JP2003018352A - Server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server with which a conventional problem related to the storage of an image format can be relaxed or solved. SOLUTION: When a client deposits image data to a server 17 so that the image data can be drawn from terminals 11-16 through a WAN, these image data are appropriately converted to a new image format. Therefore, even when image data are saved for a long time, regardless of the image format arbitrarily readable for a client's drive, the client can download the desired image data and can read images on the basis of these data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a server that can be connected to a network and can store image data for a long period of time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image data generating devices such as digital cameras and scanners have been improved by improving image processing technology.
It is popular with remarkable momentum. Along with this, users are becoming more aware of digital images, and are being used for various purposes such as creating Internet homepages and digital printing. Further, with the spread of the Internet, there is an increasing number of services for lending storage areas that can be freely used by customers in servers that can be connected to the Internet.

By using such a service, it becomes possible for the customer to freely store data in such a server within the range of the capacity allowed. Therefore, customers who use the service can retrieve the necessary data from their homes, workplaces, business trip destinations both in Japan and overseas, by connecting to the server from the terminal via the network. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to carry a medium storing data all the time.

[0004]

Since the image data is a kind of data, it can be stored in the server. Since the large amount of data owned by general customers is often image data, it is considered that the data stored in the rented server is mostly image data. Here, the technology related to image processing is advancing day by day,
New technologies are created every day. However, there are various image formats currently in use, such as JPEG and bitmap, but these are improved in the near future, or new formats have been developed. Naturally expected to be born.

One problem here is how to handle the image data stored in the old image format when a new image format is created. Of course, it is possible to continue to store image data in the old image format. However, as new drives (including applications) are developed for new image formats, transitionally, compatible drives that can read image data of both image formats will be used. As the image data of the conventional image format is no longer used, a drive capable of reading it may not be commercially available in a relatively short period of time.

However, some customers may want to keep certain image data, for example, for life. However, it can be said that there is no point in saving image data even if it has been saved because there is no drive to read it. Therefore, if a user wants to freely browse a specific image, there is a problem that a drive capable of reading the image data of the corresponding image format together with the image data must be stored in an operable state for a long period of time. This can be said to be too burdensome for an individual, as it involves drive support issues.

On the other hand, when a new image format is developed, it is considered that the format conversion may be performed by using a compatible drive capable of reading image data of both the new and old image formats. However, when there is a large amount of image data, converting all of this into a new image format is a task that requires considerable time and effort for the individual. In addition, it is considered that there are many image data that are stored but not used at all and may not be used in the future. However, even if only the image data that is not used is excluded and the image format is converted,
There is also a problem that the selection is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a server which can alleviate or eliminate the problems associated with storing the conventional image format.

[0009]

The server of the first aspect of the present invention stores image data of a customer, converts the image data into an image format different from the image format of the image data, and stores the image data. When the customer deposits the image data, the image data is converted to a new image format as needed, so even if the image data is stored for a long period of time, the customer can use any image format that can be read by their own drive. By acquiring the image data, the image can be viewed immediately when necessary. Here, "an image format different from the image format of the stored image data" means that when a new image format is newly developed with respect to the image format of the stored image data, the developed image format Shall be said.

Further, if the conversion is automatically performed at a predetermined timing, the conversion is performed even if the customer does not intend, which is preferable because it does not take time and effort.

If the image data before conversion is stored, it is preferable that the original image data is suppressed from being erased without the customer's knowledge. However, if the image data is stored indefinitely, the storage capacity of the server may be insufficient. In order to prevent this, it is preferable to erase unnecessary image data. Therefore, when the remaining capacity of the storage area that the customer is allowed to use becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is advisable to ask the customer for permission to erase the original image data and obtain the approval. Or if the customer wants to erase the image data automatically,
For example, it is conceivable to delete the image data that is accessed less frequently.

Further, when the image data of a plurality of types of image formats are generated as a result of the conversion, if all of the image data are stored, the image data can be read out in an arbitrary image format, for example, according to the drive of the customer. It is preferable because it becomes possible.

The conversion is preferably conversion to the latest image format.

The server of the second aspect of the present invention is connectable to a network, stores the image data of the customer, and when the image data download request is made by the customer, what is the image format of the image data? Since the image data is converted into a different image format and the converted image data is permitted to be downloaded, the customer may request the download of the image data that can be retrieved via the network, for example, via a terminal. Then, the image data is downloaded after being converted to a new image format, so even if the image data is stored for a long period of time, the customer downloads the image data in an image format that can be read by the user's own drive. This makes it possible to view images immediately when needed. .

Furthermore, it is preferable to store the converted image data because it is possible to prevent the original image data from being erased without the customer's knowledge.

When the conversion results in the generation of the image data in a plurality of image formats, if all of the image data are stored, the image data can be downloaded in an arbitrary image format according to the drive of the customer. It is preferable because it becomes possible.

Further, the conversion is preferably conversion to the latest image format.

When the image data of a plurality of types of image formats are generated as a result of the conversion, if all the image data are permitted to be downloaded, for example, the image format can be changed according to the drive of the customer. This is preferable because the image data can be downloaded.

Further, it is preferable that the image data before conversion, which has been converted into the latest image format, be permitted to be downloaded. This is because by returning the original image data to the customer, the original image data stored in the server can be erased and new image data can be left, whereby the storage capacity of the server can be effectively used.

In the present specification, the image data generally means digitized image data, specifically, a transparent original such as a negative film or a positive film, a reflective original such as a printing paper or a printed matter. Data that is quantized and digitized from analog stored information, data that is directly stored as digital information like a digital camera, image data that a customer arbitrarily draws on a computer (generally CG ) Etc.

A network is a system in which a computer system, terminals, and data communication equipment are mutually connected. The connection may be a wired line such as a leased line, a public line, a power line, an optical fiber, a wireless connection, or a combination thereof. The so-called Internet is also included in the network.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system including a server according to the present embodiment. Figure 1
At the customer terminals 11 to 16 and the server 17,
A WAN (Wide A) represented by a network such as the Internet through a device for connecting a terminal or a LAN to the Internet, such as a router or a modem (not shown).
REA Network) so that data communication is possible. The server 17 allocates a part of the storage area to each customer in response to each customer's request, and each customer receives image data via its own terminals 11 to 16 within the range allocated to itself. Can be uploaded arbitrarily. Each of the terminals 11 to 16 has a drive for reading out image data of a predetermined image format, and the read image data can be displayed on a monitor.

Next, the function of the server 17 of this embodiment will be described. First, when the customer desires to upload image data via his / her own terminal 11-16, the server 17 performs predetermined registration (including determination of a payment method) and issues a unique identification number. . Based on this identification number, each customer can access the server 17 from the terminals 11 to 16 and can upload and download his or her image data. Server 17
Store the uploaded image data until the registration is deleted.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of the server 17. In step S101 of FIG. 2, the server 17
Stores the uploaded image data in a predetermined storage area, and waits for a predetermined timing in step S102. Here, the predetermined timing may be regular such as 2 years or 3 years, or may be when the customer requests, but a new image format has been developed and conversion software for it has been developed by the server 17. It is supposed to be installed after.

When it is determined that the predetermined timing has come, the server 17 converts all the stored image data into a new image format in step S103. Here, it may be difficult to convert between image formats. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image format conversion table stored in the server 17. It is assumed that the new image format is used as the numbers added to the image format in FIG. 3 increase.

In FIG. 3, if one image format can be converted into another image format,
If the mark is not convertible, the mark x is attached. For example, it is indicated that the image data of the image format 1 can be converted into the image data of the newer image formats 2, 5 and 6, but cannot be converted into the image data of the image formats 3 and 4. Here, when only the image data of the image format 1 is stored, the server 17 converts them into the image data of the image formats 2, 5 and 6 with reference to the conversion table of FIG.
Store at 04. The converted image format may be limited to, for example, only the image format specified by the customer or only the latest image format (here, 6).

It is preferable that the original image data of the image format 1 is stored as it is without being erased, but if it is stored without limitation, the capacity of the server 17 may be insufficient. Therefore, it is preferable to erase the image data at an appropriate timing. . As for the timing, when the remaining capacity of the storage area of the server 17 that the customer is allowed to use becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value, the customer's terminals 11 to 16 are deleted. Seeking permission, the terminals 11-16
Please wait for the approval response from and delete the corresponding image data. Alternatively, if the customer desires to automatically delete the image data, it is conceivable to make an arrangement to delete the image data having a small number of accesses, for example, at the time of first registration or after the contract change.

FIG. 4 is another control flowchart of the server 17. In step S201 of FIG. 4, the server 1
7 stores the uploaded image data in a predetermined storage area, and in step S202, the terminal 1 via the WAN.
It waits for access from any one of 1 to 16 (download request including an identification number unique to the terminal). If the terminal and the identification number do not match, the server 17 rejects the download request.

When it is determined that the download request is issued from any of the terminals 11 to 16, the server 17 performs step S with respect to the image data requested to be downloaded.
In 203, it is converted into a new image format that can be converted based on the conversion table of FIG. 3, and in step S204, the converted image data is stored. The server 17 permits all the converted image data to be downloaded, and in step S205, the image data is transmitted to the terminals 11 to 16 that issued the download request via the WAN. The image data before conversion may be stored as it is, but if the image data before conversion can be attached to the customer's terminal and transmitted by consent of the customer, the image data before conversion stored in the server 17 can be stored. It is also possible to delete the image data of, so that the storage capacity of the server 17 can be effectively used. Further, when the download request includes designation of the image format, only the image data of the image format can be transmitted.

In this example, since the image format of the image data is changed and stored only when a download request is made, a comparison with the example shown in FIG. 2 in which all the image data is converted at a predetermined timing. However, since the conversion is small and the capacity of the converted image data to be stored can be kept low, the storage area of the server 17 can be effectively utilized.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the exemplary embodiments, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, but it goes without saying that appropriate modifications and improvements are possible. is there.

[0032]

According to the present invention, by providing a server that can alleviate or eliminate the problems associated with storing old image formats, it is possible to provide a more user-friendly image data storage service.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system including a server according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of a server 17.

FIG. 3 is an example of a conversion table of an image format.

FIG. 4 is another control flowchart of the server 17.

[Explanation of symbols]

11-16 terminals 17 servers

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. Image data of a customer is stored, and an image format different from the image format of the image data is stored.
A server characterized in that the image data is converted and stored. 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the conversion is automatically performed at a predetermined timing. 3. The server according to claim 1, wherein the image data before the conversion is stored. 4. The server according to claim 1, wherein when the image data of a plurality of types of image formats are generated as a result of the conversion, all the image data are stored. 5. The server according to claim 1, wherein the conversion is conversion to the latest image format. 6. A network connectable device, which stores image data of a customer, and when the image data download request is made by the customer, the image is converted into an image format different from the image format of the image data. A server that converts data and permits downloading of converted image data. 7. The server according to claim 6, wherein the converted image data is stored. 8. The server according to claim 6, wherein when the image data of a plurality of types of image formats are generated as a result of the conversion, all the image data are stored. 9. The server according to claim 6, wherein the conversion is conversion to a latest image format. 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein if the image data of a plurality of types of image formats are generated as a result of the conversion, the download is permitted for all of the image data. Server. 11. The server according to claim 10, wherein the image data before conversion, which has been converted into the latest image format, is permitted to be downloaded.