terminal apparatus or a terminal apparatus different from the terminal apparatus It is characterized by the following.

  “Image data” in the present invention includes data representing a moving image as well as data representing a still image.

  The “attribute information” is not only information that can be acquired from the image data, such as the date of image data capture and the color information of the image data, but also the parameters of auto-setup performed on the image data and the image capture. The information such as the person's name, subject information, and shooting location may not be obtained from the image data. Furthermore, a predetermined keyword or comment added to the image data can be included.

  The “attribute information acquisition unit” is a unit that captures the above-described various attribute information into the image data management apparatus. For example, the attribute information acquisition unit may be an image analysis unit that extracts the shooting date and color information of the image data from the image data. Alternatively, it may be input means for inputting attribute information that cannot be extracted from the image data, such as a photographer's name and subject information.

The image data management device of the present invention, for each of the plurality of attribute information, composition enable / disable setting means for setting whether to attach the attribute information to the image data;
Of the plurality of attribute information that is set not to perform the security processing or that has been subjected to security processing by the security processing means, attribute information that is set not to be attached to the image data by the composition availability setting means An attribute information storage unit that stores the attribute information separately from the image data associated with the image data;
The combining unit is set not to perform the security processing, or is set to be attached to the image data by the combining permission setting unit among the plurality of attribute information subjected to security processing by the security processing unit. Preferably, the attribute information is attached to the image data.

  The image data management device of the present invention sets individual security processing methods for each attribute information of the image data, and performs security processing for the corresponding attribute information in the set security processing method, The security processing method is not only encryption processing and digital watermark processing, but also “no security processing” for attribute information with low security requirements, for example.

  In the image data management apparatus of the present invention, the image data storage unit and the attribute information storage unit may be installed at remote locations and connected via a network.

  In the image data management apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that an image processing parameter for image data to be managed is handled as attribute information. In that case, the stored image data is preferably original image data that has not been subjected to image processing.

  The image service system of the present invention is such that a terminal device and the image data management device are communicably connected via a network.

  According to the image data management apparatus and the image service system of the present invention, it is possible to set a security processing method corresponding to each attribute information of the image data to be managed, and the security processing method is set. Since it is possible to process the attribute information and combine the processed attribute information with the image data, it is possible to process attribute information with high security requirements related to privacy such as the photographer and subject information. In this way, it can be referred to only by a specific user or a specific application software, so that privacy and the like can be protected and a wide variety of attribute information can be provided.

  Also, with the diversification of attribute information, it becomes more convenient to search for image data using attribute information as a keyword.

  The image data management apparatus according to the present invention includes the composition availability setting unit and the attribute information storage unit, so that only the attribute information set to be synthesized by the composition availability setting unit is attached to the image data and is not synthesized. Since the set attribute information is stored in the attribute information storage means, when the user downloads the image data, if the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage means is not necessary, the user does not need to download it. Because it is good, it saves time and is efficient.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a photographic image service system to which an image data management apparatus of the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, this photographic image service system includes a mobile phone 10 serving as a terminal device, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as personal computers) 20 and 30, and a module providing server that provides a print service module for printing photographic image data. A (print server 70), module providing server B (image processing server 80) that provides an image processing service module for performing image processing on photographic image data, and which server provides what service module A module directory server 60 for managing such information, a photo image data management server PBK (Photo Bank) 100 for managing photo image data uploaded from the terminal devices 10, 20, and 30 for each user in an album format, and a PBK 100 Images managed by And a personal album directory server 90 that manages information on users who can access albums published by the user who owns the data. These terminal devices and servers are connected via the Internet 50. It is. Note that the PBK 100, the print server 70, and the image processing server 80 provide services to the terminal device via the web interface. However, in order to simplify the description, the details of the screen structure of the web page will be particularly described below. do not do.

  The PBK 100 is an embodiment of the image data management apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration thereof. As shown in the figure, the PBK 100 includes a mobile phone 10, an access reception unit 102 that receives access from a user via a terminal device such as the PC 20, PC 30, and the user who enters the user name and password for the user who has accessed for the first time. When the authentication unit 104 performs user authentication by prompting the registered user to input a user name and password, and when the access from the user is an access for uploading photo image data, An image ID issuing unit 106 for assigning a unique image ID to the transmitted photographic image data, and acquiring attribute information of the transmitted photographic image data, setting a processing method, and setting the processing method. An attribute information processing unit 110 (details of which will be described later) and attribute information The combination unit 120 combines the attribute information that has been processed by the processing unit 110 and is set to be combined with the image data, and the image data that has been combined with the attribute information by the combination unit 120. This corresponds to the image data storage unit 125 that stores the image ID given by the album method for each user and the attribute information that has been processed by the attribute information processing unit 110 and set not to be combined with the image data. The attribute information storage unit 128 that is stored for each user in association with the image data ID, and when the access from the user is the access to the image data that is already stored in the image data storage unit 125, the user stores the image data storage unit 125. Access right (hereinafter referred to as image data access right) and attribute information for the image data being saved by An access right management unit 130 that checks the existence of the access right (hereinafter referred to as attribute information access right) to the attribute information being saved by the storage unit 128 and the type of access right, and denies access to a user without the access right; The service providing unit 140 provides a service corresponding to the type of access right to an authorized user, and a customer information database 135 that stores the user's name, address, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the attribute information processing unit 110 of the PBK 100. As shown in the figure, the attribute information processing unit 110 includes an attribute information A acquisition unit 111 that extracts attribute information (hereinafter referred to as attribute information A) that can be extracted from uploaded photo image data, and an attribute that cannot be extracted from photo image data. The attribute information B input unit 115 that allows the user to input information (hereinafter referred to as attribute information B) and the security processing method for each attribute information obtained by the attribute information A acquisition unit 111 and the attribute information B input unit 115 are processed without processing. The processing method setting unit 116 that sets one of the two processing methods of encryption and the user sets the storage method for each of the above-described attribute information to one of image storage and DB (database) storage. The security method set by the storage method setting unit 117 and the processing method setting unit 116 is secured for the corresponding attribute information. Performs tee processing, the attribute information of the processed, comprising a performing unit 118 to save the program scheme set by the storage method setting unit 117. Specifically, the execution unit 118 performs security processing on the attribute information set to image-accompanying storage, and then outputs the processed attribute information to the synthesis unit 120, but is set to DB storage. After security processing is performed on the attribute information, the processed attribute information is output to the attached information storage unit 128 and stored in association with the image ID of the image data to which the attribute information belongs. In the present embodiment, the attribute information A acquired from the image data includes shooting date, color information, and auto setup parameters for improving image quality. These attribute information includes the shooting date extraction unit 112 and the color information analysis unit 113, respectively. Obtained by the auto setup parameter determination unit 114. The attribute information B to be input by the user includes a photographer name, subject information (in the case of a person, the name of the person), a shooting location, and a comment. In the processing method setting unit 116, no processing is set for all attribute information A and encryption processing is set for all attribute information B as default settings. The image accompanying storage is set for all the attribute information A and the DB storage is set for all the attribute information B. When no setting is made by the user, the default setting is applied.

  The synthesizing unit 120 synthesizes the security-processed attribute information output from the execution unit 118 with the corresponding image data, outputs the synthesized image information to the image data storage unit 125, and stores the attribute information with each user with an image ID.

  In this embodiment, the image ID issuing unit issues an image ID associated with the user name of the user who uploads the image data.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the service providing unit 140 of the PBK 100. In this embodiment, the PBK 100 provides five services including display, search, print, image processing, and download of image data being stored. As shown in the figure, the service providing unit 140 of the PBK 100 allows the user to specify a service via a web interface (for example, a button indicating each service provided on a web screen or a client application, a displayed image, or the like). An instruction receiving unit 141 for receiving an instruction such as selecting image data or inputting a keyword for searching; and displaying image data and attribute information, searching for image data, printing, and image according to a user instruction The display unit 142 includes a display unit 142 that provides processing and download services, a search unit 143, a print service unit 144, an image processing service unit 145, and a download service unit 146. Note that these services are provided only for image data with access rights that the user supports (attribute information with access rights in the case of services that require attribute information being stored by the attribute information storage unit 128). The access right management is performed by the access right management unit 130 of the PBK 100 (details thereof will be described later).

  The display unit 142 of the service providing unit 140 displays image data for which the currently accessed user has image data access rights in an album format, and the search unit 143 is based on the keywords input by the user. The attribute information combined with the image data having the image data access right and the attribute information stored by the attribute information storage unit 128 are searched based on the attribute information the user has the attribute information access right to download. The service unit 146 transmits image data designated by the user (including synthesized attribute information) to the terminal device of the user. The print service unit 144 operates when the user selects desired image data from the image data displayed on the display unit 142 and issues a print instruction (for example, pressing a print button provided on the web screen). It is. When the instruction accepting unit 141 accepts a print instruction for the selected image data, the print service unit 144 sends the address of the print server that performs the print service to the module directory server 60 (details will be described later). The URL address) is inquired, and based on the URL address of the print server 70 returned from the module directory server 60, the image data (with image ID) instructed to be printed is transmitted to the print server 70 and is being accessed. The user's terminal device and the print server 70 are connected, and the print server 70 is caused to perform print-related processing. Note that the print service unit 144 includes a destination management unit (not shown) that creates print destination data obtained by printing out and transmits the print destination data together with the image ID of the image data to be printed. This will be described later.

  The image processing service unit 145 of the service providing unit 140 allows the user to select desired image data from the image data displayed on the display unit 142 and press an image processing instruction (for example, an image processing button provided on the web screen). ). When the instruction receiving unit 141 receives an image processing instruction for the selected image data, the image processing service unit 145 inquires the module directory server 60 about the address (URL address) of the image processing server that performs the image processing service. At the same time, based on the URL address of the image processing server 80 returned from the module directory server 60, the image data instructed for image processing (with an image ID) is transmitted to the image processing server 80, and the user who is accessing the image processing server 80 The terminal device and the image processing server 80 are connected to cause the image processing server 80 to perform processing related to image processing.

  That is, the print service unit 144 and the image processing service unit 145 of the service providing unit 140 of the PBK 100 do not actually provide a print service and an image processing service. It serves as an intermediary function between the print server 70 or the terminal device and the image processing server 80.

  When the user selects image data via the terminal device and issues a print instruction in the PBK 100, the print server 70 receives the selected image data (with image ID; the same applies hereinafter) and connects to the terminal device. It is what is done. Although not shown, the print server 70 is connected to a plurality of minilab stores via the Internet 50, and transmits image data to a printing apparatus of these minilab stores for printing out. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the print server 70. As shown in the figure, when the print server 70 is connected to a communication unit 305 for communicating with the PBK 100, a storage unit 310 for storing and storing image data received from the PBK 100 by the communication unit 305, and a terminal device, A condition setting accepting unit 320 for accepting print conditions set by the user via the apparatus (print receipt method (mailing, store receipt, etc.), store accepting in the case of store receipt, print size, number of prints, etc.) When the print condition is set and the print request is confirmed, an order ID associated with the image ID is generated and notified to the user via the terminal device, and the “mail” print receiving method is received in the setting receiving unit 320. The order ID is also sent to the print service unit 144 of the PBK100. The ID generation unit 330 and the destination data for the order ID transmitted via the communication unit 305 by the destination management unit (not shown) of the print service unit 144 of the PBK 100, together with image data to be printed, print conditions, and image data The image processing apparatus includes a print execution unit 340 that transmits an image ID to a printing apparatus of a corresponding minilab store and prints out the image ID. Note that the “corresponding minilab store” refers to a minilab store designated when the user sets “store receipt” as the receiving method via the condition setting reception unit 320, or when “mail” is set as the receiving method. The minilab shop is geographically closest to the destination based on the destination data transmitted from the print service unit 144 of the PBK100.

  The printing device of each minilab store prints the image data transmitted from the print server 70 in accordance with the print conditions such as the number, size, and surface type set for the image data. If "mail" is specified as the destination, the product is sent to the destination indicated by the destination data created for each order ID. If "store receipt" is specified, the item is stocked at the store and the customer Prepare to receive.

  Here, the operation of the destination management unit (not shown) of the print service unit 144 responsible for creating the print destination data will be described. When receiving the order ID from the print server 70, the transmission destination management unit (not shown) of the print service unit 144 decodes the information of the image ID included in the order ID, and the owner of the image data included in the image ID (image Based on the user name of the user who uploaded the data), the customer information of the user is read from the customer information DB 135, print destination data is created based on this customer information, and associated with the order ID to the print server 70. Send.

  The image processing server 80 receives the selected image data (with image ID; the same applies hereinafter) when the user selects image data via the terminal device and gives an image processing instruction in the PBK 100, and the terminal device. It is connected with. If the user selects desired image processing (for example, creation of a portrait of a person serving as a subject or synthesis with a template) from each image processing menu provided by the image processing server 80 via the terminal device, the image processing The server 80 performs the selected image processing on the corresponding image data and transmits it to the terminal device.

  The configuration of the service providing unit 140 of the PBK 100 serving as an embodiment of the image data management apparatus of the present invention has been described above. As described above, the service providing unit 140 of the PBK 100 is a type of access right owned by the user. The access right is managed by the access right management unit 130 of the PBK 100.

  The access right management unit 130 gives the user who uploaded the image data stored in the area allocated for each user of the image data storage unit 125 of the PBK 100 to the full access right (display, search, print service, Of course, the attribute information for the attribute information associated with the image ID of the image data among the attribute information being saved by the attribute information saving unit 128 is granted. An access right is also allowed, and an access right (not a full access right) is given to a user who is set to give an access right to the image data (album) owned by the user. The access right management unit 130 includes an access right setting unit (not shown), and the access right setting unit can set a user who is permitted to have access right to an album owned by the user. Specifically, in the access right setting unit of the access right management unit 130, the user who is the owner of the image data issues an access right setting instruction via the web interface provided by the PBK 100 (for example, provided on the web screen). The access right setting unit transmits the user name of the user to the personal album directory server 90, and the terminal device of the user, the personal album directory server 90, and the like. And the access right setting process is transferred to the personal album directory server 90. The user can register a user name permitting access rights to the personal album (that is, image data) owned by the user via the web interface provided by the personal album directory server 90. The access right management unit 130 allows the user who becomes the album owner to access the user registered in the personal album directory server 90. Thereby, the user of the image data owner can share his / her photograph image by showing it to a friend. However, the access right management unit 130 gives full access right only to the user of the image data owner, but for other users registered in the personal album directory server 90 by the image data owner, viewing (display), Grants only search and download rights.

  Here, the personal album directory server 90 will be described. The personal album directory server 90 is used to give another user the access right to view, search, and download image data owned by the user of the image data stored in the image data storage unit 125 of the PBK 100. When an access right setting unit (not shown) of the access right management unit 130 performs an access right setting instruction to set the user name of the user, the user name of the instructing user is received and the terminal device of the user To be connected. The personal album directory server 90 includes an access right registration unit and a storage unit (not shown), and the access right registration unit accepts the input of the user name of another user by the user of the album owner, and for each user of the album owner. The user name of the set other user is stored in the storage unit and used for an inquiry from the access right management unit 130 of the PBK 100.

  When accessed by a user, the access right management unit 130 of the PBK 100 inquires of the personal album directory server 90 and acquires information on albums (image data) that can be accessed by the user.

  The module directory server 60 holds the addresses of the print server 70 and the image processing server 80, and the corresponding server (the print server 70 or the image processing server 80) in response to an inquiry from the service providing unit 140 of the PBK 100. Reply address of and provide.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing detailed operations of the PBK 100 serving as an embodiment of the image data management apparatus of the present invention in the photographic image service system shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the user accepts access from the terminal device by the access accepting unit 102 via the Internet 50, the PBK 100 confirms whether or not the user has been registered (S10, S12). If the user is not registered, registration of the user name, password, name, address, etc. is prompted to register the user (S12: No, S14). User authentication is prompted by prompting for a user name and password (S15). If the user name and password are correctly input (S16: Yes) or user registration is performed (S14), and the access from the user is upload of image data (S18: Yes), the PBK100 transmits the transmitted image. In addition to receiving the data, a unique image ID is assigned for each image to the image data received by the image ID issuing unit 106 (S20, S22). The image ID also includes information indicating the user name of the user who has transmitted. For the image data to which the image ID is assigned, the attribute information A acquisition unit of the attribute information processing unit 110 analyzes the image data and acquires attribute information A including the shooting date, color information, and auto setup parameters. At the same time, the attribute information B input unit causes the user to input attribute information B including the name of the photographer of the image data, subject information (name of person in the case of a person), shooting location, and comment (S24). The processing method setting unit 116 and the storage method setting unit 117 cause the user to set a security processing method (no processing or encryption) and a storage method (image accompanying storage or DB storage) for each attribute information (S26), and execute The unit 118 performs security processing on the corresponding attribute information by the set security processing method (S28). The synthesizing unit 120 synthesizes the security-processed attribute information set to “image associated storage” in step S26 with the image data to which the attribute information belongs, and stores it in the image data storage unit 125 (S30: Yes, S32). , S34), the attribute information storage unit 128 stores the security-processed attribute information set as “DB storage” in step S26 in association with the ID of the image data (S30: No, S36). If there is no other process (S56: No), the PBK 100 performs a logout process on the user and ends the process. If there is another process (S56: Yes), the process returns to step S18.

  It should be noted that if no setting is made by the user in step S26, a default processing method and a storage method (that is, all attribute information A is not processed and stored with an image, and all attribute information B is encrypted) And DB storage) is applied.

  On the other hand, when the access from the user is public registration for publishing the album (image data) that the user owns to other users, that is, registration of the user names of other users who can access the album (S18: No, S40: Yes), the access right management unit 130 of the PBK 100 transmits the user name of the user to the personal album directory server 90, and connects the user terminal device to the personal album directory server 90 to make it public. The registration is transferred to the personal album directory server 90 (S42). In the personal album directory server 90, the user of the other party who publishes his / her album has been input, and the user has returned to the PBK 100 (for example, the “return” button provided on the web page of the personal album directory server 90 has been pressed). If there is no other process (S56: No), the PBK 100 performs a logout process on the user and ends the process. If there is another process (S56: Yes), the process is stepped. Return to S18.

  If the accessing user is an access for receiving the service provided by the service providing unit 140 of the PBK 100 (S18: No, S40: No), the access right management unit 130 of the PBK 100 grants the access right of the user. Confirm (S50). Specifically, the access right management unit 130 confirms the access right by checking whether or not there is image data for which the user has full access right (that is, whether or not there is image data for which the user is an owner) and the access right by the owner. It consists of confirming the presence or absence of image data given (right to display, search, download). The confirmation of the presence or absence of image data to which the access right is given by the owner is obtained by inquiring the personal album directory server 90.

  When the accessing user has no image data that can be accessed (that is, there is no image data owned by the user, or there is no image data to which access right is given by the owner of other image data) (S52). : No), the access right management unit 130 displays a message “There is no image data that can be accessed” and prompts the user to perform other processing (S54). If there is no other process (S56: No), the PBK100 performs a logout process on the user and ends the process. If there is another process (S56: Yes), the process returns to step S18. .

  On the other hand, if there is image data in which the accessing user has access right (full access right or access right given by another image data owner) in step S52 (S52: Yes), the service providing unit 140 The image data to which the user has access right is displayed as a thumbnail image (S60). When the user selects a desired image from the displayed thumbnail images (S62) and issues a service instruction via the instruction receiving unit 141, the service providing unit 140 provides a service according to the access right of the user ( S64-S80). Specifically, when the service instruction from the user is printing or image processing (S64: Yes), the service providing unit 140 inquires the access right management unit 130, and the user selects the selected image data. Whether the user has full access right (that is, whether the selected image data is owned by the user). If the user does not have full access rights to the selected image data (S70: No), the service providing unit 140 displays a message indicating that “specified processing cannot be performed” and performs other processing on the user. (S72). If there is no other process (S80: No), the PBK 100 performs a logout process on the user and ends the process. If there is another process (S80: Yes), the process returns to step S60. .

  On the other hand, if the user has the full access right to the selected image data (S70: Yes), the corresponding service unit (the print service unit 144 or the image processing service unit 145) of the service providing unit 140 is the module directory server. 60 inquires about the address of the module providing server (print server 70 or image processing server 80) corresponding to 60, and transmits the selected image data (with image ID) to the module providing server address returned from the module directory server 60. At the same time, the user terminal device and the corresponding module providing server are connected to transfer the print-related processing or the image processing (S74, S76). If the user who has finished the processing in the module providing server (the print server 70 or the image processing server 80) and has returned to the PBK 100 does not have any other processing (S80: No), the PBK 100 performs logout processing on the user. The process ends, but if there is another process (S80: Yes), the process returns to step S60.

  In step S64, when the service instruction instructed by the user is one of display, search, and download service instructions (S64: No), the corresponding service unit (display unit 142, search) of the service providing unit 140 is displayed. The unit 143 and the download service unit 146) perform the processing as instructed on the image data selected by the user (S66). When the process is finished and there is no other service instruction by the user (S80: No), the PBK 100 performs a logout process for the user and ends the process, but there is another service instruction (S80: Yes), the process returns to step S60.

  The search unit 143 of the service providing unit 140 prompts the user to input a search keyword in response to a search instruction from the user, and searches the attribute information of the image data to which the user has access rights based on the input keyword. It operates to read out and display the corresponding image data. Note that the attribute information of the image data stored by the attribute information storage unit 128 as well as the attribute information combined with these image data is searched for the image data for which the user has full access rights. For image data for which the user does not have full access rights, only the attribute information combined with the image data is searched.

  As described above, according to the photographic image service system shown in FIG. 1, the PBK 100, which is an embodiment of the image data management apparatus of the present invention, has a security processing method and a storage method for each attribute information. Is set by the user, and security processing and storage processing are performed with the set processing method and storage method, so if the encryption processing method is set for attribute information that the user does not want to disclose, Even if the user downloads the image data combined with the attribute information, the user cannot refer to it without specific application software, and the security is high. In addition, since the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit 128 as a storage method is not disclosed to other users, security can be improved, and when the owner of the image data performs a search, the attribute information is combined with the image data. This is convenient because the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit 128 can be referred to as well as the attribute information.

  Further, the attribute information stored by the attribute information storage unit 128 is attribute information of the image data, but is not downloaded together with the image data. Therefore, the user who downloads the image data can save time and is convenient. .

  In addition, this photo image service system allows the personal album directory server 90 to set and manage access rights (but not full access rights) to the image data being managed by the PBK 100, thereby burdening the PBK 100. Can be reduced.

  In addition, since the print server 70 and the image processing server 80 perform the print service and the image processing service, it is possible to reduce the burden on the PBK 100 and to manage the image data, the print service, the image processing service, and the like. It can be operated by different vendors, and the construction of each server can be simplified.

  In addition, since the module directory server 60 manages the location (address) of the server that actually provides the print service and the image processing service, even if the server that provides the print service or the image processing service is changed, This is convenient because the PBK 100 side does not require processing for this change.

  In the above description, the preferred embodiment of the image data management apparatus of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without changing the gist of the present invention. it can.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of servers exist independently, but the system is configured such that these servers are integrated in an arbitrary combination or the functions of the respective servers are realized in one apparatus. May be configured.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the image data to be managed is photographic image data, but the image data management apparatus of the present invention may be any image data.

  In the above-described embodiment, the attribute information storage unit 128 is mounted on the PBK 100 together with the image data storage unit 125. However, the attribute information storage unit is not mounted on the PBK 100, and any location that can be connected to the PBK 100 via a network. May be located. By carrying out like this, the burden of PBK100 can be reduced more. Furthermore, the number of attribute information storage units is not limited to one, and a plurality of attribute information storage units may be provided.

  In the embodiment described above, only the owner of the image data to which the attribute information belongs can be referred to the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit. You may make it give an access right to another user.

  In addition, the type of access right may be set more finely.

  In the above-described embodiment, the security processing methods for image data are no processing and an encryption processing method, but other security processing methods such as digital watermarking may be used.

  Also, the terminal device is not limited to a mobile phone or a personal computer, and may be any type of terminal device such as a PDA, an internet-connected television, a telephone, or a game machine.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the photograph image service system to which embodiment of the image data management apparatus of this invention is applied. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PBK 100 provided in the photographic image service system shown in FIG. 1 and serving as an embodiment of an image data management apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the attribute information processing unit 110 of the PBK 100 shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the service provision part 140 of PBK100 shown in FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a print server 70 provided in the photographic image service system shown in FIG. Flow chart showing operation of PBK100

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cellular phone 20, 30 Personal computer 50 Internet 60 Module directory server 70 Module providing server A (print server)
80 Module providing server B (image processing server)
90 Directory server for personal album 100 Image management server PBK
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Access receiving part 104 Authentication part 106 Image ID issuing part 110 Attribute information processing part 111 Attribute information A acquisition part 115 Attribute information B input part 116 Processing method setting part 117 Storage method setting part 118 Execution part 120 Compositing part 125 Image data storage part 128 Attribute Information Storage Unit 130 Access Right Management Unit 135 Customer Information Management Unit 140 Service Providing Unit 141 Instruction Accepting Unit 142 Display Unit 143 Search Unit 144 Print Service Unit 145 Image Processing Service Unit 146 Download Service Unit

Claims (6)

An image data management device that is communicably connected to a terminal device via a network,
Attribute information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of attribute information of the image data for each image data uploaded from the terminal device;
A security processing method for setting whether or not to perform security processing on each of the plurality of acquired attribute information in accordance with an input from a user , and setting the security processing method when the security processing is performed Setting means;
Security processing using the security processing method set by the security processing method setting unit for each attribute information set when the security processing is performed by the security processing method setting unit among the plurality of attribute information Security processing means for performing
Combining means for attaching the plurality of attribute information set not to perform the security processing or security processing by the security processing means to the image data;
Image data storage means for storing the image data attached with the plurality of attribute information obtained by the combining means;
Image data transmission means for transmitting the image data stored in the image data storage means and the plurality of attribute information attached to the image data in response to a transmission request from the terminal apparatus or a terminal apparatus different from the terminal apparatus An image data management device comprising: For each of the plurality of attribute information, composition enable / disable setting means for setting whether to attach the attribute information to the image data;
Of the plurality of attribute information that is set not to perform the security processing or that has been subjected to security processing by the security processing means, attribute information that is set not to be attached to the image data by the composition availability setting means An attribute information storage unit that stores the attribute information separately from the image data associated with the image data;
The combining means is set not to perform the security processing, or is set to be attached to the image data by the combining possibility setting means among the plurality of attribute information subjected to security processing by the security processing means. 2. The image data management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only the attribute information is attached to the image data. First access right setting means for setting a user permitted to access the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage means;
In response to a reference request for attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit from the terminal device or a terminal device different from the terminal device, the reference request is included in the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit. The image data management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising attribute information reference means for allowing a user who has made access to refer to the attribute information to which the access is permitted. A second access right setting means for setting a user permitted to access the image data and the plurality of attribute information attached to the image data;
In response to the transmission request, the image data transmission means includes the image data stored in the image data storage means and the plurality of attribute information attached to the image data. 4. The image data management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data permitted to be accessed and the plurality of attribute information attached to the image data are transmitted. First access right setting means for setting a user permitted to access the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage means;
Second access right setting means for setting a user permitted to access the image data and the plurality of attribute information attached to the image data;
Of the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit and / or the attribute information stored in the image data storage unit, the user is permitted to access based on the search condition input by the user 3. The image data management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising image data search means for referring to the attribute information and extracting the image data associated with the attribute information that matches the search condition. An image service system in which the terminal device and the image data management device according to claim 1 are communicably connected via a network.

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