Photographic image service system

Abstract

Photographic images of local area events are efficiently provided. Each of a plurality of laboratories obtains photographic images of events in their local areas and uploads the images to a management server. The management server stores the images, correlated with area specifying data that specifies the location of the laboratory which has uploaded them. A user transmits the zip code of an area in which an event for which he desires photographic images was held, via an Internet television set. The management server searches for images uploaded by a laboratory in an area that matches the transmitted zip code, and transmits the images to the Internet television set. The user selects desired images. Then, the management server generates and transmits an output command that causes a laboratory to print the images selected by the user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 10 / 724,889, filed on Dec. 2, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120 which claims priority under 35 USC § 119(a) on Patent Application No. 2002-351076 filed in Japan on Dec. 3, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a photographic image service. Particularly, the present invention relates to a photographic image service system that provides photographic images of local area events to users. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART [0003] Accompanying the spread of the Internet, it has become a widespread practice to place orders online. These orders include accessing a server on the Internet using a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as “PC”) while at home to shop, as well as performing bank transactio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic image service system that efficiently provides users with photographic images of small scale events that occur in local areas.

Problems solved by technology

Meanwhile, there are cases in which it is difficult for a user to obtain photographs for him or herself, due to geographical or time constraints.

In this case, not only is securing photography locations troublesome, but as the photography is performed by amateurs, it is difficult to obtain high quality photographic images.

In this method, there is a problem that only participants in the event can obtain photographic images thereof.

Therefore, there is no competition among photo studios, and there is a problem that the users have limited freedom of choice regarding the photo studio.

In the case that a user desires photographs of their grandchild's elementary school athletic event, and the grandchild lives far away, the user must rely on photographs sent to them from their children, which is inconvenient.

However, these web sites are difficult to search for, and there is no guarantee regarding the quality of the photographic images.

A method wherein the local photo studio exhibits the photographic images on the Internet to receive orders therethrough is unrealistic, because the burden on the photo studio is great from the viewpoint of costs in system construction and maintenance.

Images