JP7651846B2 - Image management device, print production system and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image management device, a print production system, and a program.

At theme parks and other places, a service is offered in which visitors are photographed, the printed photographs are attached to original mounts, and the photographs are sold to visitors.

For example, visitors are assigned a unique ID when they enter the park. Photographs are taken at one or more locations within the park, and the ID is entered before taking a photo at each photography point, and the photo is taken after the ID is entered. The ID information and photographed image data are transferred to the server device in sequence.

When the server device receives ID information, it links subsequently received photographed image data to this ID information and stores it. When new ID information is received, it links subsequently received photographed image data to the new ID information and stores it. For example, if the server device receives the first ID information, the first photographed image data, the second photographed image data, the second ID information, the third photographed image data, the fourth photographed image data, the third ID information, and the fifth photographed image data in this order, it links the first photographed image data and the second photographed image data to the first ID information and stores it, the third photographed image data and the fourth photographed image data to the second ID information and stores it, and the fifth photographed image data to the third ID information and stores it.

When visitors go to the photo center within the park and enter their ID information into a printing terminal, the captured image data linked to the entered ID information is printed out.

A computer such as a laptop or tablet terminal is installed at the shooting point, and image data generated by a shooting device such as a digital camera is transferred from the shooting device to the computer. The computer transmits the captured image data and ID information to a server device on the LAN via an access point. Typically, the server device receives the captured image data and ID information in the order they were sent from the computer (in the order they were captured).

However, due to some kind of malfunction in the computers, access points, or other devices on the LAN, the order in which the data was sent from the computer could differ from the order in which it was received by the server device. In this case, the photographed image data could be linked to the ID information of another visitor, causing the visitor to be unable to obtain prints of photographs of himself or herself.

For example, the computer at the shooting point may transmit the first ID information, the first photographed image data, the second photographed image data, the second ID information, the third photographed image data, and the fourth photographed image data in that order. However, due to a malfunction of a device on the network, the server device may receive the data in the following order: the first ID information, the first photographed image data, the second ID information, the third photographed image data, the fourth photographed image data, and the second photographed image data. In this case, the second photographed image data is stored linked to the second ID information, not the first ID information.

Patent No. 3913453

The present invention aims to provide an image management device, print production system, and program that can properly link and manage the identification information of the user who took the photograph with the captured image data.

The image management device of the present invention includes an image receiving unit that receives a code image obtained by capturing a code indicating identification information and a portrait image obtained by capturing a person, an image analysis unit that obtains the identification information from the code of the code image and extracts information on the shooting date and time from the code image and the portrait image, and a storage unit that links the portrait image to the identification information and stores it, and the portrait image is linked to the identification information indicated by the code of the code image whose shooting date and time is earlier than and closest to that of the portrait image.

The print production system of the present invention includes the image management device of the present invention, and an image printing device that, upon receiving input of identification information, notifies the image management device of the input identification information and prints out the portrait image received from the image management device.

The program of the present invention causes a computer to execute the steps of receiving a code image obtained by capturing a code indicating identification information and a person image obtained by capturing a person, acquiring the identification information from the code in the code image, extracting information on the shooting date and time from the code image and the person image, and storing the person image in a storage unit by linking it to the identification information indicated by the code in the code image whose shooting date and time is earlier than and closest to that of the person image.

According to the present invention, the identification information of the user who took the photograph can be correctly linked to the photographed image data and managed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print product production system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a photograph of a photography ticket. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the server device. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing examples of folder names. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing examples of file names of image data. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a folder structure for storing images. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a folder structure for storing images. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a folder structure for storing images.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a print production system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the print production system includes a server device 1 and an image printing device 2, and prints out images captured by a photographing device 3. The photographing device 3 is, for example, a digital still camera.

This print production system is installed in leisure facilities and the like, and for example, a facility staff member S uses a photographing device 3 to take a commemorative photograph of a visitor U and a character C. Upon entering the park, a visitor U is given a photographing ticket T, as shown in FIG. 2, on which a two-dimensional code Q indicating the visitor's unique identification information is printed. The visitor U presents the photographing ticket T to the staff member S before taking the commemorative photograph. The staff member S photographs the two-dimensional code Q on the photographing ticket T with the photographing device 3.

When the photographing device 3 photographs the two-dimensional code Q or the visitor U, it transfers the photographed image to a device 4 capable of wireless communication, such as a notebook computer. The device 4 transmits the photographed image to a server device 1 on the LAN via a device 5 capable of communication, such as an access point.

The photographing device 3 transfers the photographed images to the device 4 in the order in which they were taken. The device 4 transmits the photographed images to the server device 1 via the device 5 in the order in which they were received from the photographing device 3. For example, the server device 1 receives a photographed image of the two-dimensional code Q, and then receives photographed images of the visitor U and the character C. The server device 1 obtains identification information from the photographed image of the two-dimensional code Q, and manages the identification information by linking it to the photographed image of the visitor U. The method of managing images will be described later.

There may be multiple photo points within the facility where commemorative photographs can be taken with characters C, etc. Photographic devices 3, devices 4, 5, etc. are prepared at each photo point. Visitors U present their photo tickets T at each photo point. Staff S photographs the two-dimensional code Q on the photo ticket T and then takes a commemorative photograph of visitor U.

After taking a photo, guest U has image printing device 2 read the two-dimensional code Q on the photo ticket T. Image printing device 2 notifies server device 1 of the identification information obtained from the two-dimensional code Q. When server device 1 is notified of the identification information from image printing device 2, it transmits the image linked to this identification information to image printing device 2. Image printing device 2 prints and outputs the image received from server device 1 on paper. Guest U can obtain a printed item (souvenir photo).

Next, the configuration of the server device 1 will be described. The server device 1 is a computer equipped with a communication unit, a storage unit, a CPU, etc., and as the CPU executes an image management program, it functions as an image management device having an image receiving unit 11, an image analysis unit 12, a folder creation unit 13, a file naming unit 14, a determination unit 15, an image extraction unit 16, and an image transmission unit 17, as shown in FIG. 3. In the storage unit 10, a first storage area 10A and a second storage area 10B for storing images are generated. When there are multiple shooting points, image storage areas corresponding to each shooting point are created in the first storage area 10A and the second storage area 10B, respectively.

The image receiving unit 11 receives a captured image from the device 4 via a network such as a LAN. This captured image is generated by the photographing device 3. The image receiving unit 11 determines at which photographing point the image was captured based on the communication history of the received captured image, and stores the captured image in the corresponding image storage area in the first storage area 10A.

The image analysis unit 12 analyzes the captured image and determines whether the captured image is a code image obtained by capturing a two-dimensional code, or a person image obtained by capturing a person (visitor). If the captured image is a code image, the image analysis unit 12 obtains identification information from the code image.

The image analysis unit 12 also extracts shooting date and time information from the EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) information embedded in the captured image. The shooting date and time includes the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.

The image analysis process may be performed by an external computer. In that case, the image analysis unit 12 transmits the image data to the external computer and obtains the analysis results from the external computer.

When the received image is a code image, the folder creation unit 13 creates a folder in the second storage area 10B with a folder name that combines the shooting date and time of this code image and the identification information indicated by the code image. When an image storage area for each shooting point has been created in the second storage area 10B, a folder is created in the corresponding image storage area. For example, a folder F with a folder name as shown in FIG. 4 is created.

The file naming unit 14 generates and names a new file name for each captured image, including the capture point, capture date and time, old file name, serial number, and image type code. The old file name is the file name given when the capture device 3 generates the captured image, and is the file name when the server device 1 receives the captured image.

For example, a code image with the old file name "IMG0001.jpg" is given a new file name as shown in FIG. 5(a), and a portrait image with the old file name "IMG0002.jpg" is given a new file name as shown in FIG. 5(b). If the shooting point of the captured image changes, the M1 part of the new file name changes to M2, M3, etc. The sequence number is incremented when the same captured image is received during retransmission processing, etc. Image type codes are "0" for a code image and "1" for a portrait image.

The determination unit 15 determines the folder in which the captured image with the new file name will be stored. The determination unit 15 determines the storage destination of the code image to be a folder whose folder name includes the capture date and time of this code image and the identification information indicated by the two-dimensional code in the code image. The code image with the new file name is stored in the determined folder.

The determination unit 15 determines the storage destination of the portrait image to be the same folder as the code image that was photographed before the portrait image and has the most recent (closest) photographing date and time. The portrait image with the new file name is stored in the determined folder.

Figure 6 shows an example of a folder structure in which the server device 1 stores images received in sequence. The folder creation unit 13 creates a folder F1 using the shooting date and time and identification information of a code image with the old file name "IMG0001.jpg". The code image with the old file name "IMG0001.jpg" is stored in folder F1 with a new file name. Furthermore, the person images with the old file names "IMG0002.jpg" and "IMG0003.jpg" are stored with new file names in folder F1, which is the same as the code images that were shot before these person images and had the most recent shooting dates and times.

When the image analysis unit 12 determines that the captured image with the old file name "IMG0004.jpg" is a code image, the folder creation unit 13 creates a folder F2 using the capture date and time and identification information of the code image. The code image with the old file name "IMG0004.jpg" is stored in folder F2 with a new file name. In addition, the person images with the old file names "IMG0005.jpg", "IMG0006.jpg", and "IMG0008.jpg" are stored with new file names in the same folder F2 as the code images that were captured before these person images and had the most recent capture dates and times.

The captured images generated by the image capture device 3 are transferred to the device 4 in the order in which they were captured, and are then sequentially transmitted to the server device 1 via the device 5. Therefore, the server device 1 normally receives the captured images in the order in which they were captured, but a situation may arise in which the captured images are received in a different order from the order in which they were captured due to a malfunction in the transfer process, etc.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, after receiving a captured image with the old file name "IMG0008.jpg", a captured image with the old file name "IMG0007.jpg" whose capture date and time is earlier may be received. When the image analysis unit 12 determines that the captured image with the old file name "IMG0007.jpg" is a code image, the folder creation unit 13 creates a folder F3 using the capture date and time and identification information of the code image.

The code image with the old file name "IMG0007.jpg" is stored in folder F3 with a new file name. The determination unit 15 changes the storage destination of images of people already stored in folder F1 or F2 that have a shooting date and time later than the code image with "IMG0007.jpg" to folder F3. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the image of a person with the old file name "IMG0008.jpg" is stored in folder F3 with a new file name and deleted from folder F2.

This allows the portrait image with the old file name "IMG0008.jpg" to be stored in folder F3, whose folder name includes the correct visitor's identification information, and the portrait image can be linked to the correct identification information.

Figure 8 shows another example of a folder configuration in which the server device 1 stores images received in sequence. As in the example shown in Figure 6, folder F1 is created using the shooting date and time and identification information of the code image with the old file name "IMG0001.jpg", and the code image with the old file name "IMG0001.jpg" and portrait images with the old file names "IMG0002.jpg" and "IMG0003.jpg" are stored in folder F1 with new file names.

When the image analysis unit 12 determines that the captured image with the old file name "IMG0005.jpg" is a code image, the folder creation unit 13 creates a folder F2 using the capture date and time and identification information of the code image. The code image with the old file name "IMG0005.jpg" is stored in folder F2 with a new file name. In addition, the person images with the old file names "IMG0006.jpg", "IMG0007.jpg", and "IMG0008.jpg" are stored with new file names in the same folder F2 as the code images that were captured before these person images and had the most recent capture dates and times.

After receiving a captured image with the old file name "IMG0008.jpg", a captured image with the old file name "IMG0004.jpg" whose capture date and time is earlier is received. When the image analysis unit 12 determines that the captured image with the old file name "IMG0004.jpg" is a portrait image, the determination unit 15 determines that the storage destination will be folder F1, which is the same as the code image that was captured before the portrait image and has the most recent capture date and time. The portrait image with the old file name "IMG0004.jpg" is stored in folder F1 with a new file name.

This allows the portrait image with the old file name "IMG0004.jpg" to be stored in folder F1, whose folder name includes the correct visitor's identification information, and the portrait image can be linked to the correct identification information.

When the image extraction unit 16 is notified of the identification information from the image print device 2, it extracts portrait images from folders that include this identification information in their folder names. If there are multiple folders that include this identification information in their folder names, it extracts portrait images from each folder.

The image transmission unit 17 transmits the portrait image extracted by the image extraction unit 16 to the image printing device 2. The image printing device 2 prints out the portrait image.

In this way, in this embodiment, the server device 1 determines whether the captured image received is a code image or a person image, and if it is a code image, creates a folder and stores the code image in that folder, and if it is a person image, saves the person image in the same folder as the code image with the earlier and most recent capture date and time. Therefore, even if the capture order in the image capture device 3 (the order in which the captured images are generated) differs from the order in which the captured images are received in the server device 1, the person images can be saved and managed in a folder corresponding to the correct identification information.

If a portrait image is received when no code images have been received yet, i.e. when there are no folders in the second storage area 10B, an unknown folder may be created in the second storage area 10B and the portrait image may be stored in this unknown folder.

When creating a folder, the folder creation unit 13 may hash (encrypt) the identification information indicated by the code image, and set the folder name to a combination of the photographing date and time of the code image and the hashed identification information.

When the file naming unit 14 names a new file name for a captured image, the old file name may be replaced with a hashed (encrypted) version of the old file name.

When saving a portrait image in a folder, the server device 1 may also generate a thumbnail image (.tmb) and save it in the same folder. When the server device 1 receives identification information from the image printing device 2, it first transmits the thumbnail image to the image printing device 2. The image printing device 2 displays the thumbnail images and accepts the selection of the image that the user (visitor) wants to print. The image printing device 2 notifies the server device 1 of the selection result. The server device 1 transmits a portrait image (image to print) corresponding to the selection result to the image printing device 2. This allows the captured image to be quickly displayed as a thumbnail to the user in the image printing device 2.

The photo ticket T may have a barcode printed on it instead of a two-dimensional code.

Although the present invention has been described in detail using specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Reference Signs List 1 Server device 2 Image print device 3 Photography device 4, 5 Equipment 11 Image receiving unit 12 Image analysis unit 13 Folder creation unit 14 File naming unit 15 Determination unit 16 Image extraction unit 17 Image transmission unit

Claims (7)

an image receiving unit that receives a code image obtained by capturing an image of a code indicating identification information and a person image obtained by capturing an image of a person;
an image analysis unit that acquires the identification information from the code of the code image and extracts information on a shooting date and time from the code image and the person image;
a storage unit that stores the person image in association with the identification information;
a folder creation unit that creates a folder in the storage unit, the folder name of which includes the identification information;
a determination unit that determines a storage destination of the portrait image to be a folder whose photographing date and time is earlier than that of the portrait image and whose folder name includes identification information indicated by the code of the code image that is closest to the portrait image;
Equipped with
An image management device characterized in that, when the folder creation unit creates a new second folder, the determination unit changes the storage destination of portrait images stored in an already created first folder that have a later photographed date and time than the code image corresponding to the second folder to the second folder . an image receiving unit that receives a code image obtained by capturing an image of a code indicating identification information and a person image obtained by capturing an image of a person;
an image analysis unit that acquires the identification information from the code of the code image and extracts information on a shooting date and time from the code image and the person image;
a storage unit that stores the person image in association with the identification information;
a folder creation unit that creates a folder in the storage unit, the folder name of which includes the identification information;
a determination unit that determines a storage destination of the portrait image to be a folder whose photographing date and time is earlier than that of the portrait image and whose folder name includes identification information indicated by the code of the code image that is closest to the portrait image;
a file naming unit that assigns a new file name to the image received by the image receiving unit using the shooting point, shooting date and time, the file name at the time of reception, and a type code that indicates whether the image is a code image or a portrait image;
Equipped with
The image management device according to claim 1, wherein the portrait image is stored in the folder under a new file name assigned to the file naming section . 3. The image management device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of identification information included in the folder name and the file name at the time of reception used for the new file name is encrypted. an image extracting unit that, when the identification information is notified from the image print device, extracts a person image associated with the notified identification information from the storage unit;
an image transmitting unit that transmits the person image extracted by the image extracting unit to the image printing device;
4. The image management device according to claim 1, further comprising: The image management device according to claim 4 ;
an image print device that, upon receiving input of identification information, notifies the image management device of the input identification information and prints out the portrait image received from the image management device;
A print production system comprising: receiving a code image obtained by capturing an image of a code indicating identification information and a person image obtained by capturing an image of a person;
obtaining the identification information from the code of the code image;
extracting information on a date and time of photographing from the code image and the person image;
creating a folder in a storage unit, the folder name of the folder including the identification information;
determining a storage destination of the portrait image to be a folder whose name includes identification information indicated by the code of the code image whose photographing date and time is earlier than that of the portrait image and is closest to the portrait image, and storing the portrait image in the determined folder;
when a second folder is newly created in the storage unit, changing a storage destination of a portrait image, among portrait images stored in a first folder already created, that has a photographing date and time later than that of a code image corresponding to the second folder, to the second folder;
A program that causes a computer to execute the following. receiving a code image obtained by capturing an image of a code indicating identification information and a person image obtained by capturing an image of a person;
obtaining the identification information from the code of the code image;
extracting information on a date and time of photographing from the code image and the person image;
creating a folder in a storage unit, the folder name of the folder including the identification information;
determining a storage destination of the portrait image to be a folder whose name includes identification information indicated by the code of the code image whose photographing date and time is earlier than that of the portrait image and is closest to the portrait image;
a step of assigning a new file name to the received image using the photographing point, the photographing date and time, the file name at the time of reception, and a type code indicating whether the image is a code image or a portrait image;
storing the portrait image in the folder determined as the storage destination with the given new file name;
A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

Images