JP2017027258A - Information distribution device, communication terminal, information distribution system, information distribution device control method, communication terminal control method, control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance willingness for a user to purchase an image.SOLUTION: A management server (4) comprises: an email creation unit (412) or a webpage creation unit (413) that creates an email or a page to have a mobile terminal (6) display an image storage screen that includes one or more thumbnails of a generated image in order to have the generated image stored in an image providing site and displays a selected thumbnail with higher visibility than before the selection on the same screen; and a communication unit (403) for transmitting the email to the mobile terminal (6).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information distribution apparatus and a communication terminal that manage a plurality of images created by an image generation apparatus.

  In recent years, an image created from a photograph taken by a photograph sticker creation apparatus is not only provided by being printed on a sticker, but also electronic data of the image can be downloaded to a user terminal or the like. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a thumbnail image of an image created by a photo sticker creating apparatus and temporarily stored in a server or the like, and a URL (Uniform Resource Locater) for downloading the image. Is sent to a terminal owned by the user, and the user can download the image by clicking the URL. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228867 discloses a technique that allows a user to select whether to save all the created images including the sample images or only one of the thumbnail images on the personal page of the image acquisition site. ing.

Patent No. 5146148 (Registered December 7, 2012) JP 2012-235315 A (published on November 29, 2012)

  By the way, the above-described image download service is generally provided in accordance with a charging (or registration) act of a user. For example, in order to download an image, the user needs to perform paid member registration or free member registration on the download service providing site or the like. In other words, it can be said that the user purchases the image (its electronic data) by performing paid member registration or free member registration.

  By the way, it can be presumed that the user wants to confirm what kind of image the downloadable image is before performing member registration (purchase the image). However, since the technique described in Patent Document 1 only displays the thumbnail of the image, there is a problem that the user cannot sufficiently confirm the image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information delivery apparatus capable of increasing the user's willingness to purchase an image by allowing the user to check the image before purchasing the image. It is to realize a communication terminal or the like.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an information distribution apparatus according to the present invention manages one or more images created by an image generation apparatus that generates an image according to a charge, and distributes the image to a communication terminal. An information distribution apparatus for generating a display data for displaying a purchase screen for allowing a user of the communication terminal to purchase a part or all of the image, and the display data for the communication terminal The display data is displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal by displaying a screen on which one or more sample images of the image are arranged as the purchase screen, and on the purchase screen. It is data that is displayed on the purchase screen in a state in which at least a part of the image area of the selected sample image is higher in visibility than before selection.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an information distribution apparatus control method according to the present invention manages one or more images created by an image generation apparatus that generates an image according to a charge, and A display data creation step of creating display data for displaying a purchase screen that allows a user of the communication terminal to purchase a part or all of the image, Transmitting the display data to the communication terminal, and the display data causes the display unit of the communication terminal to display a screen on which one or more sample images of the image are arranged as the purchase screen. In addition, the data is displayed on the purchase screen in a state in which at least a part of the image area of the sample image selected on the purchase screen is higher in visibility than before selection. .

  According to said structure, the purchase screen which has arrange | positioned the sample image of an image in a communication terminal is displayed by a transmission part transmitting the display data which the display data preparation part produced to the communication terminal. Furthermore, when the sample image is selected on the communication terminal, the display data is data for displaying at least a part of the image area of the sample image with higher visibility than before the selection. Therefore, the information distribution apparatus can cause the communication terminal to display at least a part of the image area of the sample image selected on the purchase screen with higher visibility than before selection.

  Therefore, the information distribution apparatus can allow the user to check the image before purchasing the image on the purchase screen displayed on the communication apparatus. Thereby, the user can evaluate the image created by the image generation apparatus himself and purchase a favorite image. Furthermore, since the information distribution apparatus can present the image to the user with high visibility when the sample image is selected, the user's willingness to purchase the image can be increased.

  In the information distribution apparatus according to the present invention, the display data displays the selected sample image in a state with high visibility by displaying the selected sample image in a larger size than before the selection. It may be data to be made.

  According to the above configuration, the information distribution apparatus can cause the communication terminal to display the sample image selected on the purchase screen in a size larger than that before selection. Here, “large size” not only simply enlarges the magnification of the sample image, but also reconfigures the resolution and display size of the image corresponding to the sample image in accordance with the display area of the display unit of the communication terminal. It may be to adjust. In other words, the sample image of a large size that is displayed after selection may be a processed version of the sample image before selection, or is re-created by appropriately determining the resolution and display size from the original image of the sample image. It may be a sample image.

  As a result, the information distribution apparatus can cause the user to check the captured image in more detail and consider whether or not to purchase. Therefore, the information distribution apparatus can further increase the user's willingness to purchase images.

  In the information distribution apparatus according to the present invention, the sample image is displayed in a state where at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution appears to be different from the image corresponding to the sample image on the purchase screen. The display data is the same as or closer to the image than at the time of selection in at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution for at least a part of the image area of the selected sample image. It may be data for displaying the selected sample image in a state with high visibility by displaying it so as to be visible in a state.

  According to the above configuration, the information distribution apparatus arranges a sample image displayed in a state in which at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution looks different from the actual image as a purchase screen on the communication terminal Display the selected screen. Furthermore, the information distribution apparatus causes the communication terminal to display the selected sample image so that it can be seen in the same or close state as the image compared to before the selection. Note that the sample image displayed after selection may be a processed sample image before selection, or the degree of change of at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution from the original image of the sample image. May be a sample image that is appropriately determined and recreated.

  Thereby, the information distribution apparatus can present an image closer to the original image according to the user's selection, and can consider whether or not to purchase. Therefore, the information distribution apparatus can further increase the user's willingness to purchase images.

  In the information distribution apparatus according to the present invention, the image is a photograph of a user's face or an image created from the photograph, and the display data includes a user's face of the selected sample image. The selected sample image is displayed with the above-mentioned visibility by displaying so that at least one of the brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution of the image area of the image is viewed in the same or close state as that of the image compared to before selection. The data may be displayed in a high state.

  According to said structure, the image produced with the image generation apparatus is an image containing a user's face. Therefore, it can be estimated that the user would most like to confirm how his / her face is reflected as a reflection of the image. In other words, it is highly possible that the appearance of the user's face in the image is decisive for purchase.

  And according to said structure, an information delivery apparatus makes a user confirm in more detail the image of the face which the user would most want to confirm among the image areas of an image, and makes it consider whether it purchases. Can do. Therefore, the information distribution apparatus can further increase the user's willingness to purchase images.

  In the information distribution device according to the present invention, the display data causes the display unit to display the selected sample image in a state in which at least one of size and resolution is smaller than the image corresponding to the sample image. Preferably it is data.

  According to the above configuration, the information distribution apparatus can cause the communication terminal to display the selected sample image in a state where at least one of the size and the resolution is smaller than the original image created by the image generation apparatus. . Accordingly, for example, even if an image of the selected sample image is to be duplicated by the screen shot function of the communication terminal or the like, only an image having at least one of size and resolution, that is, an image deteriorated from the original image can be acquired. That is, the information distribution apparatus can prevent unauthorized acquisition (acquiring an image without purchasing) of an image in a communication terminal.

  In the information distribution apparatus according to the present invention, the display data includes, as the purchase screen, the sample image and a link object for purchasing a part or all of the image in a display area of the display unit. It is preferable that the data display the screens arranged at the same time.

  According to said structure, an information delivery apparatus displays the purchase screen which has arrange | positioned a sample image and a link object simultaneously within the display area of the display part of a communication terminal (in the area which a user can browse at a time). Can do. Therefore, the user who browses the purchase screen can operate the link object for purchase without scrolling the screen after confirming the sample image. Therefore, the information distribution apparatus can further increase the user's willingness to purchase images.

  In the information distribution apparatus according to the present invention, the link object includes an all purchase link object for purchasing all the images and a part purchase link object for purchasing a part of the image, and the display The data preferably displays a screen on which the sample image, the all purchase link objects, and the partial purchase link object are arranged in order along the scroll direction of the purchase screen as the purchase screen.

  According to the above configuration, the information distribution apparatus, as a purchase screen on the communication terminal, sequentially purchases a sample image, a full purchase link object, and a partial purchase along the screen scroll direction (that is, the direction in which the user's line of sight moves). Display the screen where the link object is placed. Thereby, the user who browses the purchase screen can find all purchase link objects and some purchase link objects along a natural flow of eyes after confirming the sample image.

  Furthermore, since the information distribution apparatus can make the user confirm the sample image first on the purchase screen displayed on the communication terminal and show various link objects for purchase after raising the purchase motivation, It is possible to effectively guide to image purchase.

  Also, a user who is not willing to purchase the entire image can be guided to purchase even a part of the image by showing the partial purchase link object after the full purchase link object.

  In the information distribution apparatus according to the present invention, the display data includes, as the purchase screen, a sample image of the image most recently created by the image generation device and an image created before the creation of the most recent image. And the data which display the screen which has arrange | positioned one or more each sample image of the unpurchased image which the said user has not purchased may be sufficient.

  According to the above configuration, the information distribution device is created not only in the most recently created image in the image generating device, but also in the past (before the creation of the image), but the user did not purchase (that is, A sample image of an unpurchased image (which is currently unpurchased) can be displayed again on the purchase screen. Thereby, the information distribution apparatus can give the user an opportunity to purchase an unpurchased image.

  Moreover, since the sample image of the unpurchased image is displayed together with the sample image of the image, more images that can be purchased (the image and the unpurchased image) can be shown to the user, and the user's willingness to purchase is further increased. be able to.

  In the information distribution apparatus according to the present invention, the display data includes, as the purchase screen, a sample image of the image and a sample image of the non-purchased image in different areas in the display area of the display unit. It may be data for displaying screens that are separately arranged.

  According to the above configuration, the sample image of the image and the sample image of the unpurchased image are arranged separately without being mixed. Therefore, the user can clearly distinguish the sample image of the most recently captured image from the sample image of the unpurchased image, evaluate each sample image, and consider the purchase. Therefore, the user's willingness to purchase can be further enhanced by improving usability.

  In order to solve the above problems, a communication terminal according to the present invention is a communication terminal that communicates with any of the information distribution apparatuses described above, and receives an input unit that receives an input operation and the display data from the information distribution apparatus. And a display control unit that displays the purchase screen on the display unit according to the display data, and when an input operation for selecting any one of the sample images is performed on the input unit, The display control unit is characterized in that at least a part of the image area of the selected sample image is displayed on the purchase screen in a state of higher visibility than before selection.

  In order to solve the above problems, a communication terminal control method according to the present invention is a communication terminal control method for communicating with any of the information distribution apparatuses described above, an input step for receiving an input operation, and the display A receiving step for receiving data from the information distribution device; and a display control step for displaying the purchase screen on the display unit in accordance with the display data, wherein one of the sample images is selected in the input step. When an input operation is performed, in the display control step, at least a part of the image area of the selected sample image is displayed on the purchase screen in a state of higher visibility than before selection.

  According to said structure, a receiving part receives the display data which the display data creation part produced, and a display control part displays a purchase screen according to the said display data. Furthermore, when an input operation for selecting a sample image is performed on the input unit, the display control unit causes the display unit to display at least a part of the image area of the sample image with higher visibility than before selection.

  Therefore, the communication terminal can allow the user to check the appearance of the image before purchasing the image. Thereby, the user can evaluate the image created by the image generation apparatus himself and purchase a favorite image. Furthermore, since the information distribution apparatus can present a copy of the image to the user with better visibility than the sample image, the user's willingness to purchase the image can be enhanced.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an information distribution system according to the present invention includes an image generation device that generates an image according to billing, and the information distribution device that manages the image and distributes the image to a communication terminal. And the communication terminal that communicates with the information delivery apparatus.

  According to said structure, there exists an effect similar to the said information delivery apparatus and the said communication terminal.

  The information distribution device or the communication terminal may be realized by a computer. In this case, the information distribution device or the control program for the communication terminal that causes the computer to be realized by the information distribution device or the communication terminal, and A computer-readable recording medium on which it is recorded also falls within the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention has an effect that the user's willingness to purchase an image can be enhanced by allowing the user to check the image before the image is purchased.

It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the management server which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the external appearance of the photograph sticker production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the external appearance of the photograph sticker production apparatus concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention from other angles. It is a figure explaining the movement of the user in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the imaging | photography part with which the photograph sticker production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the background part with which the photograph sticker production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the edit part with which the photograph sticker production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the aft customer service part with which the photograph sticker production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of the photograph sticker production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the detailed structural example of the control part with which the photograph sticker production apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen transition figure which shows an example of the web page displayed on the display part of a portable terminal at the time of the member registration process in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the flow of a series of processes from the photography in 1st Embodiment of this invention to my page display. It is a screen transition diagram which shows an example of the web page displayed on the display part of a portable terminal at the time of the image preservation | save process to the management server in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image storage screen displayed by an image storage mail. It is a figure which shows the structure of the whole said image preservation | save screen. It is a figure which shows the modification of the said image storage screen. It is a figure which shows the specific example of my page of an image provision site, and an image preservation | save guidance page. It is a figure which shows the modification of the highlight display of the thumbnail in an image preservation | save guidance page. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of an image preservation | save induction | guidance | derivation page in the case of displaying the thumbnail of the production | generation image produced in the last 1 play of a photograph sticker production apparatus, and the thumbnail of a past image together. It is a figure which shows the modification of the example of a screen of an image preservation | save guidance page in the case of displaying together the thumbnail of the production | generation image produced in the last 1 play of a photograph sticker production apparatus, and the thumbnail of a past image. It is a figure which shows the modification of the example of a screen of an image preservation | save guidance page in the case of displaying together the thumbnail of the production | generation image produced in the last 1 play of a photograph sticker production apparatus, and the thumbnail of a past image. It is a figure which shows the modified example of arrangement | positioning of the thumbnail in an image preservation | save guidance page, a scroll direction, and an emphasis display. It is a figure which shows the modified example of arrangement | positioning of the thumbnail in an image preservation | save guidance page, a scroll direction, and an emphasis display. It is a figure which shows the modified example of arrangement | positioning of a thumbnail on the screen of an image preservation | save guidance page and an image preservation | save mail, a scroll direction, and an emphasis display. It is a figure which shows an example of the user management information preserve | saved in the member database of the management server in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image management information preserve | saved in the image preservation | save database of the management server in 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Embodiment 1
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Descriptions of configurations other than those described in the following specific embodiments may be omitted as necessary, but are the same as those configurations when described in other embodiments. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in each embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof is omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the shape of the configuration described in each drawing and the dimensions such as length, depth, and width do not reflect the actual shape and dimensions, but are changed as appropriate for the sake of clarity and simplification of the drawings. ing.

(Image management system 10)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image management system (information distribution system) 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image management system 10 includes a photo sticker creation device (image generation device) 1, a portable terminal (communication terminal) 6, and a management server (information distribution device) 4.

  The photographed image management system 10 is a photo sticker creation game for creating image data, an image management service for storing and managing the created image data, and a sale for selling image data stored and managed by the image management service. It is a system for providing services. Hereinafter, the role of each device constituting the image management system 10 will be described.

  The photo sticker creation device 1 is a device installed in a store such as a game center, and provides a photo sticker creation game in accordance with a user's charge. The photo sticker creation game is a game including at least an image editing process and a process of transmitting image data of an edited image (edited image) to the management server 4. In other words, the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 is an image generating apparatus that generates an image in accordance with a user's charge.

  The photo sticker creation game preferably includes a photo shooting process for obtaining an image (photographed image) to be edited, and a process of printing the photo taken image and the edited image as a photo sticker. In the following description, the edited image obtained by editing the photographed image is described as being transmitted to the management server 4, but the photographed image may be transmitted to the management server 4 without being edited (unedited). . Hereinafter, images generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 such as photographed images and edited images are collectively referred to as generated images.

  The management server 4 provides an image management service for storing and managing image data of generated images. Specifically, the management server 4 manages an image providing site for allowing a user to save and view a generated image. The image providing site is a site for a user to browse his / her own image and another user's image. Further, the image providing site has an SNS (Social Networking Service) function, and enables communication of users on the site.

  The portable terminal 6 is a communication terminal possessed by the user. The mobile terminal 6 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like. The portable terminal 6 can communicate with the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 by wireless communication means or wired communication means. Further, the mobile terminal 6 can access the image providing site by communicating with the management server 4 via the network. That is, the user operates the portable terminal 6 possessed by the user to save the generated image generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in the image providing site (purchase the image) or save it in the image providing site. The generated image can be browsed.

  Note that the user can also access the image providing site using a communication terminal different from the portable terminal 6 (for example, a desktop or notebook PC).

  In order to save the generated image in the image providing site, prior member registration is required. The user registers himself / herself in the image providing site as a free member or a paid member. Free members do not need to pay a membership fee, but image providing sites are limited by the number of generated images that can be stored. In the present embodiment, the free member can store only one generated image in the image providing site for each game (one play). On the other hand, the paying member can store the generated images indefinitely in the image providing site instead of having to pay a certain membership fee continuously. In the present embodiment, all the generated images generated in one play can be stored in the image providing site.

  In addition, the user's own membership attribute may be changed from a free member to a paid member, or from a paid member to a free member by allowing the user to perform a predetermined procedure on the image providing site. In addition, as a paying member system, a system that pays according to the number of generated images stored on the image providing site is adopted, rather than a system that allows unlimited generation of stored images by continuously paying a fixed membership fee. May be.

  The flow from photography to image storage in the image management system 10 will be briefly described below. One or more users pay (charge) the price to the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 and play a game related to photography and image editing. The user takes a picture of himself as a subject during the game. The user selects some images to be edited from the photographed images generated by photographing, and edits them as desired. Further, the user inputs his / her mail address to the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in order to save the generated image in the image providing site later.

  After the game is over, the user gets a photo sticker. On the other hand, the photo sticker creation apparatus 1 associates the input user's e-mail address with the generated generated image and transmits it to the management server 4. The management server 4 transmits a mail (image storage mail) for guiding the received generated image to be stored in the image providing site to the received mail address. The user receives this mail at his / her mobile terminal 6. The e-mail describes a procedure for storing the generated image in the image providing site. The user performs an operation for saving the generated image on the portable terminal 6 according to the procedure. As a result, the generated image is stored in an image storage area dedicated to the user in the image providing site.

  After the image is stored in the image providing site, the user logs in to the image providing site using the portable terminal 6 or other desired device, and browses the generated image or displays the generated image on the portable terminal 6 or other desired device. Or downloaded to the device.

(Configuration of photo sticker creation device)
The configuration and function of each device constituting the image management system 10 will be described in detail below. First, details of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the appearance of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 mainly includes a photographing unit 11, an editing unit 12, and a subsequent customer service unit 13. The photo sticker creating apparatus 1 is installed in a state in which the photographing unit 11 and the editing unit 12 are in contact with each other, and the editing unit 12 and the subsequent customer service unit 13 are in contact with each other.

(Shooting unit 11)
The photographing unit 11 includes a photographing unit 21 and a background unit 22. The photographing unit 21 and the background unit 22 are installed with a predetermined distance apart. Shooting control is performed in a shooting space that is a space formed between the shooting unit 21 and the background unit 22.

  The photographing unit 21 is a device that allows a user to perform photographing control. The photographing unit 21 enters the photographing space and is located in front of the user who is performing the photographing control. A front panel 41 of the photographing unit 21 that constitutes a surface in which the photographing space is desired in front is provided with a touch panel monitor used by the user during photographing control. Assuming that the left side is the left side and the right side is the right side as viewed from the user in the imaging space, the left side of the imaging unit 21 is configured by the side panel 42A, and the right side is configured by the side panel 42B.

  The background portion 22 is attached to the left end of the rear panel 51 and the rear panel 51, which are plate-like members positioned on the rear side of the user who is performing the shooting control facing the front, and has a narrower width than the side panel 42A. And a side panel 52B (FIG. 4) which is a plate-like member attached to the right end of the rear panel 51 and having a narrower width than the side panel 42B.

  The side panel 42A constituting the left side surface of the photographing unit 21 and the side panel 52A of the background unit 22 are provided on substantially the same plane, and their upper portions are connected by a connecting part 23A that is a plate-like member. Further, the side panel 42B constituting the right side surface of the photographing unit 21 and the side panel 52B of the background portion 22 are provided on substantially the same plane, and their upper portions are connected by a connecting portion 23B which is a plate-like member.

  An opening formed by being surrounded by the side panel 42 </ b> A of the photographing unit 21, the connecting part 23 </ b> A, and the side panel 52 </ b> A of the background part 22 becomes an entrance G <b> 1 of the photographing space. An opening formed by being surrounded by the side panel 42B of the imaging unit 21, the connecting unit 23B, and the side panel 52B of the background unit 22 is also an entrance G2 of the imaging space.

  The background curtain unit 25 is provided above the background portion 22 so as to be supported by the back panel 51, the side panel 52A, and the side panel 52B. The background curtain unit 25 stores a plurality of roll-up type background curtains having different colors or patterns and used for the background. The background curtain unit 25 operates in conjunction with shooting by a camera or the like provided in the shooting unit 21. At the time of shooting, for example, the curtain of the color selected by the user is lowered and the other curtains are wound up.

  As the background curtain stored in the background curtain unit 25, an elevating curtain that uses a plurality of curtains as a single curtain for curtains may be prepared. In addition, a blackboard curtain is pasted on the rear panel 51 that is the back of the shooting space, and a plurality of background images for synthesis are prepared. In editing control described later, a user-desired background image is used as a curtain portion. It may be possible to synthesize.

  An opening surrounded by the front panel 41 of the photographing unit 21, the connecting part 23A, the connecting part 23B, and the background curtain unit 25 is formed above the photographing space, and the ceiling strobe unit 24 covers the part of the opening. Provided. One end of the ceiling strobe unit 24 is fixed to the connecting portion 23A, and the other end is fixed to the connecting portion 23B. The ceiling strobe unit 24 has a built-in strobe that emits light toward the photographing space in accordance with photographing. A fluorescent lamp is provided inside the strobe constituting the ceiling strobe unit 24, and also functions as illumination of the photographing space.

(Editor 12)
The editing unit 12 is a device that allows a user to perform editing control, which is processing for editing a captured image obtained by shooting control. The editing unit 12 is provided so as to be connected to the photographing unit 11 so that one side surface thereof is in contact with the back surface of the front panel 41 of the photographing unit 21. The editing unit 12 is provided with a configuration such as a tablet built-in monitor used by the user during editing control.

  If the configuration of the editing unit 12 shown in FIG. 3 is a front side configuration, the configuration used for editing control is provided on the front side and the back side of the editing unit 12 so that two sets of users can edit simultaneously. Provided.

  The front side of the editing unit 12 is a surface perpendicular to the floor surface, and is composed of a surface 71 that is substantially parallel to the side panel 42A, and a slope 72 formed above the surface 71 for editing control. The configuration used is provided on the slope 72. On the left side of the slope 72, a support portion 73A that has a columnar shape and supports one end of the lighting device 74 is provided. A support portion 75 that supports the curtain rail 26 is provided on the upper surface of the support portion 73A. A support portion 73 </ b> B (FIG. 4) that supports the other end of the lighting device 74 is also provided on the right side of the slope 72.

  A curtain rail 26 is attached above the editing unit 12. The curtain rail 26 is configured by combining three rails 26A to 26C so that the shape when viewed from above is a U-shape. One end of the rails 26A and 26B provided in parallel is fixed to the connecting portion 23A and the connecting portion 23B, respectively, and both ends of the remaining one rail 26C are joined to the other end.

  A curtain is attached to the curtain rail 26 so that the inside of the space in front of the editing unit 12 and the space in front of the back cannot be seen from the outside. The space in front of the editing unit 12 and the space in front of the back of the editing unit 12 surrounded by the curtain attached to the curtain rail 26 are editing spaces in which the user performs editing control.

(Subsequent customer service department 13)
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the photo sticker creating apparatus as seen from another angle. The subsequent customer service unit 13 is a device that performs the subsequent customer service and allows the user to perform an operation on the subsequent customer service. Subsequent customer service includes processing for transmitting a generated image to the management server 4, processing for causing a user to play a mini game, processing for answering a questionnaire, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the post-service customer unit 13 has a plate-shaped housing having a predetermined thickness, and is connected to the editing unit 12 so that the back surface thereof is in contact with the left side surface of the editing unit 12. Provided. On the front side of the post-service customer section 13, there are provided a tablet built-in monitor used by the user at the time of operation for the post-service customer, a discharge port for discharging sticker paper on which the generated image is printed, and the like. The space in front of the post-service section 13 is a post-service area where a user waiting for printing on the sticker paper to perform an operation on the post-service.

(User movement)
The flow of the photo sticker creation game and the accompanying user movement will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the movement of the user.

  The user of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 takes a picture formed between the photographing part 21 and the background part 22 from the entrance / exit G1 as indicated by the white arrow # 1 or from the entrance / exit G2 as indicated by the white arrow # 2. The camera enters the space A1 and performs shooting control using a camera and a touch panel monitor provided in the shooting unit 21.

  It should be noted that, in the shooting of the user's image, not all shooting is to capture an image printed on sticker paper, but for transmission to the mobile terminal 6 (or so that it can be viewed on the mobile terminal 6, In some cases, the image is taken only for transmission to the management server 4. This is because the user's preference may be different between the image to be printed and the image transmitted to the mobile terminal 6, and the user wants to take an image in consideration of transmission to the mobile terminal 6 at the time of the user's shooting. It is in response to the user's intention.

  The user who has finished the shooting control uses the doorway G1 to move out of the shooting space A1 as indicated by the white arrow # 3 and moves to the editing space A2-1 or opens the doorway G2 as indicated by the white arrow # 4. Use to move out of the shooting space A1 and move to the editing space A2-2.

  The editing space A2-1 is an editing space on the front side of the editing unit 12, and the editing space A2-2 is an editing space on the back side of the editing unit 12. Which of the editing space A2-1 and the editing space A2-2 is moved is guided by the screen display of the touch panel monitor of the photographing unit 21 or the like. For example, the empty space of the two editing spaces is guided as the destination. The user who has moved to the editing space A2-1 or the editing space A2-2 starts editing control. The user of the editing space A2-1 and the user of the editing space A2-2 can perform editing control at the same time.

  After the editing control is finished, printing of an image selected from the generated images is started. During printing of the image, the user who has finished the editing control moves from the editing space A2-1 to the subsequent customer service space A3 as indicated by the white arrow # 5 when the editing control is performed in the editing space A2-1. The customer receives the subsequent customer service and performs an operation on the subsequent customer service. In addition, when editing control is performed in the editing space A2-2, the user who has finished editing control moves from the editing space A2-2 to the post-service area A3 as indicated by the white arrow # 6. In the space A3, a subsequent customer service is received and an operation is performed on the customer service.

  When the printing of the image is finished, the user receives the sticker paper from the outlet provided in the post-service section 13 and finishes a series of photo sticker creation games.

(Configuration of each member)
Next, the configuration of each member provided in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 will be described.

(Photographing unit 21)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the photographing unit 21 provided in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. The photographing unit 21 is configured by attaching a front panel 41, a side panel 42A, and a side panel 42B to a base unit 43 having a box shape.

  The front panel 41 is positioned in front of the user who performs shooting control in the shooting space A1, and the side panel 42A and the side panel 42B are positioned on the left and right sides of the user who performs shooting control in the shooting space A1, respectively. The connecting portion 23A is fixed above the side panel 42A, and the connecting portion 23B is fixed above the side panel 42B.

  An imaging / display unit 81 is provided in the approximate center of the front panel 41. The photographing / display unit 81 includes a camera 91, a front strobe 92, and a touch panel monitor 93.

  The camera 91 is configured by an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), and photographs a user in the photographing space A1. The moving image captured by the camera 91 is displayed on the touch panel monitor 93 in real time. An image captured by the camera 91 at a predetermined timing such as when a user gives an instruction to shoot is saved as an image (still image).

  The touch panel monitor 93 provided on the lower side of the camera 91 includes a monitor such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a touch panel stacked thereon. The touch panel monitor 93 has a function as a live view monitor that displays a moving image captured by the camera 91 and a function that displays various GUI (Graphical User Interface) images and accepts a user's selection operation through the touch panel. Yes. On the touch panel monitor 93, a moving image after an image such as a background is appropriately displayed is displayed.

  On the front panel 41, an upper strobe 82 is installed on the upper side with respect to the position of the photographing / display unit 81. A left strobe 83 is installed on the left side and a right strobe 84 is installed on the right side. A lower strobe 85 is provided at a position below the photographing / display unit 81 such that a part of the upper surface of the base portion 43 protrudes.

  The upper strobe 82 irradiates the user from the upper front. The left strobe 83 irradiates the user from the left front, and the right strobe 84 irradiates the user from the right front. The lower strobe 85 irradiates the user from the lower front.

  The base unit 43 is also provided with a foot strobe 86 that irradiates the user's foot. The upper strobe 82, left strobe 83, right strobe 84, lower strobe 85, and foot strobe 86 are provided with fluorescent lamps. Used as illumination in the space A1. As will be described later, by adjusting the light emission amount of each fluorescent lamp, or by adjusting the number of fluorescent lamps to emit light, the brightness in the shooting space A1 becomes the content of the shooting control performed by the user. It is adjusted accordingly.

  On the right side of the foot strobe 86, a coin insertion / return opening 87 through which a user inserts money is provided.

  Spaces 43A and 43B formed on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the base portion 43 with the lower strobe 85 interposed therebetween are used as a luggage storage place for a user who performs shooting control to place baggage and the like. For example, near the ceiling of the front panel 41, a speaker for outputting sound such as guidance sound for shooting control, BGM (Back Ground Music), and sound effects is also provided.

(Background part 22)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the background unit 22 provided in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. As described above, the background curtain unit 25 is provided above the back panel 51. Near the center of the background curtain unit 25, a rear center strobe 101 that irradiates a user who is performing shooting control in the shooting space A1 from the rear center.

  A rear left strobe 102 that irradiates a user who is performing shooting control in the shooting space A1 from the left rear is provided above the rear panel 51 and on the doorway G1 side. Further, a rear right strobe 103 that irradiates the user who is performing the photographing control in the photographing space A1 from the right rear is provided above the rear panel 51 and on the entrance / exit G2 side.

(Editor 12)
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the editing unit 12 provided in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. As shown in the figure, in the editing unit 12, a tablet built-in monitor 131 is provided in the approximate center of the slope 72. A touch pen 132A is provided on the left side of the tablet built-in monitor 131, and a touch pen 132B is provided on the right side.

  The tablet built-in monitor 131 is configured by superimposing a tablet capable of inputting an operation using the touch pens 132A and 132B on a monitor such as an LCD. On the tablet built-in monitor 131, for example, an editing screen, which is a screen used for editing an image selected as an image to be edited, is displayed. When two people perform editing work simultaneously, the touch pen 132A is used by one user, and the touch pen 132B is used by the other user.

  Here, the user edits on the editing screen with a feeling of graffiti. Types of editing include pen input for scribing various line types and colors with a touch pen, stamp input for various shapes such as hearts or petals or various messages, and background operation for entering a pattern in the background, etc. There is a name stamp function to input a stamp. Further, there are a cosmetic function for simulating makeup, a face fine adjustment function for finely adjusting the size and shape of eyes and face contours, and a function such as an anniversary date stamp.

  It should be noted that the image editing performed in the editing unit 12 is not necessarily an editing on an image to be printed, but an image that is assumed to be transmitted only to the mobile terminal 6 by the user (that is, an image that is not printed). May be an edit to This is because there is a difference in user preference between an image to be printed and an image transmitted to the mobile terminal 6 and used on the web. For example, an image used for a blog or the like is printed. This is to respond to the user's intention to edit differently from the editing of the image.

(Subsequent customer service department 13)
On the left side of the editing unit 12, a post-service unit 13 is provided. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the post-service unit 13 provided in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1.

  A monitor 161 with a built-in tablet is provided at the upper center of the post-service section 13. A touch pen 162A is provided on the left side of the tablet built-in monitor 161, and a touch pen 162B is provided on the right side. Similarly to the tablet built-in monitor 131, the tablet built-in monitor 161 is configured by superimposing a tablet capable of performing an operation input using the touch pen 162A or 162B on a monitor such as an LCD. On the tablet built-in monitor 161, a screen used in a post-service process such as a mini game is displayed.

  A non-contact type IC reader / writer 163 is provided under the tablet built-in monitor 161, and a sticker paper discharge port 164 is provided under the non-contact type IC reader / writer 163. A speaker 165 is provided below the sticker paper discharge port 164.

  The non-contact type IC reader / writer 163 communicates with a non-contact type IC that is in close proximity, reads data from the non-contact type IC, and writes data to the non-contact type IC.

  In the sticker paper discharge port 164, sticker paper on which an image created by the editing space A2-1 user performing editing control is printed, or created by the editing space A2-2 user performing editing control. The sticker paper on which the image is printed is discharged. A printer is provided inside the editing unit 12, and printing of images is performed by the printer.

  The speaker 165 outputs sound such as guidance voice, BGM, and sound effects at the time of subsequent customer service.

(Internal structure of photo sticker making apparatus 1)
Next, the internal configuration of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. The same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structure as the structure mentioned above. The overlapping description will be omitted as appropriate.

  The control unit 201 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and executes a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 206 or a storage unit 202 to control the overall operation of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. A storage unit 202, a communication unit 203, a drive 204, a ROM 206, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 207 are connected to the control unit 201. The control unit 201 is also connected with the components of the photographing unit 21, the editing unit 12, the post-service unit 13, and the printing unit 211.

  The storage unit 202 includes a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, and stores various setting information supplied from the control unit 201. Information stored in the storage unit 202 is appropriately read out by the control unit 201.

  A communication unit 203 is an interface of a network such as the Internet, and communicates with an external device according to control by the control unit 201.

  A removable medium 205 made of an optical disk or a semiconductor memory is appropriately attached to the drive 204. The computer program and data read from the removable medium 205 by the drive 204 are supplied to the control unit 201 and stored in the storage unit 202 or installed.

  The ROM 206 stores programs and data executed by the control unit 201. The RAM 207 temporarily stores data and programs processed by the control unit 201.

  The imaging unit 21 performs processing related to the user's imaging control in the imaging space A1. The imaging unit 21 includes a coin processing unit 221, a background control unit 222, an illumination control unit 223, a camera 91, a touch panel monitor 93, and a speaker 224.

  The coin processing unit 221 detects the insertion of coins into the coin insertion / return port 87. When the coin processing unit 221 detects that a predetermined amount of coins such as 300 yen has been inserted, the coin processing unit 221 outputs an activation signal indicating that to the control unit 201.

  The background control unit 222 raises and lowers the background curtain stored in the background curtain unit 25 according to the background control signal supplied from the control unit 201. The background curtain may be manually selected by the user.

  The illumination control unit 223 controls the light emission of each strobe in the imaging space A1 according to the illumination control signal supplied from the control unit 201. As described above, in the photographing space A1, in addition to the strobe of the ceiling strobe unit 24, an upper strobe 82, a left strobe 83, a right strobe 84, a lower strobe 85, a foot strobe 86, and a background portion provided in the photographing unit 21 are provided. 22 is provided with a back center strobe 101, a back left strobe 102, and a back right strobe 103. A fluorescent lamp is also provided inside each strobe.

  In addition, the illumination control unit 223 adjusts the light emission amount of the fluorescent lamp provided in each strobe, or adjusts the number of fluorescent lamps to emit light, thereby performing the shooting control stage performed by the user. Accordingly, the brightness in the shooting space A1 is adjusted.

  The camera 91 performs shooting according to the control by the control unit 201 and outputs an image (captured image) obtained by the shooting to the control unit 201.

  The editing unit 12A performs processing related to user editing control in the editing space A2-1. The editing unit 12A includes a tablet built-in monitor 131, touch pens 132A and 132B, and a speaker 231 provided on the front side of the editing unit 12. The editing unit 12B has the same configuration as the editing unit 12A, and performs processing related to user editing control in the editing space A2-2.

  The tablet built-in monitor 131 displays an editing screen according to control by the control unit 201 and detects a user operation on the editing screen. A signal representing the content of the user's operation is supplied to the control unit 201, and the image to be edited is edited.

  The subsequent customer service section 13 performs processing related to the subsequent customer service in the subsequent customer service space A3. The subsequent customer service unit 13 includes a tablet built-in monitor 161, touch pens 162A and 162B, a non-contact type IC reader / writer 163, and a speaker 165.

  The printing unit 211 includes a printer 241 and a sticker unit 242 that are configured to perform printing control. The printer 241 prints the image or the edited image obtained by the editing control by the user on the sticker paper stored in the sticker paper unit 242 attached to the printer 241 and discharges it to the sticker paper discharge port 164. . The subsequent customer service unit 13 and the printing unit 211 that are surrounded by a one-dot chain line are configured to perform processing related to the subsequent customer service for the user in the subsequent customer service space A3.

  In addition, in the processing relating to print control, the printing unit 211 prints the generated image transmitted to the management server 4 outside the margin (such as the edge of the sticker paper) in addition to printing the photographed image (or edited image) on the sticker paper. A URL (Uniform Resource Locater) for acquisition, a seal ID (ID for image acquisition), and the like may be printed. The seal ID is an identifier for uniquely identifying one or a plurality of generated images generated in one play in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1, and an identifier for the user to acquire an image generated in one play. It is. A user accesses a URL for acquiring a generated image, and inputs a sticker ID, whereby a web page (image acquisition page) for acquiring a generated image generated in one play in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 Can be displayed on the portable terminal 6.

  This is because, for example, when receiving an email address input from the user at the post-service department 13 or the like, a correct address cannot be received due to a time-out or error input, and information such as a URL for acquiring a generated image is given to the user. This is to allow the user to acquire the generated image by accessing the URL printed on the sticker sheet and inputting the sticker ID when the transmission cannot be performed.

  Note that the printing unit 211 may print, for example, a predetermined mail address or QR code (registered trademark) as the information for acquiring the generated image instead of the URL. When a predetermined mail address is printed, the user transmits a blank mail to the predetermined mail address, thereby receiving a mail describing a URL for acquiring a generated image from the management server 4. be able to. Further, when the QR code (registered trademark) is printed on the sticker paper, the user accesses the web page indicated by the QR code (registered trademark) by using the mobile terminal 6 to go to the image acquisition page. Direct access is also possible.

(Configuration of control unit)
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the control unit 201 provided in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. As shown in this figure, the control unit 201 includes a communication control unit 311, a shooting control unit 312, an editing control unit 313, a print control unit 314, and a post-service customer control unit 315.

  The communication control unit 311 controls communication with an external device by the communication unit 203. The communication control unit 311 transmits the image ID associated with one or a plurality of generated images generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in one play to the management server 4. The image ID is information for uniquely specifying the generated image. Further, the communication control unit 311 may further transmit other information such as a seal ID to the management server 4 in association with one or a plurality of generated images generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in one play. Further, the communication control unit 311 may transmit only the generated image designated by the user to the management server 4 instead of transmitting all of one or a plurality of generated images generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in one play. .

  In the present embodiment, the seal ID is information including the shooting date and time and the device ID, and the image ID is information including the shooting date and time, the device ID, and a serial number for identifying the generated image generated in one play. Further, in the present embodiment, the communication control unit 311 transmits the image ID and the seal ID to the management server 4 in association with one or a plurality of generated images generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in one play. That is, the communication control unit 311 transmits the generated image in association with the shooting date and time, the device ID, and the serial number.

  The shooting control unit 312 relates to a process related to a charge inserted when starting the photo sticker creation game by the shooting unit 21 and a user shooting control in the photo sticker creation game such as shooting a user group according to the user shooting control. Control processing. The imaging control unit 312 can also generate an image ID and a seal ID.

  The editing control unit 313 controls processing related to user editing control in the photo sticker creation game, such as graffiti editing of images by the editing unit 12A and the editing unit 12B.

  The print control unit 314 controls processing related to user print control in the photo sticker creation game, such as sticker sheet printing by the printing unit 211.

  The post-service customer control unit 315 controls processing related to the post-service in the photo sticker creation game, such as processing to serve a user group that has finished the editing work by the post-service unit 13.

(Management server 4)
Next, details of the management server 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the management server 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the management server 4 mainly includes a control unit 401, a storage unit 402, and a communication unit (transmission unit) 403. The control unit 401 performs overall control of each member provided in the management server 4. The storage unit 402 stores various data used in the management server 4. The communication unit 403 communicates with other devices constituting the image management system 10.

(Details of control unit 401)
As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 401 includes a communication control unit 411, a mail creation unit 412 (display data creation unit), a web page creation unit (display data creation unit) 413, an image management unit 414, and a user management unit 415. I have.

(Communication control unit 411)
The communication control unit 411 controls communication by the communication unit 403.

(Mail creation unit 412)
The mail creating unit 412 creates a mail to be sent to the mail address of the user who played with the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the mail creating unit 412 uses the data stored in the mail database 421 to store the generated image in the image providing site transmitted to the mail address input from the communication control unit 411 ( A mail (image saving mail) for displaying a screen (purchase screen) for purchasing an image on the portable terminal 6 is created and output to the communication control unit 411. Details of the screen displayed by the image storage mail will be described later.

  In the following description, the mail creation unit 412 will be described as transmitting the image storage mail to the mobile terminal 6 via the communication control unit. However, the user inputs (or transmits) information other than an e-mail address to the photo sticker creating apparatus 1, and the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 sends an information other than an e-mail instead of an e-mail address (or together with the e-mail address) to the management server 4. When the contact information is transmitted, the mail creating unit 412 may guide the user to save the image by means other than mail.

  For example, a predetermined application is installed in the mobile terminal 6 and the user can identify the user's mobile terminal 6 in the predetermined application, such as a user ID in the predetermined application, with respect to the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 When information is input (or transmitted), the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 may transmit the input (or transmitted) information to the management server 4 as a contact address to the user. Then, the management server 4 may cause the mobile terminal 6 to display a screen for storing the generated image using the predetermined application based on the information.

  Specifically, when the ID of the user's message app is transmitted as a contact from the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 to the management server 4, the message app message, the message board provided by the message app, the comment function, etc. Using a service, a message (image saving message) for displaying a screen for saving the generated image on the portable terminal 6 may be transmitted. Alternatively, a screen corresponding to the image storage message is transmitted to the mobile terminal 6 by using a notification (push notification) notifying update of the message application or an application for browsing the image providing site, and the mobile terminal 6 receives the screen. It may be displayed. Alternatively, the management server 4 may use a push notification to transmit a notification that prompts the user to check the message application message or the mail software mail.

  It should be noted that the application and mail software used for sending the image storage mail and the image storage message include a character string, a sample image of the generated image (sample image, details will be described later), an emphasized image (described later), and a link or object. Anything can be used.

(Web page creation unit 413)
The web page creation unit 413 creates a web page displayed on the mobile terminal 6. In the present embodiment, the web page creation unit 413 creates a web page corresponding to the access request received from the mobile terminal 6 using data stored in the member database 422, the web page database 423, and the image database 424. And output to the communication control unit 411. Although details will be described later, the web page creation unit 413 creates a web page corresponding to the user's membership type.

  Specifically, the web page creation unit 413 includes a member registration page for registering as a member in the image providing site, an image storage page for storing a generated image (purchasing an image) in the image providing site, and a user-specific page. Create a web page that constitutes the image providing site, such as My Page.

  In the present invention, “page” means data that the management server 4 transmits to a communication terminal such as the mobile terminal 6 and displays it, for example, like a web page. The page usually includes text data and image data, and may further include audio data and moving image data.

(Image management unit 414)
The image management unit 414 manages the generated image generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the image management unit 414 stores the generated image designated by the user among the generated images received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in the image database 424 in association with the user.

  When saving the generated image designated by the user, the image management unit 414 generates image management information for managing the generated image, and stores the generated image management information in association with the generated image. Further, the image management unit 414 updates the image management information based on the user's operation instruction received from the mobile terminal 6.

(User management unit 415)
The user management unit 415 manages users who are members of the image providing site. The user management unit 415 generates user management information for managing users, and stores the generated user management information in the member database 422. Note that the user management unit 415 may manage non-member users or generate user management information for non-member users.

(Details of storage unit 402)
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the storage unit 402 includes a mail database 421, a member database 422, a web page database 423, and an image database 424.

(Mail database 421)
The mail database 421 stores various data for creating a mail to be transmitted to the user. More specifically, the mail database 421 includes an image storage mail template (data defining image, character, link arrangement position, size, display format, etc., a script functioning on a screen displayed by the image storage mail, etc. ) Is stored.

(Member database 422)
The member database 422 stores various types of information related to users who are members of the image providing site. In the present embodiment, the user management information is stored in the member database 422 for each user.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the user management information includes at least “member ID”, “member attribute”, and “contact”. Further, the user management information may include various types of information related to the user such as “user name”, “birth date”, “address”, “enrollment date”, and “terminal ID”.

  “Member ID” is an ID for uniquely identifying a user who is a member. “Member attribute” indicates a member attribute of the user, and “pay” or “free” is described. “Contact” indicates at least one piece of information that is a destination when sending various notifications, guidance mails or messages to the user, such as the user's mail address and message application ID. “User name” is the name of the user. “Date of birth” is the date of birth of the user. “Address” is the address of the user. “Admission date” is the date when the user registered as a member of the image providing site. The “terminal ID” indicates the mobile terminal 6 possessed by the user, and an ID for uniquely identifying the mobile terminal 6 is described. Hereinafter, information for specifying a user such as a member ID and contact information is referred to as user specifying information.

(Web page database 423)
The web page database 423 stores various data for creating a web page of an image providing site displayed on the mobile terminal 6. More specifically, the web page database 423 stores image storage page templates (data defining images, characters, objects, link arrangement positions, sizes, display styles, scripts that function on the image storage page, and the like). Storing.

(Image database 424)
The image database 424 stores generated images instructed by the user (that is, purchased by the user) to be stored in the image providing site among the generated images generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. In the image database 424, generated images are stored separately for each user registered as a member in the member database 422. The image database 424 also stores the image management information for each user. The image management information may be information as shown in FIG. 28, for example. The image management information shown in FIG. 28 includes “image ID” and “save date”.

  The “image ID” is an ID for uniquely identifying the generated image, and includes “creation date”, “model ID”, and “serial number”. “Shooting date and time” is the date and time when the photograph sticker creating apparatus 1 created a generated image. The “model ID” is an ID for uniquely identifying the model of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 that created the generated image. The “serial number” is a number for identifying a generated image created in one play in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. For example, when a set of eight generated images is created in one play of the game in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1, the “creation date” and the “model ID” are the same, but the “serial numbers” are different (for example, 1 to 8). The image management information of the image is allocated for 8 sheets (8 lines). “Save date and time” is the date and time when the generated image is saved on the image providing site.

  Although not shown, the storage unit 402 also has a temporary storage database that temporarily stores data such as generated images received from the photo sticker creating apparatus 1.

(Details of communication unit 403)
The communication unit 403 transmits / receives data to / from the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 or the management server 4 under the control of the communication control unit 411.

(Mobile terminal 6)
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the mobile terminal 6 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the mobile terminal 6 mainly includes a control unit 601, a storage unit 602, a communication unit (reception unit) 603, an input unit 604, and a display unit 605. The control unit 601 performs overall control of each member provided in the mobile terminal 6. The storage unit 602 stores various data used in the mobile terminal 6. The communication unit 603 communicates with the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 or the management server 4. The input unit 604 receives a user input operation on the mobile terminal 6 and is an input device such as a touch panel. The display unit 605 is a device for displaying information, such as a liquid crystal display device.

(Details of control unit 601)
As illustrated in FIG. 12, the control unit 601 includes a communication control unit 611, an input control unit 612, and a display control unit 613.

  The communication control unit 611 controls communication by the communication unit 603. The input control unit 612 controls information input in the input unit 604. The display control unit 613 controls information display on the display unit 605. For example, the display control unit 613 outputs mail and web page display data input from the communication control unit 611 to the display unit 605, so that the web page can be displayed on the display unit 605.

(Member registration process)
In the image management system 10, a user who has registered as a member in the image providing site can store the generated image in the image providing site (that is, purchase an image). The user registers himself / herself as a paying member or a free member in the image providing site according to a predetermined procedure. An example of the procedure will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a screen transition diagram illustrating an example of a member registration page displayed on the display unit 605 of the mobile terminal 6 during the member registration process.

  The user accesses the image providing site using the portable terminal 6 in order to register as a member in the image providing site. For example, the user provides an image according to the guidance of the image storage mail received by the mobile terminal 6 (as will be described in detail later, by selecting the link object a1 in the image storage screen displayed by the image storage mail). Visit the site. As a result, the top page 1001 of the image providing site as shown in FIG. 13A is displayed on the display unit 605 of the mobile terminal 6. The top page 1001 includes at least a link image 1002 for proceeding with the member login process and a link image 1003 for proceeding with the free member registration process.

  The user operates the input unit 604 of the mobile terminal 6 to select a link image 1003 for proceeding with free member registration. As a result, the portable terminal 6 communicates with the management server 4, and as a result, the web page 1011 for free member registration as shown in FIG. 13B is displayed on the display unit 605.

  The web page 1011 includes an input form 1012 for inputting information (user specifying information) for specifying a user who is registered as a free member, and a link image 1013 for transmitting the input user specifying information to the management server 4. Including at least. The user operates the input unit 604 of the mobile terminal 6 to input various personal information such as the user's member ID, password, and email address to the input form 1012 as user identification information. The user selects the link image 1013 after completing the input of the user specifying information. As a result, the mobile terminal 6 transmits the user specifying information to the management server 4 and requests the management server 4 to register the user for free membership.

  The communication control unit 411 of the management server 4 receives the user specifying information transmitted from the mobile terminal 6 through the communication unit 403. The communication control unit 411 outputs the received user identification information to the mail creation unit 412 and instructs the mail creation unit 412 to create a member registration email. In response to this instruction, the mail creation unit 412 creates a member registration mail 1021 as shown in FIG. The member registration mail 1021 is a mail addressed to the mail address included in the received user identification information, and includes a URL 1022 to a web page indicating completion of free member registration. The mail creation unit 412 outputs the created member registration mail 1021 to the communication control unit 411. The communication control unit 411 transmits the input member registration mail 1021 to the user's mail address via the communication unit 403.

  The portable terminal 6 receives the transmitted member registration mail 1021 and displays it on the display unit 605. The user confirms the displayed member registration mail 1021 and selects the URL 1022. Thereby, the mobile terminal 6 requests the management server 4 for a web page specified by the URL 1022.

  In response to this request, the management server 4 completes free member registration. Specifically, the management server 4 creates an account area for a user (a storage area for storing member-specific data) in the member database 422, and stores the user specifying information in the account area. At this time, information indicating that the user is a free member is added to the account area. Finally, the management server 4 creates a web page indicating that the free member registration is completed and transmits it to the mobile terminal 6.

  In addition, after a free member is registered, the user logs in to the image providing site by entering a member ID and password, and information necessary for becoming a paying member of the image providing site (for example, billing for a billing fee, etc.) The user can register himself / herself as a paying member on the image providing site by following a predetermined procedure such as registration of the information). After this registration is completed, information indicating that the user is a paid member is added to the user's account area.

  In addition, the image providing site may be able to register for a paid member from the beginning. For example, when a link image for proceeding with paid member registration processing is arranged on the top page 1001 (FIG. 13A) and the link image is selected by the user, the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 Web page for paying member registration including input form for inputting specific information and information necessary for becoming a paying member and a link image such as a send button for sending the input information to the management server 4 May be generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal 6, and the web page may be displayed on the display unit 605. When the user specifying information and information necessary for becoming a paying member are input on the paying member registration web page and the information is transmitted to the management server 4, the management server 4 is based on the user specifying information. A pay member registration process may be performed, and a pay member registration mail may be created by the mail creating unit 412 and transmitted to the mobile terminal 6. Then, the user selects a URL to a web page indicating the completion of paid member registration included in the paid member registration email displayed on the display unit 605 of the mobile terminal 6, thereby performing a series of paid member registration processes. May be completed.

(Service flow)
Next, details of the flow of services provided by the image management system 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a flow of a series of processes from taking a picture to displaying my page in the image management system 10.

(photography)
As shown in FIG. 14, the user starts playing the game in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 (S1). Specifically, the user stands in front of the front panel 41 of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 and inserts coins having a fee required for playing the game into the coin insertion / return slot 87. The imaging control unit 312 determines whether or not a predetermined amount of coins has been inserted based on a signal supplied from the coin processing unit 221.

  If it is determined that the camera has been inserted, the shooting control unit 312 controls the shooting unit 21 to display the moving image of the subject captured by the camera 91 on the touch panel monitor 93 and display it in the shooting space A1 according to the shooting control by the user. A user is photographed as a subject (S2). This photographing control is performed a plurality of times within the photographing processing time.

  In addition, as a process in the imaging control, a predetermined number of times may be taken as an image for transmission to the mobile terminal 6 instead of an image for printing on a sticker sheet. In this case, as an image suitable for an image to be transmitted to the mobile terminal 6, an image obtained by chroma-combining the image for synthesis and an image subjected to image processing such as filtering processing using a color filter are created at the time of shooting. Sometimes.

  After the photographing is finished, the photographing control unit 312 guides the user in the photographing space A1 to move to the editing space A2-1 or the editing space A2-2. This guidance is performed by displaying a guidance screen on the touch panel monitor 93 of the photographing unit 21 or by outputting voice guidance from the speaker 224.

(edit a picture)
After the end of the guidance, the editing control unit 313 controls the editing unit 12 corresponding to the editing space of the editing space A2-1 and the editing space A2-2 that is the destination of the user who has finished the shooting control. Thus, the editing unit 12 is caused to edit the image (S3). Specifically, the editing control unit 313 causes the user to select a synthesis image to be synthesized with the image selected or acquired as the editing target image, and synthesizes the selected synthesis image with the image. The composite image is edited according to the editing operation by the user. In addition, as editing for an image for transmission to the mobile terminal 6, for example, processing such as processing for trimming an image to a predetermined size, filtering processing using a color filter, and collage synthesis processing for finishing a plurality of images as one image Can also be done.

  After the editing, the editing control unit 313 guides the user who has finished editing control in the editing space A2-1 or the editing space A2-2 to move to the post-service space A3. This guidance is performed by displaying a guidance screen on the tablet built-in monitor 131 or by outputting guidance voice from the speaker 231.

(Photo sticker printing)
After the guidance is completed, the print control unit 314 outputs the image selected by the user to the printer 241 and prints it on the sticker sheet (S4). When the printing is completed, the post-service control unit 315 displays that the printing is completed on the tablet built-in monitor 161 so that the printer 241 can acquire the generated image from the management server 4 and the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in the same procedure. In addition, the seal ID created in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 and the image acquisition information (URL of the image acquisition site, e-mail address for acquisition, etc.) are printed out of the box, and a predetermined generated image is displayed at the center. The sticker paper printed on the paper is discharged to the sticker paper discharge port 164.

  Note that the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 may create the image ID and the sticker ID with the accompanying information that does not depend on communication, using the same algorithm as the algorithm used by the management server 4 to create the image ID and the sticker ID. In this case, the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 can obtain the image ID and the seal ID without the management server 4 creating the image ID and the seal ID, and the management server 4 is created by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. The image ID and the seal ID can be appropriately recognized, and the image stored in the corresponding temporary storage database can be specified.

(Subsequent customer service)
During printing, the subsequent customer service control unit 315 controls the subsequent customer service unit 13 to control processing related to the subsequent customer service for the user waiting for the completion of printing (S5). Specifically, the post-service customer control unit 315 controls a process for transmitting the generated image to the management server 4 in the photo sticker creation game as a process related to the post-service by the post-service customer unit 13. At that time, the post-service customer control unit 315 causes the tablet built-in monitor 161 to display a mail address input screen for inputting the mail address of the user who has played the game. The user inputs the currently used mail address by using the touch pen 162A or the touch pen 162B. When only the generated image designated by the user is transmitted to the management server 4, the post-service customer control unit 315 also displays a selection screen for the generated image to be transmitted on the tablet built-in monitor 161.

(Image transmission)
The communication control unit 311 transmits the input mail address and one or a plurality of generated images generated by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in one play to the management server 4 through the communication unit 203 (S6). An identifier (image ID) for uniquely identifying the generated image is associated with the generated image transmitted at this time. Furthermore, other information such as a seal ID may be associated with the generated image to be transmitted. The communication unit 403 of the management server 4 receives the mail address, the generated image, the image ID, and the like transmitted from the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 (S7), and outputs them to the communication control unit 411. The communication control unit 411 stores the received generated image in a temporary storage database (not shown) of the storage unit 402. The stored data such as the generated image is continuously stored in the temporary storage database until a predetermined time limit elapses, and is automatically deleted from the temporary storage database when the time limit elapses.

  In this way, in consideration of the case where the user becomes a paid member in the future, all the generated images generated in one play are transmitted. Therefore, the user can acquire all the generated images generated in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 when using the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in a free member state and then becoming a paid member on the site. .

  Note that the communication control unit 311 may transmit to the management server 4 a predetermined number of generated images selected by the user or a generated image determined by the control unit 201 as a transmission target.

(Compose and send image save mail)
The communication control unit 411 outputs the received email address and image ID to the email creation unit 412. Note that when the seal ID is printed on the sticker paper, the image ID does not have to be described in the mail. The mail creation unit 412 creates an image storage email that is transmitted to the email address received from the communication control unit 411 and guides the user to save the generated image. The procedure is as follows. The mail creation unit 412 outputs the image ID to the web page creation unit 413 and requests the web page creation unit 413 to generate a URL 1102 indicating a web page for storing the generated image specified by the image ID. . Note that the user may be prompted to input an image ID, and a URL for saving the generated image may be requested. The web page creation unit 413 generates the requested URL 1102 and outputs it to the mail creation unit 412.

  The mail creation unit 412 acquires data for creating an image storage mail from the mail database 421. Then, using the data, the URL 1102, and the user's mail address, a thumbnail of the generated image and a link for paying or free membership registration (link to URL 1102) as shown in FIG. An image storage mail 1101 including The mail creation unit 412 outputs the created image storage mail 1101 to the communication control unit 411. The communication control unit 411 transmits the image storage mail 1101 to the user's mail address via the communication unit 403 (S8). Note that the mail creation unit 412 may create a mail 1101 in which the URL 1102 is simply described in the body of the mail, as shown in FIG.

  Note that the mail creation unit 412 transmits an image storage mail including a URL indicating a web page for which the user simply inputs the seal ID, not a web page for collecting the image ID and the generated image related to the image ID. May be. In this case, the management server 4 accepts the input of the seal ID printed outside the sticker sheet from the mobile terminal 6 on the web page indicated by the URL included in the image storage mail, and is transmitted to the management server 4. The generated image may be displayed.

(Request and send image save page)
The communication unit 603 of the portable terminal 6 receives the transmitted image storage mail 1101 (S9) and outputs it to the communication control unit 611. The communication control unit 611 outputs the input image storage mail 1101 to the display control unit 613. The display control unit 613 outputs the input image storage mail 1101 to the display unit 605. The user confirms the image storage mail 1101 displayed on the display unit 605, and selects the URL 1102 using the input unit 604 in order to store the image on the image providing site (S10). The user may input the image ID.

  The input control unit 612 receives a selection input from the input unit 604 and notifies the communication control unit 611 that the URL 1102 has been selected. In response to this, the communication control unit 611 requests the management server 4 for a web page corresponding to the selected URL 1102. The specific procedure is as follows. The communication control unit 611 acquires the user member ID stored in the storage unit 602, and transmits a predetermined request for providing a web page including the member ID to the management server 4 through the communication unit 603.

  The communication control unit 411 receives the transmitted request through the communication unit 403 (S11) and outputs it to the web page creation unit 413. The web page creation unit 413 determines the member type of the user by referring to the member database 422 for the member ID included in the request (S12). In the present embodiment, the web page creation unit 413 determines whether the user is a free member or a paid member, and creates a web page according to the determination result. When the management server 4 determines that the user is a free member, the web page creation unit 413 displays a web page 1103 for selecting an image stored by the free member as shown in FIG. One generated image corresponding to the thumbnail selected by the mobile terminal 6 may be saved without displaying the web page 1103, as will be described later with reference to FIG. . On the other hand, when it is determined that the user is a paying member, the management server 4 creates a web page 1107 displaying a list of images to be saved, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the generated images corresponding to all thumbnail images displayed in FIG. 16 to be described later are saved without displaying the web page 1107, and the web page 1111 in FIG. You may make a transition.

  Moreover, when storing an image, each piece of information related to the image may be changed to a web page that can be modified and added.

  As shown in FIG. 15B, the web page 1103 includes six thumbnail images 1104, a link image 1105 that prompts the user to register a paying member, and a link image for storing one generated image on the image providing site. 1106 is included. The thumbnail image 1104 is a thumbnail image of one or a plurality of generated images (one or a plurality of generated images corresponding to the seal ID) generated in one play in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. In the example shown in FIG. 15B, six generated images are generated in one play. The number of thumbnail images 1104 corresponds to the number of generated images (generated images corresponding to the seal ID) generated in one play in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. If the user is a free member, the number of images that can be saved is one, so the user can select one of the six thumbnail images 1104 and press (tap) the link image 1106 to generate Images can be stored on an image provider site. When only the generated image designated by the user is transmitted to the management server 4, a thumbnail image 1104 of the generated image designated by the user is displayed on the web page 1103.

  As shown in FIG. 15C, the web page 1107 includes six thumbnail images 1104 and a link image 1108 for storing all the images. If the user is a paying member, all the generated images generated in one play can be saved, so the user can press the link image 1108 to display all the generated images generated in one play. Can be saved.

  In this example, since the user is a free member, the web page creation unit 413 creates a web page 1103 for a free member. The web page creation unit 413 outputs the created web page 1103 to the communication control unit 411. The communication control unit 411 transmits the input web page 1103 to the mobile terminal 6 through the communication unit 403 (S13).

(Save image)
The portable terminal 6 receives the web page 1103 through the communication unit 603 (S14). The web page 1103 is output to the display control unit 613 via the communication control unit 611. The display control unit 613 outputs the input web page 1103 to the display unit 605. The user confirms the web page 1103 displayed on the display unit 605. When the user is a free member, even if there are a plurality of generated images, only one of them can be stored in the image providing site. When the user wants to save one generated image, the user selects one of the thumbnail images 1104 through the input unit 604 and then presses the link image 1106. Note that the generated image to be stored is not limited to the image selected as the generated image to be transmitted to the mobile terminal 6 in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. For example, as the image to be stored in the mobile terminal 6 accessing the image providing site. It may be a designated generated image.

  The input control unit 612 receives a selection input from the input unit 604 and notifies the communication control unit 611 that a predetermined thumbnail image 1104 and link image 1106 have been selected. In response to this, the communication control unit 611 transmits an instruction to save the generated image corresponding to the predetermined thumbnail image 1104 (image saving instruction) to the management server 4 (S15).

  The communication control unit 411 receives the transmitted image storage instruction through the communication unit 403 (S16). As a result, the communication control unit 411 instructs the image management unit 414 to save the generated image selected by the user indicated by the image saving instruction. Upon receiving this instruction, the image management unit 414 generates image management information of the user's generated image stored in the temporary storage database, and sets the generated image associated with the generated image management information as the user's member ID. The image data is stored in the image database 424 (S17).

  Note that the user who is a free member selects the link image 1105 when all the generated images are to be stored. In this case, a series of processes for paying member registration is performed in the image management system 10. When registration is completed, all the generated images are stored in the image database 424 in association with the member ID of the user.

  In addition, the saving process when the user is a paying member is essentially the same as the saving process when the user is a free member. However, the user selects the link image 1108 included in the web page 1107. As a result, the management server 4 stores all the generated images generated in one play in the image storage area of the user in the image database 424. Note that the selection of a generated image to be saved by the user (one generated image for a free member and all generated images for a paid member) may be accepted by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. In this case, the image management unit 414 may store the generated image selected in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 in the image database 424. Note that it is desirable that only the member of the image providing site can store the generated image on the image providing site. In other words, it is desirable that a user who is a non-member at the time of playing the game can save the generated image on the image providing site after completing the member registration described in FIG.

  When the image management unit 414 stores the generated image in the image database 424, the web page creation unit 413 creates an image storage completion page. For example, the web page creation unit 413 may create an image storage completion page 1111 shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 15D, the image storage completion page 1111 includes a thumbnail image 1112 of the generated image stored in the image database 424 by the image management unit 414 and link text 1113 to the My Page (details will be described later). FIG. 15D shows a case where the image storage completion page 1111 includes six thumbnail images 1112 and six generated images are stored. The user can display my page on the portable terminal 6 by pressing the link text 1113.

  The web page creation unit 413 outputs the created image storage completion page 1111 to the communication control unit 411. The communication control unit 411 transmits the input image storage completion page 1111 to the mobile terminal 6 through the communication unit 403 (S18).

  The communication control unit 611 of the portable terminal 6 receives the image storage completion page 1111 through the communication unit 603 and outputs the received image storage completion page 1111 to the display control unit 613. The display control unit 613 outputs the input image storage completion page 1111 to the display unit 605 (S19). The user can confirm the generated image stored in the image providing site by confirming the image storage completion page 1111 displayed on the display unit 605.

(My page display)
When the user selects the link text 1113 on the image storage completion page 1111 (S20), the input control unit 612 receives a selection input in the input unit 604 and notifies the communication control unit 611 that the link text 1113 has been selected. In response to this, the communication control unit 611 requests the management server 4 for a My Page corresponding to the selected link text 1113. The specific procedure is as follows. The communication control unit 611 acquires the member ID of the user stored in the storage unit 602, and transmits a predetermined request including the member ID and requesting the provision of my page to the management server 4 through the communication unit 603.

  The communication control unit 411 receives the transmitted request through the communication unit 403 (S21) and outputs it to the web page creation unit 413. The web page creation unit 413 creates a my page based on the request (S22). Specifically, the web page creation unit 413 identifies the user by referring to the member database 422 for the member ID included in the request. The web page creation unit 413 reads out the user management information and image management information of the identified user from the member database 422 and the image database 424, and creates a my page of the identified user. For example, the web page creation unit 413 may create a my page 2000 as shown in FIG.

  The web page creation unit 413 outputs the created my page 2000 to the communication control unit 411. The communication control unit 411 transmits the input my page 2000 to the portable terminal 6 through the communication unit 403 (S23).

  The communication control unit 611 of the portable terminal 6 receives the My Page 2000 through the communication unit 603 and outputs the received My Page 2000 to the display control unit 613. The display control unit 613 outputs the input my page 2000 to the display unit 605 (S24). The user can view the generated image stored in the image providing site on the My Page 2000 displayed on the display unit 605 and the page transitioning from the My Page 2000.

  My page 2000 is a web page constituting the image providing site, and is a web page unique to each user created for each user. Specifically, the My Page is a web page for browsing a generated image (generated image purchased by the user) saved by the user on the image providing site. In addition, information registered by the user in the image providing site, such as a user name, a user icon image, and a member type (whether paid member or free member), may be displayed on the My Page. Moreover, it may be possible to transition from My Page to a page for organizing saved generated images or a page for browsing generated images of other users.

(Modification of image saving mail)
Next, a modified example of the screen (image storage screen, purchase screen) displayed on the display unit 605 of the mobile terminal 6 by the image storage mail 1101 will be described in detail. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the image storage mail 1101 shown in FIG.

  In the image storage mail 1101, a link object a1 in which the thumbnail b of the generated image and the link destination URL to be connected to store the generated image (purchase the generated image) are embedded as shown in FIG. And are displayed.

  The thumbnail b is a thumbnail of a generated image (an image in which at least one of the size and the resolution of the generated image is reduced (the generated image is compressed)) generated in a game played most recently by the user in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. This is an image (sample image) that serves as a sample of the generated image. In the following, a case where a thumbnail of a generated image is used as a sample image will be described, but the sample image may not be a thumbnail as long as it is a sample for specifying the generated image. For example, the sample image may be an image obtained by extracting a part of the generated image.

  In the example of FIG. 16, the link object a <b> 1 is a link to a URL for storing all the generated images, that is, for performing processing related to paid member registration. When the user selects one of the thumbnails b via the input unit 604, the selected thumbnail is displayed with better visibility (in a state where visibility is higher) than before selection. More specifically, for example, when the thumbnail b5 is selected in FIG. 16A, as shown in FIG. 16B, the thumbnail b5 is displayed as a thumbnail b5 ′ having a size larger than that before selection. The

  Note that “large size” means not only simply enlarging the magnification of the thumbnail b5 but also re-adjusting the resolution and display size of the image corresponding to the thumbnail b5 in accordance with the display area of the display unit 605. It may be. In other words, the large-sized thumbnail b5 ′ displayed after selection may be a processed version of the thumbnail b5 before selection, or is created by appropriately determining the resolution and display size from the generated image that is the source of the thumbnail b5. It may be what was done. Further, the thumbnail b5 'may be displayed while being superimposed on the thumbnail b5 (and other thumbnails) while the thumbnail b5 is displayed.

  The “large size” means that the thumbnail b5 ′ has a size or resolution smaller than that of the thumbnail b5 before selection, although at least one of the image size and the resolution is smaller than the generated image corresponding to the thumbnail b5. . As a result, even if the image is duplicated by, for example, taking the thumbnail b5 ′ using the screen shot function of the mobile terminal 6, etc., at least one of the image size and the resolution is degraded from the original generated image. Only images can be acquired. That is, it is possible to prevent the mobile terminal 6 from illegally obtaining the generated image (acquiring the image without registering as a member).

  Thus, by displaying the selected thumbnail with higher visibility (thumbnail b5 '), it is possible to allow the user to check the appearance of the generated image before saving the generated image (before purchase). Therefore, the user can evaluate the generated image by himself and determine whether to save the image. Furthermore, if the user wants to check the generated image (its thumbnail) that he / she wants to check in particular, by selecting the thumbnail, the thumbnail is displayed with higher visibility (in the case of FIG. 16 in a larger size). . Therefore, it is possible to make the user check the details of the image in more detail and to increase the user's willingness to purchase.

  Note that the thumbnail b5 ′ is not only displayed in a large size, but also as shown in FIG. 16C, a specific part of the thumbnail b5 (for example, the face of a person shown in the generated image). Part) may be extracted and only the part may be displayed in a large size. In order to extract only the face portion from the thumbnail b5 (or the generated image corresponding to the thumbnail b5), the management server 4 may use a conventional face recognition image processing technique.

  Further, the image storage screen only needs to include at least one thumbnail b among the generated images generated by one play of the game in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. However, it is desirable that thumbnails b of all the generated images generated in the above-mentioned one play are displayed on the image saving screen if possible. Furthermore, it is desirable that the thumbnail b and the link object a1 are simultaneously displayed in the display area of the display unit 605 of the mobile terminal 6 (in the area that the user can view at once, that is, the first view). By displaying the thumbnail b and the link object a1 in an area that can be browsed at once, the user viewing the image storage screen selects the link object a1 without scrolling the screen after confirming the thumbnail b. be able to. Therefore, the user's willingness to purchase images can be further increased, and membership registration can be performed with higher probability.

  The image saving screen displayed by the image saving mail 1101 will be described in more detail. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the image storage screen shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the image storage screen includes a paid member registration button (all purchase link object) a2 and a free member registration button (partial purchase link object) a3 in addition to the thumbnail b described in FIG. It is desirable. When the pay member registration button a2 and the free member registration button a3 are included in the image storage screen, the link object a1 may not be included. Also, on the image storage screen, a part of the image is charged and purchased instead of or together with the free member registration button a3, that is, a button for purchasing a part of the image for free. A link object may be included. Specifically, a purchase button (all purchase link object or partial purchase link object) for purchasing one or more images without registering and downloading to the mobile terminal 6 may be included. .

  Furthermore, the thumbnail b, the paid member registration button a2, and the free member registration button a3 are preferably arranged in this order along the scroll direction of the image storage screen (downward in the examples of FIGS. 16 and 17). . Thereby, the user who browses the image storage screen can find the paid member registration button a2 and the free member registration button a3 along the natural line of sight after confirming the thumbnail b.

  Furthermore, since the user can confirm the thumbnail b first on the image saving screen and increase the willingness to save the image (motivation to purchase), the paid member registration button a2 and the free member registration button a3 can be shown. The user can be effectively guided to membership registration. Further, a user who is not willing to purchase enough to save the entire image (that is, to register as a paying member) can display the free member registration button a3 after the paying member registration button a2 so that only the free member registration is performed. Can be guided.

  When the thumbnail b, the paid member registration button a2, and the free member registration button a3 are arranged in this order along the scroll direction of the image storage screen, one play of the game in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 is displayed on the image storage screen. It is not necessary to display all the thumbnails b of the generated image. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the screen configuration may be such that some thumbnails b are displayed halfway (the display is completely out of view). . Thus, by displaying the thumbnail b partway, the user scrolls the image storage screen and tries to view the subsequent screen. As shown in FIG. 17, since the pay member registration button a2 and the free member registration button a3 are arranged at the scroll destination of the screen, the user proceeds to the member registration along the flow of natural line of sight. Will be guided.

  In the example described in FIG. 16B, the link object a1 is displayed on the image storage screen displayed by the image storage mail 1101, but the thumbnail b5 ′ is connected to store the generated image. The URL of the link destination to be embedded may be embedded. In other words, the thumbnail b5 'itself may also serve as the link object a1. As a result, it is not necessary to display the link object a1 in the screen area of the image saving screen, and the area where the link object a1 was displayed can be made free. Therefore, the thumbnail b in the limited display area of the display unit 605 is displayed. Can be expanded. Therefore, for example, an advantage that the thumbnail b can be displayed larger is obtained.

  Further, a button in which a URL of a link destination to be connected to store the generated image may be superimposed on each thumbnail b. That is, the button may be displayed instead of the link object a1. It is desirable that the button is an icon button such as a “¥” mark that can be understood at a glance that an image can be purchased. Further, the above button may be superimposed on a highlighted thumbnail (eg, thumbnail b5 ').

  In addition, the management server 4 determines whether the user is a member when receiving the user's contact information from the photo sticker creating apparatus 1, and if the user's membership type is also received, whether the user is a member or a non-member. Depending on whether the button is a paid member or a free member, the button (link object) displayed on the image storage mail 1101 may be changed.

  More specifically, for example, when the user is a non-member, it is desirable that a charged member registration button a2 and a free member registration button a3 for performing free member registration are arranged in the image storage mail 1101. When the user is a free member, it is desirable that the image saving mail 1101 is provided with a paid member registration button a2 and a button for instructing to save a part of the image as a free member. Furthermore, if the user is a paying member, the paying member registration has already been performed, so a button for instructing to save all the images is arranged in the image saving mail 1101 instead of the paying member registration button a2. It is desirable.

[Embodiment 2]
The management server 4 according to the present invention may prompt member registration as described above and as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 in the image storage mail 1101 created by the mail creation unit 412, or an image providing site as shown below You may be prompted to register for a paid member on My Page. Hereinafter, the My Page of the image providing site and the image saving guide page (described later) that transitions from the My Page will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, in this embodiment, at least free membership registration is required to log in to the image providing site. Therefore, in the following description, it is assumed that the user is already a free member of the image providing site.

  (A) of FIG. 19 is a figure which shows the specific example of my page 2000 of an image provision site. As illustrated, thumbnails c1 to c4 and thumbnails d1 to d2 are displayed on My Page 2000. Here, the thumbnails c1 to c4 are thumbnails of images (unsaved images and unpurchased images) that have not yet been saved in the image providing site among the created images created by the user (free member) using the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. Indicates. On the other hand, thumbnails d1 to d2 indicate thumbnails of images (saved images) that have been saved by the user among the generated images. As shown in the figure, thumbnails c1 to c4 of unsaved images are displayed together at the top of My Page 2000.

  As in the first embodiment, various thumbnails are used as examples of sample images in this embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the sample image is a thumbnail if it is a sample for specifying a generated image. It does not have to be.

  If there are a plurality of unsaved images, thumbnails of unsaved images may be arranged in accordance with criteria such as the creation date and time of the unsaved image (that is, the date and time when the game was created on the photo sticker creation device 1). Further, the screen of My Page 2000 can be scrolled downward as shown, and the thumbnails can be displayed by scrolling the screen.

  Furthermore, in My Page 2000, thumbnails c1 to c4 of unsaved images are images that have at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution from the unsaved images (original images of the thumbnails). The images have different values. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 19A, the thumbnails c <b> 1 to c <b> 4 are images obtained by graying out unsaved images (with lightness and saturation lower than those of unsaved images). In addition to the grayout, for example, thumbnails c1 to c4 may be whiteout (lightness and saturation may be higher than those of unsaved images). Alternatively, in My Page 2000, a display similar to the above grayout or whiteout is realized by superimposing and displaying a translucent (translucent) gray or white image on thumbnails c1 to c4. May be.

  Further, instead of the grayout or the whiteout, or together with the grayout or the whiteout, the thumbnails c1 to c4 have a predetermined pattern (shaded) or characters (such as “sample”) corresponding to the thumbnails c1 to c4. A notation that clearly shows that the saved image is not a saved image) may be added. The display of the predetermined pattern or character may be realized by adding the predetermined pattern or character to the thumbnails c1 to c4 itself, or an image including the predetermined pattern or character is displayed on the thumbnails c1 to c4. You may implement | achieve by superimposing and displaying. In this way, displaying thumbnails c1 to c4 of unsaved images in My Page 2000 in a state that is clearly different from the original image can prevent the user from misidentifying thumbnails c1 to c4 as saved.

  When the thumbnails c <b> 1 to c <b> 4 of unsaved images are selected on the My Page 2000 displayed on the display unit 605 of the mobile terminal 6, the selection instruction is transmitted to the management server 4. In response to the selection instruction, the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 creates an image storage guidance page 2001 (purchase screen) that prompts the user to save an image, transmits the image storage guidance page 2001 to the portable terminal 6, and displays it on the display unit 605. Let

  FIG. 19B shows an example of the image storage guidance page 2001. As shown in the figure, the image storage guidance page 2001 includes at least thumbnails c1 to c4 of unsaved images and a paid member registration button (all purchase link object) e2. Furthermore, the image storage guidance page 2001 may include a partial storage button (partial purchase link object) e3 for storing one image for free.

  As in the case of My Page 2000, the thumbnails c1 to c4 are different from the image corresponding to the thumbnail in at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution from the unsaved image (original image of the thumbnail). It is displayed to be a value. In the example of FIG. 19B, as in the example of FIG. 19A, the thumbnails c1 to c4 are displayed in a grayed out state.

  Here, when the user performs an operation of selecting any one of the thumbnails c1 to c4 via the input unit 604, the selected thumbnail (thumbnail c2 in the example of FIG. 19B) is selected according to the operation. Displayed in a larger size than before selection. FIG. 19C is a diagram showing an image storage guide page 2001 when the thumbnail c2 is selected in FIG. 19B. As shown in the figure, the thumbnail c2 is displayed in a larger size, that is, in a state (highlighted display) with a higher visibility (thumbnail c2 '). As a result, the user can confirm the appearance of the unsaved image corresponding to the thumbnail c2 ', so that the user can be prompted to save the unsaved image that is the source of the thumbnails c2 and c2'. Further, the user repeatedly displays the screens of FIGS. 19B and 19C to check the thumbnails c1 to c4. Thereafter, when all the images are desired or there are a plurality of desired images, the user can see FIG. By selecting the paid member registration button (all purchase link object) e2 in (b) or (c) via the input unit 604, paid member registration can be performed. In other words, the thumbnails c1 to c4 (any one) of the unsaved images and the pay member registration button e2 are simultaneously displayed in the display area of the display unit 605, so that the user can be prompted to register for the pay member. .

  Note that it is desirable that the transition from the screen shown in FIG. 19B to the screen shown in FIG. 19C does not involve a page transition. The user repeatedly selects and deselects the thumbnails c1 to c4, and confirms and evaluates the appearance of the thumbnails c1 to c4 (more specifically, the generated images corresponding to these thumbnails). Therefore, by eliminating the page transition between (b) and (c) in FIG. 19, the time required for transmission / reception and display of web page data between the management server 4 and the portable terminal 6 is reduced, There is an advantage that the user can confirm the image with better operability. In addition, when the screen shown in FIG. 19B is changed to the screen shown in FIG. 19C, an image in which the grayout of the thumbnail c2 is canceled may be used as the thumbnail c2 ′.

  Further, the highlighted display of any one of the thumbnails c1 to c4 on the image storage guidance page 2001 is not limited to the example illustrated in FIGS. 20A to 20E are diagrams showing modified examples of the highlight display of the thumbnail c2 'on the image storage guidance page 2001. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 20A to 20B, when any of the thumbnails c1 to c4 is selected in the mobile terminal 6, the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 is at least a part of the selected thumbnail. The selected thumbnail is displayed so that the user can view the image area in the same or nearer state as the original unsaved image than before selection in at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution. Alternatively, data of the image storage guidance page 2001 may be created and transmitted to the mobile terminal 6. More specifically, when any of the thumbnails c1 to c4 is selected on the mobile terminal 6, the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 is grayed out (or half-superimposed on the thumbnail) of the selected thumbnail. By releasing part or all of the layer (transparent gray image layer), data of the image storage guidance page 2001 that is highlighted compared to the thumbnail before selection may be created.

  As a result, the management server 4 saves the unsaved image to the user by presenting the thumbnail so that it looks the same or close to the original unsaved image according to the user's thumbnail selection on the mobile terminal 6 ( Purchase). In other words, the management server 4 is not an unsaved image itself, but by showing a thumbnail on the image saving guide page 2001 to a user that can confirm the appearance of the unsaved image, the management server 4 further increases the willingness to purchase the unsaved image. Can do.

  The thumbnail c2 ′ displayed after selection may be a processed version of the thumbnail c2 before selection, or at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution from the original unsaved image of the thumbnail c2. The thumbnails may be thumbnails that are appropriately determined and re-created (generated). Naturally, the cancellation of grayout may be combined with the highlighting method (displayed in a large size) described in FIG. 19 (FIG. 20A).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 20C, the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 displays the brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution of the image area including the user's face shown in the selected thumbnail c2. The image storage guide page 2001 may be created so that at least one of the images is displayed so as to be seen in the same or close state as the image compared to before selection.

  In the photo sticker creating apparatus 1, a photographed image taken by the user as a subject or an edited image obtained by editing the photographed image is generated as a generated image. That is, the generated image is an image including the user's face. Therefore, it can be estimated that the user wants to most surely confirm how his / her face is reflected as a reflection of the generated image. In other words, the appearance of the user's face in the generated image is highly likely to be a decisive factor in purchasing the generated image. Therefore, as described above, by highlighting the image area including the user's face, the user is allowed to confirm in more detail the appearance of the face that the user most likely wants to confirm and consider whether or not to purchase. be able to. Therefore, the management server 4 can further increase the user's willingness to purchase images.

  Note that the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 cancels the gray-out of the selected thumbnail (thumbnail c2) out of the thumbnails c1 to c4 and increases the size, as shown in FIG. The image storage guidance page 2001 may be created so that the thumbnail c2 ′ thus displayed is superimposed on the thumbnail c2 before selection.

  Further, the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 cancels a part of the selected thumbnail (thumbnail c2) from being grayed out (superimposition of a gray translucent image), as shown in FIG. In addition, an image storage guidance page 2001 that displays a thumbnail c2 ′ having a large size may be created. The image storage guidance page 2001 may be a page in which a grayed-out portion (a portion where a semi-transparent image is superimposed) of the thumbnail c2 'is changed by scrolling the screen.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 20B, when the grayout of the thumbnail selected on the image storage guide page 2001 is canceled, the grayout cancellation and the re-grayout may be repeated at predetermined time intervals.

  In addition, the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 includes not only thumbnails of generated images generated in the most recent one play among the games of the photo sticker creation device 1 but also in the past (in the play before the one play). Data of the image storage guidance page 2001 may also be generated so that a thumbnail of an unsaved image of the generated image (past image) created is also displayed. Hereinafter, screen examples in the case of displaying thumbnails of past images will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 to 23 are screen examples of the image storage guidance page 2001 when the thumbnail c of the generated image created in the last one play of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 and the thumbnail c ′ of the past image are displayed together. Is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 21A, the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 includes, as the image storage guidance page 2001, the thumbnail c of the generated image generated in the most recent game and the thumbnail c ′ of the past image. You may create the data of the page which displays the screen arrange | positioned one or more each. Also in this case, at least the pay member registration button e2 described above may be arranged on the image saving guide page 2001, and a partly saving button e3 may be further arranged.

  Further, it is desirable that the thumbnail c and the thumbnail c ′ are separately arranged in different areas in the image storage guide page 2001. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from confusing the thumbnails of the most recently generated images and the thumbnails of the past images. Further, when the thumbnail c ′ of the past image is too large to fit within the display area of the display unit 605, the area where the thumbnail c ′ is arranged is changed to the left and right as indicated by the white arrows in FIG. By scrolling to, all of the thumbnails c ′ may be confirmed.

  As described above, the management server 4 generates the image created most recently in the photo sticker creation apparatus 1 by creating the image storage guide page 2001 that displays the thumbnail c of the generated image and the thumbnail c ′ of the past image. In addition to the image, the user can be guided again to save the generated image that has been created in the past, but the user did not save the image (that is, an unsaved image).

  In addition, since the thumbnail c ′ of the past image is displayed together with the thumbnail c of the generated image, it is possible to show the user that there are many images that can be saved, and the user registers as a paid member in order to save all the images. Can be more guided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 21B, the image storage guidance page 2001 may classify and display thumbnails of past images classified by model of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1. For example, in FIG. 21B, the thumbnail c ′ of the past image generated by the model A, the thumbnail c ″ of the past image generated by the model B, and the thumbnail c of the past image generated by the model C. '' 'Is displayed separately. Note that the classification criteria may be the generation date and time of the past image or the generation location of the past image (location of the photo sticker creation apparatus 1), not the model.

  As described above, the thumbnails of past images are classified and displayed according to a predetermined standard, so that there is an advantage that a user who frequently plays the game of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 can easily check the images.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 22A, only the thumbnail (thumbnail c2 ') of the image selected by the user in the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 among the generated images may be displayed on the image storage guide page. In this case, the thumbnail of the image selected by the photo sticker creating apparatus 1 may be highlighted as compared with the thumbnail c ′ of the past image. Further, as shown in FIG. 22B, the thumbnail c of the generated image may be scrolled for a predetermined time (or according to the user's flick operation or the like) like a slide show.

  Further, the arrangement position and scroll direction of the thumbnail c 'of the past image are not limited to the example of FIG. 21, and may be the arrangement and scroll of the vertical direction as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 23B, the thumbnail c of the generated image and the thumbnail c ′ of the past image are arranged side by side without distinction, and one thumbnail from the thumbnail group (thumbnail c + c ′). And the selected thumbnail (thumbnail c2 in the figure) may be highlighted (thumbnail c2 ′). Further, as shown in FIG. 23C, the thumbnail c of the generated image and the thumbnail c ′ of the past image are arranged side by side without being distinguished from each other, and these thumbnail groups have a display effect that turns the page. May be displayed or displayed as a slide show. Alternatively, the thumbnail group (thumbnail c + c ′) may be collected without distinction, and any image of the thumbnail group may be displayed on the image storage guide page 2001 with a predetermined time sensation. More specifically, for example, thumbnail images are displayed continuously at predetermined time intervals as if they were a single frame of a movie without the display effect (the effect of turning the above-described page). Also good.

  In addition, the arrangement of thumbnails, the scroll direction, and the highlighting style on the image storage guidance page 2001 may be appropriately designed according to the shape and size of the display area of the display unit 605 of the mobile terminal 6.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 24A, in the image storage guidance page 2001, the thumbnails c1 to c4 of the generated images may be arranged and scrolled obliquely. When one of the thumbnails (c1 in the figure) is selected, the selected thumbnail (c1) is highlighted (thumbnail c1 ′) as shown in FIG. A registration button e2 (and a partial save button e3) may appear on the same screen as the highlighted thumbnail. Also, as shown in FIG. 24C, on the image storage guidance page 2001, the pay member registration button e2 (and the partial storage button e3) may be displayed superimposed on the thumbnails c1 to c4. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 24B and 24C, together with the pay member registration button e2 (and the partial save button e3), a cancel button e4 for canceling the superimposed display of these buttons. May be displayed. When the cancel button e4 is selected, the superimposed display of the pay member registration button e2 (and the partial save button e3) may be canceled. When the superimposed display is canceled, the image storage guide page 2001 may gray out the thumbnails c1 to c4 again as shown in FIG. 19B (the visibility may be reduced again). . Alternatively, the superimposed display shown in FIG. 24C is displayed in a state where the user cannot cancel (the cancel button e4 is not arranged), and the pay member registration button e2 (or the partial save button e3) is selected. The superposition display may continue until

  Also, as shown in FIG. 25A, thumbnails of unsaved generated images (and past images) are sized and arranged to look like a collage in the display area of the display unit 605. Is selected (thumbnail c4 in FIG. 25 (a)), the selected thumbnail is highlighted (thumbnail c4 ′) and a pay member registration button e2 (and a partial save button e3) is displayed. You may make it appear on the same screen as the thumbnail to be highlighted. Alternatively, by selecting a certain area of the collaged thumbnail instead of one thumbnail, the entire area is treated as if it were one image (image f), and the area is highlighted. Good ((c) of FIG. 25). Note that the position and size of the “certain area” may be set by the user. For example, the user may select an area having an arbitrary shape such as a rectangle or a circle and an arbitrary size on the screen of FIG. In addition, on the screen of FIG. 25A, the user selects the number of thumbnails vertically and horizontally from among the collaged thumbnails as one image (image f of FIG. 25C). You may let them.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 26A to 26B, the image storage guide page 2001 is a generated image indicated by the thumbnail (for example, a change in eye size or a change in skin color) for the thumbnail selected on the page. It may be possible to display a preview or the like when processing a). Further, as the processing, an icon (face icon) obtained by extracting a face portion area included in the generated image may be created. Note that the shape of the region extracted as a face icon from the generated image, the position on the generated image, and the size may be specified by the user or may be determined in advance. Alternatively, the face area may be automatically extracted from the generated image using a known image processing technique such as face recognition. As the face recognition technique, a known technique may be used. In addition, when a plurality of faces are shown in the generated image, individual face icons may be created by extracting a face part for each face shown using the face recognition technique. One region including the face portions of the plurality of persons may be extracted and handled as one face icon. As shown in (c) of FIG. 26, in the image saving mail 1101, a face icon may be displayed instead of a thumbnail (face icon b '), and the icon may be selected.

  In the example described with reference to FIG. 19C, the pay member registration button e2 (and the partial save button e3) is displayed on the image save guide page 2001. The link destination URL to be connected to save the generated image may be embedded in the selected thumbnail without displaying the copy saving button e3). In other words, the selected thumbnail itself may also serve as the paid member registration button e2 (and the partial save button e3). Thereby, it is not necessary to display the pay member registration button e2 on the image storage guide page 2001, and the display of the selected thumbnail can be expanded to the area where the pay member registration button e2 was displayed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the selected thumbnail can be displayed larger.

  Further, a button in which a URL of a link destination to be connected to store the generated image may be superimposed on a thumbnail (c1 to c4, etc.). That is, the above button may be displayed instead of the paid member registration button e2 (or the partial save button e3). Note that the button is preferably an icon button such as “¥” that can be understood at a glance that the image can be purchased. Further, the above button may be superimposed on a highlighted thumbnail (such as thumbnail c2 ').

  In addition, when any of the thumbnails c1 to c4 is selected in the My Page 2000 shown in FIG. 19A, the screen does not transition to the image storage guidance page 2001 (the page shown in FIG. 19B). Instead of transition), the thumbnail selected on My Page 2000 may be highlighted. Specifically, when the thumbnail c2 is selected on the My Page 2000 shown in FIG. 19A, the thumbnail c2 is highlighted as the My Page 2000 (without screen transition) as shown in FIG. 19C. You may display (thumbnail c2 ').

  In addition, the management server 4 determines whether the user is a member and the user's membership type in any process from the transmission of the image storage mail 1101 to the portable terminal 6 until the creation of the image storage guide page 2001. If it is possible to specify (paid member or free member), depending on whether the user is a member or a non-member, and further depending on whether the user is a paid member or a free member, the image storage guide page 2001 is displayed. You may change buttons (paid member registration button e2 etc.).

  More specifically, for example, when the user is a non-member, it is desirable that a charged member registration button e2 and a free member registration button for performing free member registration are arranged on the image storage guide page 2001. In addition, when the user is a free member, it is desirable that a pay member registration button e2 and a partial save button e3 are arranged on the image saving guide page 2001. Furthermore, when the user is a paying member, since paying member registration has already been performed, it is desirable to arrange a button for instructing to save all images instead of the paying member registration button e2.

[Modification]
In the image providing site in each of the above-described embodiments, when browsing My Page 2000 of the image providing site, the user has to be at least a free member and log in. However, the image providing site according to the present invention may allow the non-member user to browse the temporary My Page 2000. Specifically, when the web page creation unit 413 of the management server 4 accesses the image providing site from the mobile terminal 6, the seal ID of the seal created by the photo sticker creation device 1 is stored in the mobile terminal 6. When a sticker ID is input on the page, a My Page 2000 that displays an image corresponding to the sticker ID as an unsaved image is created and transmitted to the mobile terminal 6 May be. Thereafter, the screen transition from the My Page 2000 to the image storage guide page 2001 and various processes in the image storage guide page 2001 may be performed in the same manner as the member user.

  In this case, since the user is a non-member, the saved image may not be displayed on My Page 2000. Further, the unsaved image of the past image described in FIG. 21 and the like may not be displayed.

  The image providing site in each of the above embodiments may be a site (information distribution service) that becomes a comprehensive platform (core service) including services other than the image providing site. Then, by completing membership registration with the image providing site, services other than the image providing site may be available. In particular, the image providing site is preferably a platform site for young women who are the main users of the user of the photo sticker creating apparatus 1.

  Note that the method for displaying the thumbnails c1 to c4 of the unsaved images with good visibility on the image saving guide page 2001 in the image providing site described in the second embodiment on the image saving screen displayed by the image saving mail 1101. You may employ | adopt as a method (display method of thumbnail b5 'in (b) of FIG. 16) of displaying the thumbnail b of a production | generation image with sufficient visibility. Conversely, the method for displaying the thumbnail b on the image storage screen displayed by the image storage mail 1101 described in the first embodiment with good visibility, the thumbnails c1 to c4 of the unsaved images in the second embodiment with high visibility. You may apply as a method of displaying.

  In each of the above embodiments, the mail creation unit 412 of the management server 4 creates the image storage mail 1101 or the web page creation unit 413 creates the data of the image storage guidance page 2001, and the mobile terminal 6 The image storage mail 1101 or the image storage guide page 2001 data is received from 4 and displayed. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the mobile terminal 6 receives only the thumbnail data of the generated image on the screen displayed as the image storage mail 1101 (or the image storage guide page 2001) from the management server 4 via the communication unit 603, and the thumbnail data The display control unit based on information indicating the screen layout of the image storage mail or the image storage guide page stored in advance in the storage unit 602 of the mobile terminal 6 or program data having a function of creating the screen In 613, a screen of an image storage mail or an image storage guide page may be created on the own terminal and the created screen may be displayed on the display unit 605.

[Example of software implementation]
The control blocks of the management server 4 (particularly the mail creation unit 412, the web page creation unit 413, and the communication unit 403) and the control blocks of the portable terminal 6 (particularly the input unit 604, the communication unit 603, and the display control unit 613) It may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  In the latter case, the management server 4 and the portable terminal 6 include a CPU that executes instructions of a program that is software that implements each function, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a storage device (these are referred to as “recording media”), a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program, and the like. And the objective of this invention is achieved when a computer (or CPU) reads the said program from the said recording medium and runs it. As the recording medium, a “non-temporary tangible medium” such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. The program may be supplied to the computer via an arbitrary transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 Photo sticker creation device (image generation device)
4 management server (information distribution device)
6 Mobile terminals (communication terminals)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Shooting unit 12 Editing part 13 Subsequent customer service part 21 Photographing part 201 Control part 311 Communication control part 312 Shooting control part 313 Edit control part 314 Print control part 315 Post-service customer control part 401 Control part 402 Storage part 403 Communication part (transmission part)
411 Communication control unit 412 Mail creation unit (display data creation unit)
413 Web page creation part (display data creation part)
414 Image management unit 415 User management unit 601 Control unit 602 Storage unit 603 Communication unit (reception unit)
604 Input unit 605 Display unit 611 Communication control unit 612 Input control unit 613 Display control unit

Claims (17)

An information distribution device that manages one or more images created by an image generation device that generates an image according to a charge, and distributes the image to a communication terminal,
A display data creation unit that creates display data for displaying a purchase screen that allows a user of the communication terminal to purchase a part or all of the image;
A transmission unit for transmitting the display data to the communication terminal,
The display data is obtained by causing a display unit of the communication terminal to display a screen on which one or more sample images of the image are arranged as the purchase screen, and at least a part of the sample image selected on the purchase screen. An information distribution apparatus characterized in that the image area is data that is displayed on the purchase screen in a state of higher visibility than before selection.   The display data is data for displaying the selected sample image in a state of high visibility by displaying the selected sample image in a size larger than that before selection. Item 2. The information delivery apparatus according to Item 1. The sample image is displayed on the purchase screen in a state in which at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution looks different from the image corresponding to the sample image,
The display data is such that at least one of lightness, saturation, hue, and resolution can be seen in the same or near state as the image compared to before selection for at least a part of the image area of the selected sample image. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information distribution apparatus is data that causes the selected sample image to be displayed in a state of high visibility by being displayed. The above image is a picture of the user's face taken or created from the picture,
The display data is in a state in which at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, and resolution of a part of the image area including the user's face of the selected sample image is the same as or close to that of the image compared to before the selection. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information distribution apparatus is data that causes the selected sample image to be displayed in a highly visible state by displaying the sample image so as to be visible.   The display data is data for causing the display unit to display the selected sample image in a state in which at least one of size and resolution is smaller than the image corresponding to the sample image. The information delivery apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4.   The display data is data for displaying, as the purchase screen, a screen in which the sample image and a link object for purchasing part or all of the image are simultaneously arranged in the display area of the display unit. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information distribution apparatus is an information distribution apparatus. The link object includes a full purchase link object for purchasing all the images, and a partial purchase link object for purchasing a part of the image.
The display data displays a screen in which the sample image, the all purchase link objects, and the partial purchase link object are arranged in order along the scroll direction of the purchase screen as the purchase screen. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 6.   The display data includes, as the purchase screen, a sample image of the image most recently created by the image generation device and an image created before the creation of the most recent image that has not been purchased by the user. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information distribution apparatus is data for displaying a screen in which one or more sample images of the purchase image are arranged.   The display data is data for displaying, as the purchase screen, a screen in which a sample image of the image and a sample image of the non-purchased image are separately arranged in different areas in the display area of the display unit. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 8, wherein A communication terminal that communicates with the information delivery apparatus according to claim 1,
An input unit that accepts input operations;
A receiving unit for receiving the display data from the information distribution device;
A display control unit for displaying the purchase screen on the display unit according to the display data,
When an input operation for selecting any one of the sample images is performed on the input unit, the display control unit is in a state where the visibility of at least a part of the selected image area of the sample image is higher than that before selection. A communication terminal that is displayed on the purchase screen. A control method for an information distribution apparatus that manages one or more images created by an image generation apparatus that generates an image in accordance with billing and distributes the image to a communication terminal,
A display data creation step for creating display data for displaying a purchase screen for allowing a user of the communication terminal to purchase a part or all of the image;
Transmitting the display data to the communication terminal, and
The display data is obtained by causing a display unit of the communication terminal to display a screen on which one or more sample images of the image are arranged as the purchase screen, and at least a part of the sample image selected on the purchase screen. A control method characterized in that the data is displayed on the purchase screen in a state in which the visibility of the image area is higher than before selection. A method for controlling a communication terminal that communicates with the information distribution device according to claim 1,
An input step for accepting an input operation;
Receiving the display data from the information distribution device;
A display control step of displaying the purchase screen on the display unit according to the display data,
When an input operation for selecting one of the sample images is performed in the input step, in the display control step, at least a part of the image area of the selected sample image is in a state of higher visibility than before selection. A communication terminal displayed on the purchase screen. An image generation device that generates an image in response to a charge;
The information delivery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the image is managed and the image is delivered to a communication terminal.
An information distribution system comprising: the communication terminal according to claim 10 that communicates with the information distribution apparatus.   A control program for causing a computer to function as the information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control program causes the computer to function as the display data creation unit and the transmission unit.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the control program of Claim 14.   A control program for causing a computer to function as the communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the control program causes the computer to function as the input unit, the receiving unit, and the display control unit.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the control program of Claim 16.

Images