JP4557658B2 - Event image disclosure method and system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and system for publishing an image captured by a digital camera, a camera-equipped mobile phone, and the like, and more particularly to a method and system for publishing an image related to an event.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 below describe systems in which an image captured by a digital camera or the like is shared on the Internet by people belonging to a group. These conventional technologies are systems in which a person who uploads an image on the network determines whether or not to make the image public, and only people in a limited group can view the image.

  However, digital cameras and camera-equipped mobile phones have become widespread, and an unspecified number of people have uploaded photographed images on the Internet. And if you want an image from a certain event, such as an image of a fireworks display in the Tama River, you can search for the image on the Internet.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-16002 JP 2001-325259 A

  When various people upload captured images on the net, uploaders often do not name each uploaded image according to the event name. Judging whether to make it public or not, and classifying and organizing images become troublesome. In addition, there is a problem that a person who searches for a target image on the network also takes a lot of time and effort to reach the target image.

  An object of the present invention is to automatically determine whether an image is disclosed or not disclosed when an unspecified number of people upload a photographed image on the network. The present invention also relates to an event image disclosure method and system capable of easily classifying and organizing images without adding them, and further automatically adding useful information on the image management server side.

The event image disclosing method of the present invention is an event that uses a server connected to the net to publish photographed image data that has been photographed by an imaging device equipped with GPS and timekeeping means and to which photographing position information and photographing date / time information have been added. In the image publishing method, the server receives the captured image data via the net, and the captured image data reception step, and the server receives the captured image data received in the captured image data reception step. A registration step of classifying according to date and time information and registering in the database in association with an event specified by the shooting position information and shooting date and time information, and the server has a predetermined number of registrations of the captured image data related to the event in the database When the number exceeds the number, the imaged image data is set as a disclosure target and reaches the predetermined number. When there are characterized by having a public control step of setting the photographic image data to the private target.

In the event image disclosure method of the present invention, the server collects information related to the event via the net when the number of registrations of the captured image data related to the event in the database reaches a predetermined determination number smaller than the predetermined number. It is characterized by doing.

Event image public method of the present invention, the server, information about the event, and wherein the collecting through the network from the information providing server Event organization specified by the photographing position information and the shooting date and time information .

In the event image disclosure method of the present invention, the server names the file name of the captured image data set as the disclosure target in association with the corresponding event name.

The event image publishing system of the present invention uses a picture management server connected to the network to publish photographed image data that is photographed by an imaging device equipped with GPS and timekeeping means and is added with photographing position information and photographing date / time information. In the event image publishing system, the image management server receives the captured image data via the net, classifies the received captured image data according to shooting position information and shooting date information, and the shooting position information and shooting date and time. Registering in the database in association with the event specified by the information, and when the number of registrations of the captured image data related to the event in the database exceeds a predetermined number, the captured image data is set as a disclosure target, and the predetermined When the number does not reach the number, the photographed image data is set as a non-disclosure target .

Event image release system of the present invention, the image management server, via a network information relating to the event when the number of registrations to the database of the captured image data relating to the event reaches a predetermined determination number less than the predetermined number It is characterized by collecting.

Event image release system of the present invention, wherein the image management server, information on the event, collecting through the net from the information providing server Event organization specified by the photographing position information and the shooting date and time information And

In the event image disclosure system according to the present invention, the image management server names the file name of the captured image data set as the disclosure target in association with the event name.

  According to the present invention, when an unspecified number of people upload a photographed image on the net, it is possible to automatically determine whether the image is public or non-public, and the uploader can add incidental information to the image. Even if it is not added, it becomes easy to classify and organize images, and further, useful information can be automatically added on the image management server side.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an event image disclosure system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This event image publishing system includes a user side device 2 and a service providing side device 3 connected via the Internet 1.

  The user side device 2 is composed of a terminal device such as a digital camera 2a or a camera-equipped mobile phone 2b. However, the user side device 2 is equipped with a GPS (global positioning system) and time measuring means, and is photographed as, for example, Exif information. It is a premise that the device is capable of adding the position (longitude, latitude) information and the shooting date / time information.

  When these terminal devices 2a and 2b are directly connected to the Internet 1 and the photographed image data cannot be uploaded to the service providing side device 3, the photographed image data is sent from the terminal devices 2a and 2b together with the additional information to an image such as a personal computer or a cradle. The configuration may be such that the image is stored in the storage terminal 2 c and the image storage terminal 2 c is uploaded to the service providing side device 3 via the network 1.

  The service providing apparatus 3 includes an image management server 3a connected to the Internet 1 and an image database 3c connected to the image management server 3a via a LAN 3b.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the event image disclosure system shown in FIG. The photographed image data is uploaded from the user side device 2 to the service providing side device 2 (step S1). In this case, the user does not need to specify whether or not to publish the captured image to be uploaded, and simply uploads it.

  The image management server 3a of the service providing side device 3 that has received the uploaded photographed image data reads the tag information of the Exif (step S2) and acquires the information of the photographing position (step S3). Then, each position information corresponding to the event folder name already created in the database 3c is collated, and it is determined whether or not the information of the shooting position is included in the position information of any existing event folder name (step) S4). For example, a certain event folder name corresponds to a certain baseball field, and the existence range of the baseball field is known to be from several times in the east longitude and from several times in the north latitude. Is included in the existence range of the baseball field, it is determined that the information on the shooting position is included in the existence range of the event folder name.

  If an event folder name whose shooting range information is included in the existing range is not already set, a new event folder name is created (step S5), and an event folder name whose position information is included in the existing range is already set. If so, the event folder name is specified (step S6).

  Next to steps S5 and S6, shooting date / time information of the shot image data is acquired (step S7). Then, it is compared with the date / time information corresponding to the existing date / time folder name in the event folder name to determine whether or not the date / time folder name in the time range including the date / time information exists (step S8).

  If the date / time folder name in the time range including the shooting date / time information does not exist, a new date / time folder name is created (step S9), and if the date / time folder name including the date / time information exists. The date / time folder name is specified (step S10), and the uploaded image is registered in the corresponding date / time folder (step S11).

  Thus, for example, the captured image data of a baseball game held on October 20th from 6:00 to 9:00 on a certain baseball field, and soccer played on one October 21st at 3:00 pm on a certain soccer stadium. The captured image data of the game is classified and registered in different event folder names and date / time folder names based on the shooting position information and the shooting date / time information.

  The image management server 3a sequentially counts the number of registered images in each date / time folder for each date / time folder. In the next step S12, the count number of the date / time folder in which the uploaded image is newly registered is incremented. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a date and time folder whose count reaches a predetermined number, for example, 500 (step S13).

  The image management server 3a sets the date / time folder as the disclosure target folder for the date / time folder whose count exceeds the predetermined number (step S14), and accesses the registered image data inside from the third party. Is possible. For a date / time folder whose count has not reached the predetermined number, the date / time folder is set as a non-public folder (step S15), and access from the third party to the registered image data therein is prohibited.

  A date / time folder with a large number of counts can be judged to have a high interest in the corresponding event, and people who participated in the event or those who did not participate in the event are expected to increase the number of people viewing the captured image data related to the event. The For this reason, the registered image data in the date / time folder with a large number of counts is disclosed to meet the demands of an unspecified number of people.

  In contrast, a date / time folder with a small number of counts is likely to have personal captured image data registered, and even if it is disclosed, it is expected that there will be few people browsing. For this reason, in order to eliminate the waste of searching the date / time folder in which the person who searches for the image data is less interested, the date / time folder having a small count number is not disclosed.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of an event image disclosure system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Although this embodiment can be provided independently of the first embodiment, it is preferable to use it together with the first embodiment, and the image management server 3a of the service providing side device is connected via the Internet 1. Are connected to information providing servers 4a, 4b, 4c,...

  In the first embodiment, “event folder name” and “date / time folder name” have been described. These names are, for example, “Tama River Fireworks Festival” or “First Half vs. XX Soccer Match”. When names such as “battle” and “second half” are given, it will be convenient for those who are looking for a publicly available photographed image. However, inputting all these names manually is a difficult task. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the name is automatically assigned.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of automatic name addition processing in the event image disclosure system. When the photographed image data described in FIG. 1 is uploaded from the terminal devices 2a, 2b, 2c, etc. (step S1), the photographed image data to which the photographing position information and the photographing date / time information are added as supplementary information via the Internet 1 is obtained. The image management server 3a of the service providing side device 3 receives the Exif tag information (step S2).

  The image management server 3a first acquires shooting position information from the tag information (step S3), and then compares the number N1 of registered image data of the event folder corresponding to the shooting position information with the determination number T. (Step S31). If the number of registered image data N1 <T, the number of registered image data is small and there is no need to make the folder name easy to understand. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S32, and the automatic name adding process ends.

  If the number of registered image data N1 ≧ T, the process proceeds from step S31 to step S33, and this time, “date” information in the shooting date / time information is acquired. Then, the number N2 of registered image data having the same “day” in the event folder is compared with the determination number S (step S34), and if N2 <S, the process proceeds to step S35, and the event name for the event company, etc. Request information for. Upon receiving this information provision request, the event company returns the requested event name information to the image management server 3a, and the image management server 3a acquires the provision information (step S36).

  In the case of events held at geographically fixed event venues such as baseball stadiums and soccer stadiums, the event venue can be identified from the shooting location information added to the shot image data. It is possible to know whether it is a company or the like, and it is possible to request information provision by automatically accessing an address on the Internet of the company or the like.

  In the case of N2 ≧ S, the process proceeds from step S34 to step S37, and this time, “hour” information in the date information is acquired. Then, the number N3 of registered image data having the same “time” in the event folder is compared with the determination number U (step S38). If N3 <U, the process proceeds to step S39, and the event company or the like is classified by schedule. Request information about event details. Upon receiving this information provision request, the event company returns the requested information to the image management server 3a, and the image management server 3a acquires the provision information (step S36).

  In the case of N3 ≧ U, the process proceeds from step S38 to step S40, and the event company or the like is requested to provide information such as time-specific event contents. Upon receiving this information provision request, the event company returns the requested information to the image management server 3a, and the image management server 3a acquires the provision information (step S36).

  According to the embodiment described above, as the captured image data is collected, more detailed information such as the event name and event content regarding the captured image data can be obtained, and the folder name is automatically named based on the event name. It is possible to classify and organize photographed image data. In addition, since an event with higher interest can obtain information on the contents of the explanation and provide the event information to the viewer, it is possible to construct an image database with high serviceability and excellent usability.

  In the above-described embodiment, the number of registered image data is compared with the number of determinations to determine whether or not to request the provision of event information. This is a process that requests information provision one by one when the number of registered image data is small. This is because the load increases, and if the processing capability is high, the provision of event information may be requested regardless of the number of registered image data.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram according to the third embodiment of the present invention. By executing the event image disclosure system according to the first and second embodiments, the event is distinguished by the longitude / latitude range specified by the GPS information, and the event for each time is divided into “day” information and “hour”. The information is distinguished as an event ID (folder name) and a date / time ID, and the event name of the event for each time is provided by a company or the like to create the list data of FIG.

  Here, when a third party wants to view the captured image data in the image database 3c, the folder name is displayed with an event name such as “XX show”, and each file (photographed image data) is viewed. It will be viewed with software. However, when each file name is a file name given by the user when uploaded, for example, “DSC0001.JPG”, when a third party downloads and saves it in his personal computer, It is impossible to identify what image data is from the file name later.

  Therefore, the image management server 3a according to the present embodiment sets the file name of the captured image data with the uploaded file name “DSC ** ... *. JPG” as “XX show ** ... *. JPG” or “XX”. Parade ** ... *. JPG "is automatically renamed. As a result, file management after downloading is facilitated, and the serviceability of the image management server 3a can be further enhanced.

  As a service for a user who uploads photographed image data, providing a service for renaming a file name with an event name and returning it to the user side further enhances the serviceability of the image management server 3a. In order to provide this service, it is necessary for the image management server 3a to always collect various event information regardless of the comparison between the number of registered image data and the number of determinations.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the captured image data can be classified in more detail based on the position information and the shooting date / time information by GPS. For example, it is possible to classify them according to whether they are images taken from the first base of the baseball field, images taken from the third base, or images when the player hits the home run. Service can be provided.

  The event image disclosure system according to the present invention creates an image database by classifying uploaded photographed images for each event without incurring any burden on the user uploading the photographed images. Since only photographed images are disclosed, it is useful as a system that provides an image database with high serviceability.

1 is a configuration diagram of an event image disclosure system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the event image disclosure system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the event image disclosure system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the name automatic addition process performed with the event image disclosure system shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Internet 2 User side apparatus 2a Digital camera 2b Camera-equipped mobile phone 2c Data storage apparatus 3 Service providing side apparatus 3a Image management server 3c Image databases 4a, 4b,.

Claims (8)

In an event image publishing method for publishing photographed image data, which is photographed by an imaging device equipped with GPS and timekeeping means, to which photographing position information and photographing date / time information are added , using a server connected to the net,
A photographic image data receiving step in which the server receives the photographic image data via the net;
Registration step in which the server classifies the photographed image data received in the photographed image data reception step according to the photographing position information and the photographing date information and registers them in the database in association with the event specified by the photographing position information and the photographing date information. When,
The server sets the photographic image data to be disclosed when the number of registrations of the photographic image data related to the event in the database exceeds a predetermined number, and when the number does not reach the predetermined number, An event image publishing method comprising: a publishing control step for setting a non-disclosure target . 2. The server collects information related to the event via the network when the number of registered photographed image data related to the event reaches a predetermined determination number smaller than the predetermined number. Event image disclosure method described in 1. The server, event images published provides information about the event, to claim 2, wherein the collecting through the net from the photographing position information and the information providing server Event organization specified by shooting date and time information Method. The event image publishing method according to claim 3, wherein the server names the file name of the captured image data set as the disclosure target in association with the event name. In an event image publishing system that publishes captured image data captured by an imaging device equipped with GPS and timekeeping means to which captured position information and captured date and time information are added using an image management server connected to the net.
The image management server receives the photographed image data via the net, classifies the received photographed image data by photographing position information and photographing date / time information, and identifies an event specified by the photographing position information and photographing date / time information. When the registered number of the captured image data related to the event in the database exceeds a predetermined number, the captured image data is set as a disclosure target, and when the predetermined number is not reached, An event image publishing system characterized in that photographed image data is set as a non-disclosure target . The image management server collects information related to the event via the network when the number of registered photographed image data related to the event reaches a predetermined determination number smaller than the predetermined number. Item 5. The event image disclosure system according to Item 5. The image management server, event according to claim 6, characterized in that the information about the event, collecting through the photographing position information and the net from the information providing server Event organization specified by shooting date and time information Image publishing system. The event image publishing system according to claim 7, wherein the image management server names the file name of the captured image data set as the disclosure target in association with a corresponding event name.

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