Collage image making system, method and program

Abstract

The present invention provides a collage image production system, method and program that can produce collage images in a shorter time regardless of the number of users participating in the collage image production. Mobile terminals (100‑1 to 100‑N) of multiple users determine that there is task sharing for a mobile terminal (100‑1) that functions as a host and other mobile terminals (100‑2 to 100‑N) (one or more second mobile terminals) that function as clients, and communication required for the production of collage images can be performed between the mobile terminal (100‑1) and the other mobile terminals (100‑2 to 100‑N). Therefore, even in the case where multiple users participate in the collage image production, the user of each mobile terminal does not need to wait for operations such as selection and editing of images based on other users, but can simultaneously perform operations such as selection of images used in the production of the collage image and editing of the selected images, thereby making it possible to produce a collage image in a shorter time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a collage image making system, method and program, and in particular to a technology for making a collage image by multiple users. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technique in which a plurality of users collaboratively create a collage image (Patent Document 1).

[0003] The image combining method described in Patent Document 1 selects a target collage template in a sending client (first terminal), creates a first collage by adding at least one image to the selected target collage template, and sends the created first collage to a receiving client (second terminal).

[0004] When the first tile is received, the receiving client detects whether there is a blank portion in the first tile (target tile template), and if there is a blank portion, at least one image is added to the blank portion to create a second tile.

[0005] In this way, each client sequentially adds images to the target collage template to create a collage image.

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-529138

[0007] In the image combining method described in patent document 1, the first terminal adds images to the target collage template to produce the first collage, and transmits it to the first terminal. The second terminal further adds images to the first collage to produce the second collage, and this operation is performed sequentially between the terminals of multiple users until there are no blank parts in the target collage template, thereby completing the collage image. Therefore, each terminal needs to separately process the addition (combination) of images to the target collage template.

[0008] Furthermore, the first collage, the second collage, ... produced by each terminal need to be sent to the terminal at the next stage in sequence, so the first collage, the second collage, ... cannot be produced at the same time. For example, the user of the second terminal cannot participate in the production of the collage image, nor can he select the picture to be added to the blank part of the target collage template until the user receives the first collage from the first terminal.

[0009] Therefore, the time required to create the first collage, the second collage, ... (the time required for selecting or photographing pictures based on the user, image processing, and sending and receiving the first collage, etc.) is accumulated for each user, resulting in a problem that it takes a long time to create the final collage image. In particular, as more users (terminals) participate in the creation of the collage image, it takes a long time to create the final collage image. Summary of the invention

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a collage image creation system, method, and program that can create a collage image in a short time regardless of the number of users participating in the collage image creation.

[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the invention involved in one mode is a collage image production system, which is composed of a first mobile terminal that functions as a host and one or more second mobile terminals that function as clients and can communicate with the first mobile terminal, and produces a collage image based on a first image stored in the first mobile terminal and a second image stored in the second mobile terminal, wherein the first mobile terminal has: a first display unit; a layout selection unit that selects a layout from a plurality of layouts for collage image production; a first layout display control unit that displays the selected layout on the first display unit; a first image selection unit that selects a first image used in the production of the collage image from a plurality of images stored in the first mobile terminal; a first display control unit that displays the selected first image in a first frame assigned to the first mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed in the first display unit; a first editing command receiving unit that receives an editing command for the first image; a first editing unit that edits the first image displayed in the first frame according to the editing command received by the first editing command receiving unit; and a first communication unit that sends information on the selected layout to the communication unit. The second mobile terminal is transmitted to a second mobile terminal, and a second image selected in the second mobile terminal is received from the second mobile terminal, the second mobile terminal comprising: a second display unit; a second layout display control unit, which displays the layout on the second display unit according to the information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal; a second image selection unit, which selects a second image used in the production of the collage image from a plurality of images stored in the second mobile terminal; a second display control unit, which displays the selected second image in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed in the second display unit; and a second layout display control unit, which displays the selected second image in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal. An editing command receiving unit receives an editing command for a second image; a second editing unit edits the second image displayed in a second frame according to the editing command received by the second editing command receiving unit; and a second communication unit receives layout information sent from a first mobile terminal and sends the edited second image to the first mobile terminal, wherein the first mobile terminal includes an image synthesis unit that synthesizes the first image edited by the first editing unit in a first frame of the layout and synthesizes the second image edited by the second editing unit in a second frame to produce a collage image.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, mobile terminals of multiple users determine task sharing for a mobile terminal (first mobile terminal) functioning as a host and other mobile terminals (one or more second mobile terminals) functioning as clients, and required communication can be performed between the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal. Therefore, even when multiple users participate in the production of a collage image, the user of each mobile terminal does not need to wait for operations such as selection and editing of images based on other users, but can simultaneously perform operations such as selection of images used in the production of the collage image and editing of the selected images, thereby making it possible to produce a collage image in a shorter time.

[0013] In a collage image production system involved in another embodiment of the present invention, the first editing command receiving unit receives at least one editing command of enlargement, reduction, movement, rotation and image processing content of the first image, and the first display control unit displays the first image processed according to the editing command received by the first editing command receiving unit in the first frame of the layout displayed in the first display unit. The second editing command receiving unit receives at least one editing command of enlargement, reduction, movement, rotation and image processing content of the second image, and the second display control unit displays the second image processed according to the editing command received by the second editing command receiving unit in the second frame of the layout displayed in the second display unit.

[0014] That is, each user of the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal can edit the first image and the second image while viewing the first image in the first frame or the second image in the second frame of the layout displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal.

[0015] Another embodiment of the invention relates to a collage image production system, which is composed of a first mobile terminal having a first camera unit that functions as a host and a second mobile terminal having a second camera unit that functions as one or more clients and can communicate with the first mobile terminal, and produces a collage image based on a first image captured by the first camera unit of the first mobile terminal and a second image captured by the second camera unit of the second mobile terminal, wherein the first mobile terminal has: a first display unit; a layout selection unit that selects a layout from multiple layouts for collage image production; a first layout display control unit that displays the selected layout on the first display unit; the first display control unit that displays the first image captured by the first camera unit in a first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal among multiple frames of the layout displayed on the first display unit; and a first communication unit that sends information on the selected layout to the second mobile terminal and receives the second image captured by the second camera unit from the second mobile terminal, and the second mobile terminal has : a second display unit; a second layout display control unit, which displays the layout on the second display unit according to the information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal; a second display control unit, which displays the second image captured by the second camera unit in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal among multiple frames of the layout displayed in the second display unit; and a second communication unit, which receives the information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal and sends the second image captured by the second camera unit to the first mobile terminal, the first display control unit updates the first image displayed in the first frame of the layout displayed in the first display unit according to the latest first image captured by the first camera unit, the second display control unit updates the second image displayed in the second frame of the layout displayed in the second display unit according to the latest second image captured by the second camera unit, the first mobile terminal has an image synthesis unit, which synthesizes the latest first image captured by the first camera unit in the first frame of the layout, and synthesizes the latest second image captured by the second camera unit in the second frame.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, compared with the invention according to one aspect, in which an image used in making a collage image is selected from a plurality of images stored in a mobile terminal and the selected image can be edited, the difference lies in that the image used in making the collage image is obtained by photographing. In addition, the photographed image is used in making the collage image, so when making the collage image, it is not necessary to perform editing such as enlarging or moving the photographed image.

[0017] In a collage image production system according to another embodiment of the present invention, the first mobile terminal can display a live view image captured by the first camera unit in a first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal in a layout displayed on the first display unit, and the second mobile terminal can display a live view image captured by the second camera unit in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal in a layout displayed on the second display unit. Thus, the user can capture images used for the collage image while observing the live view image displayed in the first frame or the second frame of the layout.

[0018] In a collage image production system involved in another embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the first layout display control unit displays the assigned first frame on the first display unit in a manner that can be identified with other frames, and the second layout display control unit displays the assigned second frame on the second display unit in a manner that can be identified with other frames.

[0019] In the collage image creating system according to still another aspect of the present invention, preferably, the first communication unit of the first mobile terminal and the second communication unit of the second mobile terminal perform wireless communication with each other directly or via an access point and a network.

[0020] In the collage image creating system according to still another aspect of the present invention, preferably, only the first mobile terminal includes a transmission unit that transmits the collage image to a printer.

[0021] In a collage image production system according to another embodiment of the present invention, the first mobile terminal preferably includes a print command receiving unit for receiving a print command, and the print command receiving unit receives a print command for the collage image only when a collage image is produced in which the first image and the second image are synthesized in all frames of the layout, and if the print command receiving unit receives the print command, the sending unit sends the collage image to the printer. This can prevent an unfinished collage image from being sent to the printer and printed out.

[0022] In a collage image production system involved in another embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the first mobile terminal has a mode selection unit for selecting a first mode for displaying the first image and the second image on the first display unit and a second mode for displaying only the first image. When the first mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes only the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit. When the first mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes only the second image in the second frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit.

[0023] In a collage image production system involved in another embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal have a function selection unit that functions as a host or a client respectively, and when the first mobile terminal selects the client function through the function selection unit, it becomes the second mobile terminal, and when the second mobile terminal selects the host function through the function selection unit, it becomes the first mobile terminal.

[0024] The invention according to another aspect is a collage image production method, which is composed of a first mobile terminal that functions as a host and one or more second mobile terminals that function as clients and can communicate with the first mobile terminal, and produces a collage image based on a first image stored in the first mobile terminal and a second image stored in the second mobile terminal. The collage image production method includes: selecting a layout from a plurality of layouts for collage image production by a layout selection unit of the first mobile terminal; and displaying the selected layout on a display of the first mobile terminal by a first layout display control unit of the first mobile terminal. The first display unit comprises a step of selecting a first image used in creating a collage image from a plurality of images stored in the first mobile terminal through an image selection operation in the first image selection unit of the first mobile terminal; the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal displays the selected first image in a first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of a layout displayed in the first display unit; if the first editing command receiving unit of the first mobile terminal receives an editing command, the first editing unit edits the first image displayed in the first frame according to the received editing command; the first communication unit of the first mobile terminal comprises a step of The steps of: sending information of the selected layout to the second mobile terminal and receiving the second image selected in the second mobile terminal from the second mobile terminal; the step of displaying the layout on the second display unit of the second mobile terminal according to the information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal; the step of selecting the second image used in the production of the collage image from a plurality of images stored in the second mobile terminal through an image selection operation in the second image selection unit of the second mobile terminal; and the step of displaying the selected second image on the second display unit by the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal. The invention relates to a step of allocating the edited second image to a second frame among a plurality of frames of a layout to a second mobile terminal; a step of causing the second editing unit to edit the second image displayed in the second frame according to the received edit command if the second editing command receiving unit of the second mobile terminal receives the editing command; a step of causing the second communication unit of the second mobile terminal to receive the layout information sent from the first mobile terminal and send the edited second image to the first mobile terminal; and a step of causing the image synthesis unit of the first mobile terminal to synthesize the edited first image in the first frame of the layout and synthesize the edited second image in the second frame to produce a collage image.

[0025] The invention involved in another embodiment is a collage image production method, which is composed of a first mobile terminal having a first camera unit that functions as a host and a second mobile terminal having a second camera unit that functions as one or more clients and can communicate with the first mobile terminal, and produces a collage image based on a first image captured by the first camera unit of the first mobile terminal and a second image captured by the second camera unit of the second mobile terminal. The collage image production method includes: a step of selecting a layout from multiple layouts for collage image production by a layout selection unit of the first mobile terminal; a step of displaying the selected layout on a first display unit of the first mobile terminal by a first layout display control unit of the first mobile terminal; a step of capturing the first image by the first camera unit; a step of displaying the first image captured by the first camera unit in a first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal among multiple frames of the layout displayed on the first display unit by the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal; a step of sending information of the selected layout to the second mobile terminal by the first communication unit of the first mobile terminal, and receiving information of the second image captured by the second camera unit from the second mobile terminal. The invention relates to a method for preparing a collage image; a step in which a second layout display control unit of a second mobile terminal displays a layout on a second display unit of a second mobile terminal according to information of the layout sent from a first mobile terminal; a step in which a second camera unit captures a second image; a step in which a second display control unit of the second mobile terminal displays the second image captured by the second camera unit in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed in the second display unit; a step in which a second communication unit of the second mobile terminal receives information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal and sends the second image captured by the second camera unit to the first mobile terminal; and a step in which an image synthesis unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes the latest first image captured by the first camera unit in a first frame of the layout and synthesizes the latest second image captured by the second camera unit in a second frame to produce a collage image, a step in which a first image is displayed in a first frame by updating the first image displayed in the first frame according to the latest first image captured by the first camera unit, and a step in which a second image is displayed in a second frame by updating the second image displayed in the second frame according to the latest second image captured by the second camera unit.

[0026] The invention according to another aspect is a collage image creation program installed in a mobile terminal, which, when installed in the mobile terminal, enables the mobile terminal to function as the first mobile terminal or the second mobile terminal constituting the above-mentioned collage image creation system.

[0027] Effects of the Invention

[0028] According to the present invention, when a plurality of users collaborate to create a collage image, the collage image can be created in a short time regardless of the number of users who participate in creating the collage image. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 It is a system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the collage image creation system according to the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 Yes means applicable to Figure 1 A block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a mobile terminal of a collage image creation system shown.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of a home page displayed on a display of a mobile terminal by executing application software including a collage image creation program.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a block diagram showing main functions of the first embodiment of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as a host.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a block diagram showing main functions of the first embodiment of the mobile terminal 100 - 2 functioning as a client.

[0034] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing a state where an image (collage image) is sent from the mobile terminal 100 - 1 to the printer 10 and printed out.

[0035] Fig. 7A This is a part of a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the collage image creating method according to the present invention.

[0036] Figure 7B is a continuation of Fig. 7A Flowchart of the flowchart shown.

[0037] Figure 7C is a continuation of Figure 7B Flowchart of the flowchart shown.

[0038] Figure 8 This is a flowchart when the trial mode is set to "On". Figure 7B Flowchart of the flowchart shown.

[0039] Fig. 9 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 when inviting other users.

[0040] Fig.10 This is a diagram showing an example of screens displayed on the mobile terminals 100 - 2 and 100 - 3 until the mobile terminal 100 - 1 determines the user who participates in the collage image creation.

[0041] Fig.11 This is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 1 when a layout is selected.

[0042] Fig.12 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen used for creating a collage image and displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 1 .

[0043] Fig.13 It means Fig.12 The corresponding screen diagram is a diagram showing the process of reading the first image based on the selection of the first image.

[0044] Fig.14 It means Fig.12 The corresponding screen diagram shows a state where the selected first image is synthesized in the first frame of the layout.

[0045] Fig.15 It means Fig.12 The corresponding screen diagram shows a state where the first image and two second images are composited in all frames of the layout.

[0046] Fig.16 It means Fig.12 The corresponding screen diagram shows a state where the trial mode is set to "ON".

[0047] Fig.17 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen used for creating a collage image displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 1 , and is a diagram showing a state where the trial production mode is set to “ON” and the first image is selected by the mobile terminal 100 - 1 .

[0048] Fig.18 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen used for creating a collage image displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 2 , and is a diagram showing a state where the trial production mode is set to “ON” and the first image is selected by the mobile terminal 100 - 1 .

[0049] Fig.19 This figure shows an example of a screen used for creating a collage image displayed on mobile terminal 100 - 3 , and shows a state where the trial mode is set to “ON” and a first image is selected by mobile terminal 100 - 1 and a second image is selected by mobile terminal 100 - 2 .

[0050] Fig. 20 This is a block diagram showing main functions of the second embodiment of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as a host.

[0051] Fig.21 This is a block diagram showing main functions of the second embodiment of the mobile terminal 100 - 2 functioning as a client.

[0052] Fig.22A This is a part of a flowchart showing the main part of the second embodiment of the collage image creating method involved in the present invention.

[0053] Fig. 22B is a continuation of Fig.22A Flowchart of the flowchart shown.

[0054] Fig.23 This is a flowchart when the trial mode is set to "On". Fig. 22B Flowchart of the flowchart shown.

[0055] Fig.24 It is a system configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the collage image creation system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the collage image creation system, method, and program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] [First embodiment of collage image creation system]

[0058] Figure 1 It is a system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the collage image creation system according to the present invention.

[0059] Figure 1 The collage image creating system 1 of the first embodiment shown is composed of a plurality of mobile terminals 100 - 1 to 100 -N owned by a plurality of users.

[0060] As the plurality of mobile terminals 100 - 1 to 100 -N, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a notebook computer, and the like can be applied.

[0061] The plurality of mobile terminals 100 - 1 to 100 -N of this example have application software (a collage image creation program according to the present invention) installed therein attached to the printer, and have various functions described below by executing the collage image creation program.

[0062] In addition, the multiple mobile terminals 100-1~100-N are not limited to mobile terminals of the same type and with the same functions. It is sufficient as long as at least a collage image production program is installed and the collage image production program can be executed and wireless communication can be performed directly between the multiple mobile terminals 100-1~100-N or via a network.

[0063] [Mobile terminal]

[0064] Figure 2 Yes means applicable to Figure 1 A block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a mobile terminal of a collage image creation system shown.

[0065] in addition, Figure 1 The plurality of (N) mobile terminals 100-1 to 100-N shown in the figure are respectively installed with a collage image making program, and thus have the same function for making a collage image. Figure 2 1 and 2 show only one mobile terminal 100 representing the plurality of mobile terminals 100 - 1 to 100 -N. In this example, a smartphone is used as the mobile terminal 100 .

[0066] like Figure 2 As shown, the mobile terminal (smartphone) 100 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 for controlling the overall operation; a ROM (Read-only Memory) 102 storing basic input and output programs, etc.; a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 used as a work area for the CPU 101; a built-in memory 104; a display 105; a touch panel 106 for detecting touch operations (position input) on the display screen; and an IMES (Indoor MEssaging System) that is a GPS (Global Positioning Systems) satellite or an indoor GPS. The system comprises a GPS receiving unit 107 for receiving a GPS signal including the location information (latitude, longitude and altitude) of the mobile terminal 100; a camera unit 108 including a photographic lens and an image sensor and electronically taking pictures; a microphone unit 109 including a microphone and inputting sounds; a speaker unit 110 including a speaker and outputting sounds; a communication unit 111 for wirelessly communicating via the nearest base station, router and other access points and a network using an antenna 111A; a short-range wireless communication unit 112 for short-range wireless communication with other devices (for example, other mobile terminals, printers, etc.) using an antenna 112A; a sensor unit 113 including various sensors such as a geomagnetic sensor, a gyrocompass and an acceleration sensor; a media drive 114 for reading and writing data on a memory card 115, etc.

[0067] The built-in memory 104 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory). In addition to the operating system, the built-in memory 104 also stores various data such as various application software including the collage image production program involved in the present invention, image data of images taken by the camera unit 108, and image data obtained from other devices.

[0068] The collage image creation program is application software attached to a printer described later, and is, for example, a program downloaded from a service website of the printer on the network via the communication unit 111. Figure 1 The mobile terminals 100-1 to 100-N shown in the figure have application software including a collage image making program downloaded respectively, and constitute Figure 1 The collage image production system 1 is shown.

[0069] [front page]

[0070] Figure 3 1 is a diagram showing an example of a home page 200 that is first displayed on the display 105 of the mobile terminal 100 when the application software including the collage image creation program is executed.

[0071] The home page 200 displays buttons of available functions as icons. That is, a combination of images, symbols or patterns is displayed. Specifically, Figure 3 As shown, a button for a simple print function, namely a "simple print" button MB1, a button for a short film print function, namely a "short film print" button MB2, a button for an instantaneous imaging camera function, namely a "instantaneous imaging camera" button MB3, a button for a template print function, namely a "template print" button MB4, a button for a collage print function, namely a "collage print" button MB5, a button for a compatibility diagnosis function, namely a "compatibility diagnosis" button MB6, and a button for a team collage function, namely a "team collage" button MB7 are displayed. A menu title is displayed at the bottom of each button.

[0072] The "easy print" function is a function of printing an image (still image) stored in the mobile terminal 100. When the "easy print" button MB1 is touched (clicked) on the screen, this function is activated.

[0073] The "Movie Print" function is a function for extracting a scene from a moving image and printing it. This function is activated when the "Movie Print" button MB2 is touched on the screen.

[0074] The "instant camera" function is a function of taking a picture using the camera function of the mobile terminal 100 and printing the taken picture through a printer. If the "instant camera" button MB3 is touched on the screen, this function is activated.

[0075] The "Template printing" function is a function of combining an image with a template image and printing it. This function is activated when the "Template printing" button MB4 is touched on the screen.

[0076] The "collage printing" function is a function for generating and printing a collage image. As described above, the collage image is generated by applying images to each area of ​​a layout (division frame) that is internally divided into a plurality of areas. The shapes of the layout include regular shapes (e.g., bisection, bisection, bisection, quartering, ninth division, etc.) and irregular shapes. Regular division is particularly referred to as segmentation printing. If the "collage printing" button MB5 is touched on the screen, this function is activated.

[0077] The "Compatibility Diagnosis" function is a function for performing compatibility diagnosis from an image. For example, the image is analyzed using the learning completed mode, and the compatibility of the people (two people) photographed in the image is diagnosed. If the "Compatibility Diagnosis" button MB6 is touched on the screen, this function is activated.

[0078] The "Team Collage" function is a function for multiple people to jointly create a collage image and print it. If the "Team Collage" button MB7 is touched on the screen, this function is activated.

[0079] like Figure 3 As shown, on the home page 200 , the function buttons are grouped and displayed in two groups (a first group MG1 and a second group MG2 ).

[0080] The first group MG1 is a group to which the function buttons of "simple print", "short movie print" and "instant camera" belong. The first group MG1 is a function group whose main purpose is simple printing. This group is called a "print mode" group.

[0081] The second group MG2 is a group to which the function buttons of "Template Printing", "Collage Printing", "Compatibility Diagnosis" and "Team Collage" belong. The second group MG2 is a function group mainly for advanced printing that requires processing and editing. This group is called the "Fun Mode" group.

[0082] The buttons belonging to the first group MG1 (the "simple print" button MB1, the "short movie print" button MB2, and the "instant camera" button MB3) are displayed in the first group display area MA1, and the buttons belonging to the second group MG2 (the "template print" button MB4, the "collage print" button MB5, the "compatibility diagnosis" button MB6, and the "team collage" button MB7) are displayed in the second group display area MA2. The first group display area MA1 is set at the right end of the screen of the home page 200, and the second group display area MA2 is set at the bottom of the screen.

[0083] A "settings" button SEB is also displayed on the home page 200. The "settings" button SEB is a button for calling a screen (settings screen) for performing various settings. The "settings" button SEB is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.

[0084] Furthermore, when a printer is connected (communication is established), information of the connected printer is displayed on the home page 200. The printer information is displayed in the printer information display area MA3. The printer information display area MA3 is set at the upper part of the screen. The name of the connected printer (for example, the model name), the remaining film amount, and the remaining battery amount are displayed in the printer information display area MA3. This information is obtained from the printer when communication is established with the printer.

[0085] [First Embodiment of Mobile Terminal 100 - 1]

[0086] Figure 4 It means in Figure 1 The block diagram is a main function block diagram of the first embodiment of the mobile terminal (first mobile terminal) 100-1 that functions as a host in the collage image creation system 1 shown.

[0087] If you touch Figure 3 When the "Team Collage" button MB7 on the home page 200 is pressed, the screen of the display 105 transitions from the home page 200 to a screen for selecting whether to participate as a host or a client in the creation of a collage image. By performing the operation of participating as a host on the screen by the function selection unit, the mobile terminal 100-1 then functions as a host.

[0088] exist Figure 4 In the figure, the mobile terminal 100-1 that functions as a host is composed of an operating unit 120 including a touch pad 106, etc.; a CPU 101 that functions as a first editing unit 130, an image synthesis unit 132, a first layout display control unit 134 and a first display control unit 136 by executing a collage image production program; a built-in memory 104; a display 105 that functions as a first display unit; and a short-range wireless communication unit 112 that functions as a first communication unit.

[0089] The operation unit 120 includes a layout selection unit 122 , a first image selection unit 124 , a first edit command reception unit 126 , and a print command reception unit 128 .

[0090] The layout selection unit 122 is an operation unit for selecting a layout from a plurality of layouts for collage image creation stored in the built-in memory 104, etc., by user operation. A plurality of frames in which a plurality of images are synthesized (embedded) are provided in the layout. Information on the selected layout is added to the first layout display control unit 134 and the image synthesis unit 132, etc.

[0091] The first image selection unit 124 is an operation unit for selecting an image (first image) used for creating a collage image from a plurality of images stored in the internal memory 104, etc. The first image selected by the first image selection unit 124 is added to the first display control unit 136 and the image synthesis unit 132, etc.

[0092] The first editing command receiving unit 126 is an operating unit for executing editing commands on the selected first image, for example, commands for enlarging, reducing, moving, rotating, or cropping the first image, or commands for image processing content (various filtering processes, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, color adjustment, etc.) on the first image.

[0093] The first editing unit 130 edits the first image displayed in the first frame according to the editing command received by the first editing command receiving unit 126 .

[0094] The first layout display control unit 134 displays the layout for collage image creation on the display 105 based on the information of the selected layout.

[0095] The first display control unit 136 displays the first image selected by the first image selection unit 124 in a first frame allocated to the mobile terminal 100-1 among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the display 105. Furthermore, if the first image is edited by the first editing unit 130, the edited first image is displayed in the first frame. Thus, the user can confirm the editing result of the first image.

[0096] The short-range wireless communication unit 112 transmits the information of the selected layout and the first image to one or more other mobile terminals (second mobile terminals) 100-2 to 100-N. Furthermore, if the first image is edited by the first editing unit 130, the edited first image or editing information indicating the edited content is transmitted to the mobile terminals 100-2 to 100-N.

[0097] Then, the NFC unit 112 receives the image (second image) selected and edited in the same manner in the mobile terminals 100 - 2 to 100 -N from the mobile terminals 100 - 2 to 100 -N.

[0098] The image synthesizing unit 132 synthesizes the first image edited by the first editing unit 130 in the first frame of the layout, and synthesizes the second image received from the mobile terminals 100-2 to 100-N in the second frame of the layout allocated to the mobile terminals 100-2 to 100-N. The image synthesizing unit 132 creates a collage image by synthesizing the first image and one or more second images in all the frames of the layout.

[0099] The print command receiving unit 128 is a unit that receives a print command from a user when printing out the created collage image. The print command receiving unit 128 receives a print command for the collage image only when a collage image in which the first image and the second image are combined in all frames of the layout is created.

[0100] If the print command receiving unit 128 receives a print command, Figure 6 As shown, the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as a host transmits the collage image from the short-range wireless communication unit 112 functioning as a transmission unit to the printer 10 .

[0101] In addition, Figure 6 In the figure, the printer 10 is a portable printer. The printer 10 is an instant printer that prints images on an instant film 12. The instant film 12 uses a loose film method (also called an instant imaging film box). In addition, 14 is an outer casing of the printer 10, and 16 is a power button 16 of the printer 10.

[0102] [First Embodiment of Mobile Terminal 100 - 2]

[0103] Figure 5 It means in Figure 1 The block diagram is a main functional block diagram of the first embodiment of a mobile terminal (second mobile terminal) 100-2 that functions as a client in the collage image creation system 1 shown.

[0104] If you touch Figure 3 When the "Team Collage" button MB7 on the home page 200 is pressed, the screen of the display 105 transitions from the home page 200 to a screen for selecting whether to participate as a host or a client in the creation of a collage image. By performing the operation of participating as a client on the screen, the mobile terminal 100-2 then functions as a client.

[0105] Figure 1 The mobile terminal 100-1 of the collage image creation system 1 shown in the figure functions as a host, so the other mobile terminals 100-2 to 100-N can only participate as clients. Figure 5 100 - 2 is shown among the mobile terminals 100 - 2 to 100 -N, but mobile terminals functioning as other clients also have the same functions. Figure 5 In, with Figure 4 The common parts of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0106] exist Figure 5In the present invention, the mobile terminal 100-2 that functions as a client is composed of an operating unit 121 including a touch pad 106, etc.; a CPU 101 that functions as a second editing unit 131, a second layout display control unit 135 and a second display control unit 137 by executing a collage image production program; a built-in memory 104; a display 105 that functions as a second display unit; and a short-range wireless communication unit 112 that functions as a second communication unit.

[0107] The operation unit 121 includes a second image selection unit 125 and a second edit command receiving unit 127. Figure 4 The mobile terminal 100-1 of the host shown in the figure, the mobile terminal 100-2 of this example does not have the layout selection unit 122, the print command receiving unit 128 and the image synthesis unit 132. This is because the mobile terminal 100-2 functioning as a client does not need to select a layout for collage image creation, and does not generate a collage image or print output.

[0108] The second image selection unit 125 and the second edit command receiving unit 127 have Figure 4 The first image selection unit 124 and the first edit command reception unit 126 shown in the figure have the same functions.

[0109] The second image selection unit 125 is an operation unit for selecting an image (second image) used for creating a collage image from a plurality of images stored in the internal memory 104 or the like. The second image selected by the second image selection unit 125 is added to the second display control unit 137 or the like.

[0110] The second editing command receiving unit 127 is an operating unit for issuing an editing command to the selected second image, for example, issuing an order to enlarge, reduce, move, or rotate the second image for cropping, or issuing an order to perform image processing on the second image.

[0111] The second layout display control unit 135 displays the layout on the display 105 based on the information of the layout for collage image creation received from the host mobile terminal 100 - 1 via the near-field wireless communication unit 112 .

[0112] The second display control unit 137 displays the second image selected by the second image selection unit 125 in the second frame allocated to the mobile terminal 100-2 among the plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the display 105. Furthermore, if the second image is edited by the second editing unit 131, the edited second image is displayed in the second frame. Thus, the user can confirm the editing result of the second image.

[0113] The short-range wireless communication unit 112 receives layout information and the first image from the mobile terminal 100-1, and sends the selected second image to the mobile terminal 100-1. If the second image is edited by the second editing unit 131, the edited second image or editing information indicating the editing content is sent to the mobile terminal 100-1.

[0114] [First embodiment of collage image creation method]

[0115] FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the collage image production method according to the present invention. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The method is executed by the collage image creation system composed of the mobile terminals 100 - 1 , 100 - 2 , etc. according to the first embodiment shown.

[0116] exist Fig. 7A In the example, the user of the mobile terminal 100-1 executes the application software including the collage image making program, and the home page 200 ( Figure 3 ), and touch the "Team Collage" button MB7 on the home page 200.

[0117] When the “Team Collage” button MB7 is touched, a menu (not shown) for selecting whether to participate in “Team Collage” as a host or as a client is displayed on the display 105 of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 .

[0118] In this example, the user of the mobile terminal 100-1 touches the icon button (function selection unit) indicating that the user participates in the collage image creation as a host (step S100). Figure 4 As shown, the mobile terminal 100 - 1 then functions as a “host” in the creation of the collage image.

[0119] On the other hand, if the user of one or more other mobile terminals (for example, mobile terminal 100-2) also touches the "Team Collage" button MB7 on the home page 200, the screen of the display 105 transitions to a screen for selecting whether to participate in the creation of the collage image as a host or as a client. The user of the mobile terminal 100-2 in this example touches the icon button (function selection unit) indicating that he / she will participate in the creation of the collage image as a client on his / her screen (step S200). Figure 5 As shown, the mobile terminal 100-2 then functions as a "client" in creating the collage image. In addition, the user of the mobile terminal 100-2 cannot participate as a host in the same group as the user of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host.

[0120] Next, the user of the mobile terminal 100-2 participating as a client selects a network (in this example, Bluetooth (registered trademark)) to which the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host is opened (step S202). As a result, a Bluetooth connection is established between the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host and the mobile terminal 100-2 functioning as a client, so that wireless communication can be performed between the two.

[0121] Next, the user of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as the host selects users to be invited (participated) in the collage image creation (step S102 ).

[0122] Fig. 9 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of mobile terminal 100-1 when inviting other users. The user of mobile terminal 100-1 touches the icon button corresponding to the invited user among the icon buttons representing the mobile terminals of other users with which communication can be performed on the screen, and then touches the "start" button ST, thereby determining the user who creates the collage image.

[0123] In addition, Fig. 9 In the example, BB is a "return" button and TB is a "stick to top" button. The "return" button BB is a button for returning to the previous screen. The "stick to top" button TB is a button for returning to the home page 200.

[0124] Fig.10 This is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed in a mobile terminal functioning as a client until a user who participates in collage image creation is determined on the mobile terminal side functioning as a host. In addition, the display of this screen can be omitted. In addition, in this example, the two users of mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 are invited as an example for explanation.

[0125] Next, the user of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host selects a layout for creating a collage image (step S104). That is, the user operates the layout selection unit 122 ( Figure 4 ) and selects a layout from a plurality of layouts for creating a collage image stored in the built-in memory 104, etc.

[0126] Fig.11 This is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 1 when a layout is selected.

[0127] The user of mobile terminal 100-1 selects a desired layout from among layouts having a number of divisions corresponding to the number of users (including himself) participating in the collage image creation. Here, the number of divisions is the number of regions into which one frame is divided, which is equivalent to the number of photos used to create the collage image.

[0128] Users pass through Fig.11 On the screen shown, touch the desired layout and touch the "start" button ST to select the layout for collage image creation. In this example, two users are invited to create the collage image, so a layout with three divisions including oneself is selected.

[0129] When the layout for creating the collage image is determined, the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as the host transmits layout information indicating the layout (hereinafter referred to as “layout information”) to the mobile terminals 100 - 2 and 100 - 3 functioning as the clients via the short-range wireless communication unit 112 .

[0130] When a layout for creating a collage image is selected, a screen used for creating a collage image including the layout is displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as a host.

[0131] Fig.12 This is a diagram showing an example of a screen used for creating a collage image and displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as a host.

[0132] exist Fig.12 The center of the screen shows Figure 6 The area PL of the instant film 12 shown has an area PI where an image is printed inside the area PL.

[0133] The first layout display control unit 134 displays the layout on the display 105 based on the selected layout information.

[0134] The layout of this example is composed of three frames F1, F2, and F3 that define the area PI. Here, the area A1 of the frame F1 of the layout is the area allocated for the host, and the areas A2 and A3 of the two frames F2 and F3 (the second frame) are the areas allocated for the client, and the images of each user of the mobile terminals 100-1, 100-2, and 100-3 are synthesized (embedded) in the frames F1, F2, and F3 (areas A1, A2, and A3).

[0135] On the screen of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as the host, the area A1 allocated to the mobile terminal 100 - 1 and the areas A2 and A3 allocated to other users are displayed so as to be distinguishable.

[0136] Below the area PL showing the instant film 12, a "frame line" button MB11 for selecting whether to print a frame (frame line) of a layout and a "trial mode" button MB12 for selecting "on" or "off" the trial mode are provided.

[0137] The "trial mode" button MB12, which functions as a mode selection unit, is a button for selecting a mode (first mode) in which one's own image displayed on the display 105 is also displayed on other users' mobile terminals, and a mode (second mode) in which one's own image is not displayed on other users' mobile terminals. Therefore, if "on" is selected as the trial mode, each user cannot confirm images other than his own until the collage image is printed by the printer 10, so that the user can experience the unexpectedness of the printed collage image.

[0138] The user of the mobile terminal 100-1 participating as the host selects "on" / "off" of the frame line and "on" / "off" of the trial mode through the "frame line" button MB11 and the "trial mode" button MB12 (step S106). Fig.12 In the example shown, the frame line "off" and the trial mode "off" are selected.

[0139] Next, the user of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host selects an image (first image) to be used in creating a collage image from a plurality of images stored in the built-in memory 104 of the mobile terminal 100-1 (step S108). Figure 4 ) in the image selection operation, selecting the first image used in the creation of the collage image from a plurality of images stored in the built-in memory 104, etc.

[0140] On the other hand, the user of the mobile terminal 100-2 or 100-3 functioning as the client selects the second image through the second image selection unit 125 ( Figure 5 ) in the image selection operation, selecting the image (second image) used in creating the collage image from a plurality of images stored in the built-in memory 104, etc. (step S204).

[0141] In this example, if the first image is selected in step S108, the selected first image is sent from mobile terminal 100-1 to mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3, and if the second image is selected in step S204, the selected second image is sent from mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 to mobile terminal 100-1. However, this is not limited to this. When the editing of the image selected in each mobile terminal is completed and the "Editing End" button MB15 is operated, the image selected in the production of the collage image can also be sent and received between mobile terminals.

[0142] The mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients receive the layout information from the mobile terminal 100-1, and thus the second layout display control unit 135 ( Figure 5 ) can be combined with Fig.12The same screen is displayed on the display 105. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 100-2 or 100-3 preferably displays the frame F2 or F3 (area A2 or A3) of the layout assigned to each mobile terminal in a identifiable manner.

[0143] Next, when the trial mode is "off" (step S110, step S206), the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host and the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as the clients transition to Figure 7B Processing shown.

[0144] exist Figure 7B In the process, the first display control unit 136 of the mobile terminal 100-1, which functions as the host, displays the first image selected in step S108 in the frame F1 of the layout (step S112). That is, the first image selected in step S108 is read out from the built-in memory 104 ( Figure 3 ), and are synthesized in area A1 ( Fig.14 ).

[0145] Then, the second display control unit 137 of the mobile terminals 100 - 2 and 100 - 3 functioning as the client displays the second image selected in step S204 in the second frame (frames F2 and F3 ) corresponding to the layout (step S208 ).

[0146] Next, the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host determines whether the second image used in the production of the collage image has been received from the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients (step S114). When received ("yes"), the first display control unit 136 displays the received second image in the frames F2 and F3 corresponding to the layout (step S116).

[0147] Similarly, the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients determine whether the first image used in the production of the collage image has been received from the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host (step S210). When received ("yes"), the second display control unit 137 displays the received first image in the frame F1 corresponding to the layout (step S212).

[0148] Next, the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as the host determines whether to edit the first image (step S118 ).

[0149] like Fig.14As shown in the figure, an "image edit" button MB13, a "send" button MB14 and an "edit end" button MB15 are provided at the bottom of the screen of the mobile terminal 100-1. When the "image edit" button MB13 is touched, the mobile terminal 100-1 determines that the first image is an image to be edited and transitions to an editing screen not shown.

[0150] The editing screen displays various editing icon buttons that function as the first editing command receiving unit 126. The editing icon buttons may include buttons for instructing to enlarge, move, or rotate the first image for cropping, and buttons for instructing to perform image processing (various filter processing, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, saturation adjustment, etc.) on the first image.

[0151] The first editing unit 130 determines whether the editing icon button has been operated (step S120). When the editing icon button has been operated ("yes"), it receives the editing information (editing information) of the first image corresponding to the operation of the editing icon button (step S120), and edits the first image according to the editing information (step S122).

[0152] The edit information for the first image received in step S120 is transmitted to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients. The edit information for the first image is used to edit the first image in the frame F1 of the layout displayed on the display 105 of the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3.

[0153] Similarly, the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as the client determine whether to edit the second image (step S214). Fig.14 In the same screen as shown, if the "image edit" button MB13 is touched, the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 determine that the second image is an image to be edited and transition to the editing screen.

[0154] Various editing icon buttons that function as the second editing command receiving unit 127 are displayed on the editing screen. Figure 5 ) determines whether the editing icon button has been operated (step S214). When the editing icon button has been operated ("yes"), receives editing information for the second image corresponding to the operation of the editing icon button (step S216), and edits the second image according to the editing information (step S218).

[0155] Furthermore, the editing information of the second image received in step S216 is transmitted to the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host. The editing information of the second image is used when editing the second image on the mobile terminal 100-1 side when creating a collage image using the second image, or when editing the second image in the frame F2, F3 of the layout displayed on the display 105 of the mobile terminal 100-1.

[0156] In addition, the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host may be configured such that, instead of sending the edit information of the first image to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients, the edited first image is sent to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 again, and the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients may be configured such that, instead of sending the edit information of the second image to the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host, the edited second image is sent to the mobile terminal 100-1 again. Furthermore, since the first image sent from the mobile terminal 100-1 to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 is used for synthesis in the frame F1 of the layout displayed on the display 105 of the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3, it is preferable to send the first image with a small image size.

[0157] Next, the image synthesis unit 132 of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host synthesizes its own first image into the frame F1 of the layout, and synthesizes the second image received from the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients into the frames F2 and F3 of the layout to produce a collage image (step S123).

[0158] Here, when creating a collage image, if the first image or the second image is edited, the image synthesis unit 132 creates a collage image reflecting the editing result.

[0159] Next, the mobile terminal 100-1, which functions as a host, determines whether the collage image is completed (step S124). Fig.15 As shown, when the first image and the second image are combined in all the frames F1, F2, and F3 of the layout and the "editing end" button MB15 is operated, it can be determined that the collage image is completed.

[0160] In step S124, if it is determined that the collage image has been completed ("Yes"), it is determined whether to print out the image. Figure 7C The collage image shown (step S126).

[0161] When the "print" button (not shown) on the display 105 is operated, it can be determined that the collage image is printed out. In addition, when the collage image is printed out (when the "print" button is operated), as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown, after establishing a wireless connection with the printer 10, the mobile terminal 100-1 sends the collage image to the printer 10 (step S128).

[0162] Furthermore, after printing out the collage image, the mobile terminal 100 - 1 stores the collage image in the built-in memory 104 so that it can be printed again (step S130 ).

[0163] Then, if it is determined as print output in step S126, a notification indicating print output is sent to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients.

[0164] Mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 determine whether printout has been performed based on the printout notification received from mobile terminal 100-1 (step S220), and when printout has been performed (YES), the processing in mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 ends.

[0165] On the other hand, in step S220, if it is determined that the print output is not being performed ("No"), the process proceeds to step S230. Figure 7B Step S208 is shown. As a result, the users of the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients can continue editing the second image.

[0166] Next, the case where the trial production mode is set to "ON" is described.

[0167] Fig.16 1 is a diagram showing another example of a screen used for creating a collage image and displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as a host, and shows a case where the trial mode is turned “ON” by the “trial mode” button MB12 .

[0168] exist Fig. 7A In step S110 and step S206, if the trial mode is determined to be "on", the transition to Figure 8 Step S112 and step S208 shown in FIG. Figure 8 In, with Figure 7B Common steps are marked with the same step numbers, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0169] exist Figure 8 In step S112, the first display control unit 136 of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host displays only the first image selected in step S108 in the frame F1 of the layout (see FIG. 1 ). Fig.17).

[0170] Furthermore, in step S114, if it is determined that the second image used in the production of the collage image is received from the mobile terminal 100-2, 100-3 functioning as a client (when "Yes"), the first display control unit 136 does not display the received second image in the boxes F2, F3 corresponding to the layout, but displays a "SECRET" icon indicating that the second image is in a secret state (step S140).

[0171] On the other hand, Figure 8 In step S210, if it is determined that the first image used in creating the collage image is received from the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host (if "Yes"), the second display control unit 137 of the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as the client does not display the received first image in the frame F1 corresponding to the layout, but displays a "secret" icon indicating that the first image is in a secret state (refer to steps S240, Fig.18 ).

[0172] In addition, when the trial mode is set to "on", the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host may not send the first image to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients, but send information indicating that the first image is selected (setting the first image as secret). The second display control unit 137 of the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 that receive the information displays a "secret" icon indicating that the first image is in a secret state in the box F1 of the layout.

[0173] Fig.19 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen used for creating a collage image, which is displayed on the mobile terminal 100 - 3 functioning as a client, and shows a case where the trial production mode is set to “ON”.

[0174] When the first image is selected by mobile terminal 100-1 and the second image is selected by mobile terminal 100-2, mobile terminal 100-3, which functions as a client, displays only the second image selected by second image selection unit 125 in frame F3 of the layout of display 105, and displays the "secret" icon in frames F1 and F2 of the layout.

[0175] In addition, Figure 8In the step S123 shown, the image synthesis unit 132 of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host synthesizes the first image into the frame F1 of the layout, and synthesizes the second image received from the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients into the frames F2 and F3 of the layout. When a collage image is produced but the trial mode is "on", the produced collage image is not displayed on the display 105.

[0176] [Second Embodiment of Mobile Terminal 100 - 1]

[0177] Fig. 20 It means in Figure 1 A block diagram of the main functions of the second embodiment of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host in the collage image creation system 1 shown in FIG. Fig. 20 In, with Figure 4 The same reference numerals are used for the common parts in the mobile terminal 100 - 1 of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0178] The mobile terminal 100 - 1 of the second embodiment is different from the mobile terminal 100 - 1 of the first embodiment in that the first image is captured without selecting and editing the first image.

[0179] therefore, Fig. 20 The mobile terminal 100-1 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 4 Compared with the first embodiment shown, a camera unit (first camera unit) 108 is added, while the first image selection unit 124 and the first editing command receiving unit 126 in the operation unit 120 are deleted, and the first editing unit 130 in the CPU 101 is deleted.

[0180] The camera unit 108 captures a live view image and captures an image (first image) in accordance with a capture command from a capture button.

[0181] The first display control unit 136 displays the live view image captured by the camera unit 108 or the first image captured as a still image in the frame F1 allocated to the mobile terminal 100 - 1 among the plurality of frames in the layout displayed on the display 105 .

[0182] The user of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 can set a composition that matches the frame F1 or adjust the image size by changing the zoom factor or the shooting distance while viewing the live view image in the frame F1 of the layout displayed on the display 105 .

[0183] When the first image is captured by the camera unit 108 in accordance with the capture command from the capture button, the image synthesis unit 132 synthesizes the captured first image in the frame F1 of the layout. Furthermore, as described later, when the second image is received from the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as the client via the short-range wireless communication unit 112, the second image received from the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 is synthesized in the frames F2 and F3 of the layout allocated to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3.

[0184] Furthermore, when the first image is captured by the camera unit 108, the mobile terminal 100-1 transmits the first image to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 via the short-range wireless communication unit 112 so that the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients can confirm the first image.

[0185] [Second Embodiment of Mobile Terminal 100 - 2]

[0186] Fig.21 It means in Figure 1 A block diagram of the main functions of the second embodiment of the mobile terminal 100-2 functioning as a client in the collage image creation system 1 shown in FIG. Fig.21 In, with Figure 5 The same reference numerals are used for the common parts in the mobile terminal 100 - 2 of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0187] The mobile terminal 100 - 2 of the second embodiment is different from the mobile terminal 100 - 1 of the second embodiment in that the second image is captured without selecting and editing the second image.

[0188] therefore, Fig.21 The mobile terminal 100-2 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 5 Compared with the first embodiment shown, a camera unit (second camera unit) 108 is added, while the operation unit 121 is deleted and the second editing unit 131 in the CPU 101 is deleted.

[0189] The camera unit 108 captures a live view image and captures an image (second image) in accordance with a capture command from a capture button.

[0190] The second display control unit 137 displays the live view image captured by the camera unit 108 or the second image captured as a still image in the frame F2 allocated to the mobile terminal 100-2 among the multiple frames of the layout displayed on the display 105. Furthermore, when the first image is received from the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host, the second display control unit 137 displays the received first image in the frame F1 allocated to the mobile terminal 100-1 among the multiple frames of the layout.

[0191] The user of the mobile terminal 100 - 2 can set a composition that matches the frame F2 or adjust the image size by changing the zoom factor or the shooting distance while viewing the live view image in the frame F2 of the layout displayed on the display 105 .

[0192] Then, when the second image is captured by the camera unit 108 in accordance with the capture command from the capture button, the second image is transmitted to the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as a host via the short-range wireless communication unit 112 .

[0193] According to the collage image production system including the mobile terminals 100-1, 100-2, etc. of the second embodiment, the images (first image, second image) used in the production of the collage image are directly photographed by the camera unit 108, and by setting it to be possible to re-photograph these first image and second image, it is possible to obtain images suitable for the collage image that are the same as in the case of editing the first image and the second image.

[0194] In addition, a collage image production system may be constructed in which the mobile terminal of the first embodiment and the mobile terminal of the second embodiment are mixed. For example, the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host selects the first image used in the production of the collage image from the built-in memory 104 and edits the selected first image, while the mobile terminal 100-2 functioning as a client directly acquires the second image used in the production of the collage image by shooting with the camera unit 108.

[0195] [Second embodiment of collage image creation method]

[0196] Fig.22A and Fig. 22B It is a flowchart showing the main part of the second embodiment of the collage image creating method involved in the present invention.

[0197] In addition, the collage image production method of the second embodiment shows the Fig. 20 and Fig.21 The method implemented by the collage image creation system composed of the mobile terminals 100-1 and 100-2 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. Fig.22A and Fig. 22B For the first embodiment of the collage image production method Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The corresponding processing part, and Figure 7C The corresponding processing parts are common and are therefore omitted. Fig.22A and Fig. 22B In the first embodiment of the collage image production method Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The common parts are marked with the same step numbers and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0198] The user of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host captures a live view image through the camera unit 108. The captured live view image is displayed in the frame F1 of the layout displayed on the display 105 through the first display control unit 136. Thus, the user can set a composition that matches the frame F1, or adjust the image size by changing the zoom factor or the shooting distance while viewing the live view image in the frame F1 of the layout displayed on the display 105.

[0199] exist Fig.22A In step S150, when a photographing command is received from the photographing button, the camera unit 108 provided in the mobile terminal 100-1 photographs an image (first image) used for creating a collage image.

[0200] On the other hand, the user of the mobile terminal 100-2, 100-3 functioning as a client captures a live view image through the camera unit 108. The captured live view image is displayed in the frame F2, F3 of the layout displayed on the display 105 through the second display control unit 137. Thus, the user can set a composition that matches the frame F2, F3 while viewing the live view image in the frame F2, F3 of the layout displayed on the display 105, or can adjust the size of the image by changing the zoom factor or the shooting distance.

[0201] exist Fig.22A In step S250, when a photographing command is received from a photographing button, the camera unit 108 provided in the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 photographs an image (second image) used for producing a collage image.

[0202] Next, the case where the trial production mode is set to "off" in step S110 and step S206 will be described.

[0203] In this case, the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host and the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as the clients transition to Fig. 22B Processing shown.

[0204] exist Fig. 22BIn the process, the first display control unit 136 of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as the host displays the first image captured in step S150 in the first frame (frame F1 ) of the layout (step S112 ).

[0205] Then, the second display control unit 137 of the mobile terminals 100 - 2 and 100 - 3 functioning as the client displays the second image captured in step S250 in the second frame (frames F2 and F3 ) corresponding to the layout (step S208 ).

[0206] Next, the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as the host determines whether to re-photograph the first image (step S152 ).

[0207] like Fig.14 As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , when the “return” button BB on the screen of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 is touched, the mobile terminal 100 - 1 returns to the previous state, displays the live view image in the frame F1 of the layout, and enables the first image to be retaken.

[0208] In step S152, if it is determined that the first image is to be re-photographed, it is then determined whether a photography command from the photography button has been received (step S154). Furthermore, if a photography command has been received ("yes"), the camera unit 108 provided in the mobile terminal 100-1 re-photographs the first image used in creating the collage image (photographs it again) (step S156).

[0209] If the first image is re-photographed, the latest re-photographed first image is sent to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients. This is to update the first image displayed in the frame F1 of the layout of the display 105 of the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3.

[0210] Similarly, the mobile terminals 100 - 2 and 100 - 3 functioning as clients determine whether to re-photograph the second image (step S252 ).

[0211] In step S252, it is determined that the second image is to be re-photographed, and then it is determined whether a photography command from the photography button is received (step S254). If a photography command is received ("yes"), the camera unit 108 provided in the mobile terminal 100-2, 100-3 re-photographs the second image used in the production of the collage image (photographs again) (step S256).

[0212] If the second image is re-photographed, the latest re-photographed second image is transmitted to the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host. This is to update the second image displayed in the frames F2 and F3 of the layout of the display 105 of the mobile terminal 100-1.

[0213] And, in Fig.22A In step S110 and step S206, if the trial mode is determined to be "on", the transition to Fig.23 Step S112 and step S208 shown in FIG. Fig.23 In, with Fig. 22B Common steps are marked with the same step numbers, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0214] exist Fig.23 In step S112 , the first display control unit 136 of the mobile terminal 100 - 1 functioning as the host displays only the first image captured in step S150 in the frame F1 of the layout.

[0215] Furthermore, in step S114, if it is determined that the second image used in the production of the collage image is received from the mobile terminal 100-2, 100-3 functioning as a client (when "Yes"), the first display control unit 136 does not display the received second image in the boxes F2, F3 corresponding to the layout, but displays a "SECRET" icon indicating that the second image is in a secret state (step S140).

[0216] And, in Fig.23 In step S210, if it is determined that the first image used in the production of the collage image is received from the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host (when "Yes"), the second display control unit 137 of the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as the client does not display the received first image in the box F1 corresponding to the layout, but displays a "secret" icon indicating that the first image is in a secret state (step S240).

[0217] In addition, when the trial mode is set to "on", the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host may not send the first image to the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients, but send information indicating that the first image has been captured (setting the first image as secret). The second display control unit 137 of the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 that receive the information displays a "secret" icon indicating that the first image is in a secret state in the layout box F1.

[0218] And, in Fig.23In the step S123 shown, the image synthesis unit 132 of the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host synthesizes the first image into the frame F1 of the layout, and synthesizes the second image received from the mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients into the frames F2 and F3 of the layout. When a collage image is produced but the trial mode is "on", the produced collage image is not displayed on the display 105.

[0219] When the trial mode is "on", each user can only confirm his or her own image among the multiple images used in the production of the collage image on the display 105, but cannot confirm the images of other users, nor can he or she confirm the completed collage image. Moreover, when the completed collage image is printed out by the printer 10, the collage image can be confirmed for the first time.

[0220] Furthermore, when the trial mode is "on", in this example, it is set as follows, that is, the collage image can only be confirmed for the first time when it is printed out by the printer 10, but it is not limited to this. It can also be set as follows, that is, the user of the mobile terminal functioning as the host can confirm the collage image even when the trial mode is "on", and the user of the mobile terminal functioning as the client can only confirm his or her own image, and can confirm the collage image when the completed collage image is sent from the mobile terminal functioning as the host.

[0221] Furthermore, the following method may be adopted, that is, a function of setting the playback time of the collage image is provided, and a function of preventing the collage image from being played or printed after a certain time has passed or before a specific date has arrived. For example, a function of sending a collage image from a mobile terminal functioning as a host to a friend but preventing the collage image from being printed or played before a specific date (e.g., a friend's birthday) may be added.

[0222] Furthermore, a method of using a time capsule of sending a collage image or the like to people who participated in the creation of the collage image, friends, classmates, etc. after a certain period of time (for example, 10 years) has passed can also be considered.

[0223] Furthermore, in this example, for the selected layout, frame F1 is allocated to the user of mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host, and frames F2 and F3 are allocated to users of mobile terminals 100-2 and 100-3 functioning as clients, respectively. However, the allocation of these frames may be performed automatically at the stage when the layout is selected, or the allocation of frames may be determined by the user of mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as the host, or each user participating in the collage image production may be able to reserve a frame for synthesizing his or her own image.

[0224] When each user reserves (selects) a frame for synthesizing his / her own image, a certain mobile terminal (user) can select an arbitrary frame from a plurality of frames in the layout, and by selecting the frame, the frame is reserved (allocated) for the mobile terminal.

[0225] The information of the reserved frame is sent to other mobile terminals, and other mobile terminals are switched to exclusive control processing in a manner that the reserved frame cannot be edited, so that the reserved frame cannot be selected. Therefore, other mobile terminals (users) reserve (select) a frame (editing object) for synthesizing their own image from the unreserved frames in the layout. And, if the selection of the frame is released or the editing / sending is completed in a certain mobile terminal, other mobile terminals (users) can select the frame.

[0226] However, after selecting an image, the image can be sent by operating the "Send" button without editing the image.

[0227] [Second Embodiment of Collage Image Production System]

[0228] Fig.24 It is a system configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the collage image creation system according to the present invention.

[0229] Fig.23 The collage image creation system 2 of the second embodiment shown is composed of a plurality of mobile terminals 100 - 1 to 100 -N owned by a plurality of users, a wide area network 20 such as the Internet, and a server 30 connected to the network 20 .

[0230] Multiple mobile terminals 100-1 to 100-N and Figure 1 The mobile terminals shown are identical, but the mobile terminals 100 - 1 to 100 -N are able to communicate with each other in geographically separate locations via access points AP- 1 , AP- 2 , . . . , AP-n, a network 20 , and a server 30 .

[0231] Access points AP-1, AP-2, ..., AP-n are, for example, base stations of mobile carriers, wireless LAN (Local Area Network) routers, wireless LAN hotspots, etc. Each mobile terminal 100-1 to 100-N wirelessly communicates with other mobile terminals via the access point and network 20 that can communicate through the communication unit 111.

[0232] The server 30 is a service server that plays a role in enabling a plurality of mobile terminals (a mobile terminal functioning as a host and one or more mobile terminals functioning as clients) that create collage images to communicate in response to requests from the mobile terminals.

[0233] According to the collage image creation system 2 of the second embodiment, a plurality of users at remote locations having mobile terminals 100 - 1 to 100 -N can collaboratively create one collage image.

[0234] [other]

[0235] In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 100-1 functioning as a host creates a collage image and can output the created collage image to the printer 10, but this is not limited to this. All mobile terminals functioning as hosts or clients can also create and display collage images respectively and output the created collage images to the printer 10.

[0236] and, Figure 2 The mobile terminal 100 is shown to have a camera unit 108, but Figure 4 and Figure 5 The mobile terminal of the first embodiment shown may not have a camera unit.

[0237] The hardware structure of the mobile terminal includes various processors as shown below. The various processors include general-purpose processors such as CPU (Central Processing Unit) that execute software (programs) and function as various control units, processors such as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can change the circuit structure after manufacturing, such as programmable logic devices (PLD), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and processors with circuit structures specially designed to perform specific processing, such as dedicated electrical circuits.

[0238] A processing unit may be composed of one of these various processors, or may be composed of two or more processors of the same or different types (for example, a combination of multiple FPGAs or a CPU and an FPGA). Furthermore, multiple control units may be composed of one processor. As an example of a method of composing multiple control units by one processor, first, there is a method in which a processor is composed of a combination of one or more CPUs and software, such as represented by a computer such as a client or a server, and the processor functions as multiple control units. Second, there is a method in which a processor is used to implement the functions of the entire system including multiple control units by one IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, such as represented by a system on chip (System On Chip: SoC). In this way, various control units are composed of one or more of the above-mentioned various processors as a hardware structure.

[0239] Furthermore, the present invention includes a collage image production program that is installed on a general mobile terminal to realize various functions (layout selection function, layout display control function, display control function, editing function, image synthesis function, etc.) as a mobile terminal constituting the collage image production system involved in the present invention, and a recording medium recording the program.

[0240] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0241] Explanation of symbols

[0242] 1, 2-collage image making system, 10-printer, 12-instant film, 16-power button, 20-network, 30-server, 100, 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-N-mobile terminal, 101-CPU, 104-built-in memory, 105-display, 106-touch panel, 107-GPS receiving unit, 108-camera unit, 109-microphone unit, 110-speaker unit, 111-communication unit, 111A, 112A-antenna, 112 - short-range wireless communication unit, 113 - sensor unit, 114 - medium drive, 115 - memory card, 120, 121 - operation unit, 122 - layout selection unit, 124 - first image selection unit, 125 - second image selection unit, 126 - first editing command receiving unit, 127 - second editing command receiving unit, 128 - print command receiving unit, 130 - first editing unit, 131 - second editing unit, 132 - image synthesis unit, 134 - first layout display control unit, 135 - second layout display Control unit, 136-1st display control unit, 137-2nd display control unit, 200-Home page, A1, A2, A3, PI, PL-areas, AP-1, AP-2, AP-n-access points, BB-"Back" button, F1, F2, F3-frame, MA1-1st group display area, MA2-2nd group display area, MA3-Printer information display area, MB1-"Simple print" button, MB2-"Movie print" button, MB3-"Instantaneous imaging camera" button, MB4- "Template Print" button, MB5-"Collage Print" button, MB6-"Compatibility Diagnosis" button, MB7-"Team Collage" button, MB11-"Simple Print" button, MB12-"Trial Mode" button, MB13-"Image Editing" button, MB14-"Send" button, MB15-"End Editing" button, MG1-Group 1, MG2-Group 2, S100~S256-Steps, SEB-"Set" button, ST-"Start" button, TB-"Top" button.

Claims

1. A collage image production system, comprising a first mobile terminal functioning as a host and one or more second mobile terminals functioning as clients and capable of communicating with the first mobile terminal, and producing a collage image based on a first image stored in the first mobile terminal and a second image stored in the second mobile terminal, wherein: The first mobile terminal comprises: The first display unit; a layout selection section for selecting a layout from a plurality of layouts for creating a collage image; a first layout display control unit that displays the selected layout on the first display unit; a first image selection unit that selects the first image used in creating a collage image from a plurality of images stored in the first mobile terminal; a first display control unit that displays the selected first image in a first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the first display unit; a first editing command receiving unit for receiving an editing command for the first image; a first editing unit that edits the first image displayed in the first frame according to the editing command received by the first editing command receiving unit; and The first communication unit transmits information of the selected layout to the second mobile terminal, and receives the second image selected in the second mobile terminal from the second mobile terminal. The second mobile terminal comprises: A second display unit; a second layout display control unit, which displays the layout on the second display unit based on the information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal; a second image selection unit that selects the second image used in creating a collage image from a plurality of images stored in the second mobile terminal; a second display control unit that displays the selected second image in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal among the plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the second display unit; a second editing command receiving unit, receiving an editing command for the second image; a second editing unit that edits the second image displayed in the second frame according to the editing command received by the second editing command receiving unit; and a second communication unit that receives the layout information transmitted from the first mobile terminal and transmits the edited second image to the first mobile terminal; The first mobile terminal includes an image synthesis unit, which synthesizes the first image edited by the first editing unit in the first frame of the layout and synthesizes the second image edited by the second editing unit in the second frame to produce the collage image. The first mobile terminal includes a mode selection unit for selecting a first mode for displaying the first image and the second image on the first display unit and a second mode for displaying only the first image. When the first mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes only the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit. When the first mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes only the second image in the second frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit.

2. The collage image making system according to claim 1, wherein: The first editing command receiving unit receives at least one editing command of enlargement, reduction, movement, rotation and image processing content of the first image, the first display control unit displays the first image processed according to the editing command received by the first editing command receiving unit in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit, The second editing command receiving unit receives at least one editing command of enlargement, reduction, movement, rotation and image processing content of the second image, The second display control unit displays the second image processed according to the edit command received by the second edit command receiving unit in the second frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit.

3. The collage image making system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first layout display control unit displays the allocated first frame on the first display unit in a manner that can be distinguished from other frames. The second layout display control unit displays the allocated second frame on the second display unit so as to be distinguishable from other frames.

4. The collage image making system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first communication unit of the first mobile terminal and the second communication unit of the second mobile terminal communicate with each other wirelessly directly or via an access point and a network.

5. The collage image making system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Only the first mobile terminal includes a transmission unit that transmits the collage image to a printer.

6. The collage image making system according to claim 5, wherein: The first mobile terminal includes a print command receiving unit for receiving a print command. The print order receiving unit receives a print order for the collage image only when the collage image in which the first image and the second image are combined in all frames of the layout is created. If the print command receiving unit receives the print command, the sending unit sends the collage image to a printer.

7. The collage image making system according to claim 5, wherein: The first communication unit of the first mobile terminal functions as the transmission unit.

8. The collage image making system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal include a function selection unit that functions as the host or the client, respectively. The first mobile terminal becomes the second mobile terminal when the client function is selected by the function selection unit. The second mobile terminal becomes the first mobile terminal when the function of the host is selected by the function selection unit.

9. A collage image production system, which is composed of a first mobile terminal having a first camera unit that functions as a host and a second mobile terminal having a second camera unit that functions as one or more clients and can communicate with the first mobile terminal, and produces a collage image based on a first image captured by the first camera unit of the first mobile terminal and a second image captured by the second camera unit of the second mobile terminal, wherein: The first mobile terminal comprises: The first display unit; a layout selection section for selecting a layout from a plurality of layouts for creating a collage image; a first layout display control unit that displays the selected layout on the first display unit; a first display control unit that displays a first image captured by the first camera unit in a first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the first display unit; and The first communication unit transmits information of the selected layout to the second mobile terminal and receives a second image captured by the second camera unit from the second mobile terminal. The second mobile terminal comprises: A second display unit; a second layout display control unit, which displays the layout on the second display unit based on the information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal; a second display control unit that displays the second image captured by the second camera unit in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal among the plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the second display unit; and a second communication unit that receives the layout information transmitted from the first mobile terminal and transmits the second image captured by the second camera unit to the first mobile terminal, the first display control unit updates the first image displayed in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit based on the latest first image photographed by the first camera unit, the second display control unit updates the second image displayed in the second frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit based on the latest second image photographed by the second camera unit, The first mobile terminal includes an image synthesis unit, which synthesizes the latest first image captured by the first camera unit in the first frame of the layout, and synthesizes the latest second image captured by the second camera unit in the second frame, The first mobile terminal includes a mode selection unit for selecting a first mode for displaying the first image and the second image on the first display unit and a second mode for displaying only the first image. When the first mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes only the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit. When the first mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes only the second image in the second frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit.

10. The collage image making system according to claim 9, wherein: The first mobile terminal displays a live view image captured by the first camera unit in the first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal in the layout displayed on the first display unit, The second mobile terminal displays the live view image captured by the second camera unit in the second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal in the layout displayed on the second display unit.

11. The collage image making system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The first layout display control unit displays the allocated first frame on the first display unit in a manner that can be distinguished from other frames. The second layout display control unit displays the allocated second frame on the second display unit so as to be distinguishable from other frames.

12. The collage image making system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The first communication unit of the first mobile terminal and the second communication unit of the second mobile terminal communicate with each other wirelessly directly or via an access point and a network.

13. The collage image making system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: Only the first mobile terminal includes a transmission unit that transmits the collage image to a printer.

14. The collage image making system according to claim 13, wherein: The first mobile terminal includes a print command receiving unit for receiving a print command. The print order receiving unit receives a print order for the collage image only when the collage image in which the first image and the second image are combined in all frames of the layout is created. If the print command receiving unit receives the print command, the sending unit sends the collage image to a printer.

15. The collage image making system according to claim 13, wherein: The first communication unit of the first mobile terminal functions as the transmission unit.

16. The collage image making system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The first mobile terminal and the second mobile terminal include a function selection unit that functions as the host or the client, respectively. The first mobile terminal becomes the second mobile terminal when the client function is selected by the function selection unit. The second mobile terminal becomes the first mobile terminal when the function of the host is selected by the function selection unit.

17. A collage image production method, comprising a first mobile terminal functioning as a host and one or more second mobile terminals functioning as clients and capable of communicating with the first mobile terminal, and producing a collage image based on a first image stored in the first mobile terminal and a second image stored in the second mobile terminal, the collage image production method comprising: A step of selecting a layout from a plurality of layouts for collage image creation by a layout selection unit of the first mobile terminal; A step of causing a first layout display control unit of the first mobile terminal to display the selected layout on a first display unit of the first mobile terminal; A step of selecting the first image used for creating a collage image from a plurality of images stored in the first mobile terminal through an image selection operation in a first image selection unit of the first mobile terminal; The first display control unit of the first mobile terminal displays the selected first image in a first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the first display unit; If the first editing command receiving unit of the first mobile terminal receives an editing command, the first editing unit edits the first image displayed in the first frame according to the received editing command; The first communication unit of the first mobile terminal transmits information of the selected layout to the second mobile terminal, and receives from the second mobile terminal the second image selected in the second mobile terminal; a step of causing a second layout display control unit of the second mobile terminal to display the layout on a second display unit of the second mobile terminal based on the information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal; A step of selecting the second image used for creating a collage image from a plurality of images stored in the second mobile terminal through an image selection operation in a second image selection unit of the second mobile terminal; A step of causing a second display control unit of the second mobile terminal to display the selected second image in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal among the plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the second display unit; If the second editing command receiving unit of the second mobile terminal receives an editing command, the second editing unit edits the second image displayed in the second frame according to the received editing command; The second communication unit of the second mobile terminal receives the layout information transmitted from the first mobile terminal, and transmits the edited second image to the first mobile terminal; and The image synthesis unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes the edited first image in the first frame of the layout, and synthesizes the edited second image in the second frame to produce the collage image. The first mobile terminal includes a mode selection unit for selecting a first mode for displaying the first image and the second image on the first display unit and a second mode for displaying only the first image. When the first mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes only the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit. When the first mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes only the second image in the second frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit.

18. A method for producing a collage image, comprising a first mobile terminal having a first camera unit and functioning as a host, and a second mobile terminal having a second camera unit and functioning as one or more clients and capable of communicating with the first mobile terminal, and producing a collage image based on a first image captured by the first camera unit of the first mobile terminal and a second image captured by the second camera unit of the second mobile terminal, the method comprising: A step of selecting a layout from a plurality of layouts for collage image creation by a layout selection unit of the first mobile terminal; A step of causing a first layout display control unit of the first mobile terminal to display the selected layout on a first display unit of the first mobile terminal; A step of capturing the first image by the first camera unit; a step of causing a first display control unit of the first mobile terminal to display a first image captured by the first camera unit in a first frame allocated to the first mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the first display unit; The first communication unit of the first mobile terminal transmits information of the selected layout to the second mobile terminal, and receives a second image captured by the second camera unit from the second mobile terminal; a step of causing a second layout display control unit of the second mobile terminal to display the layout on a second display unit of the second mobile terminal based on the information of the layout sent from the first mobile terminal; The step of capturing the second image by the second camera unit; a step of causing a second display control unit of the second mobile terminal to display a second image captured by the second camera unit in a second frame allocated to the second mobile terminal among a plurality of frames of the layout displayed on the second display unit; The second communication unit of the second mobile terminal receives the layout information transmitted from the first mobile terminal, and transmits the second image captured by the second camera unit to the first mobile terminal; and The image synthesis unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes the latest first image captured by the first camera unit in the first frame of the layout, and synthesizes the latest second image captured by the second camera unit in the second frame to produce the collage image. The step of displaying the first image in the first frame updates the first image displayed in the first frame based on the latest first image captured by the first camera unit, The step of displaying the second image in the second frame updates the second image displayed in the second frame according to the latest second image captured by the second camera unit, The first mobile terminal includes a mode selection unit for selecting a first mode for displaying the first image and the second image on the first display unit and a second mode for displaying only the first image. When the first mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the first display control unit of the first mobile terminal synthesizes only the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the first display unit. When the first mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes the first image in the first frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit, and synthesizes the second image in the second frame. When the second mode is selected, the second display control unit of the second mobile terminal synthesizes only the second image in the second frame of the layout displayed on the second display unit.

19. A recording medium recording a collage image making program installed in a mobile terminal, wherein: By being installed in the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal functions as the first mobile terminal or the second mobile terminal constituting the collage image creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

Images