Information processing device

Abstract

To achieve cooperative production of a photobook.SOLUTION: An information processing device for receiving provision of a plurality of images from a plurality of participants and executing processing related to cooperative production of a photobook includes the means for: urging the participants to purchase a desired number of pages; urging to select images to be placed on the pages purchased by the participants and layouts of the images; arranging the selected images according to the layouts to create layout pages; creating printing submission data of the photobook from the layout pages for the whole participants; and transmitting the submission data to an external printing terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] There are many farewells in life, such as graduation, retirement, and funerals. There are cases where people want to give albums or photo books to specific people at such milestones. For example, when a person passes away, friends and acquaintances who receive the news will want to share photos and writings of memories with the deceased with the bereaved family. There is also a need for colleagues to give a retiring person a photo book with memorable photos and comments of gratitude when graduating, and for students to give a photo book as a memento to a teacher when graduating.

[0003] In this case, it is expected that several friends, acquaintances, colleagues, or students will gather together and collectively order a photo book, with someone acting as the organizer, recruiting supporters, collecting images and text, and creating the photo book by either laying it out themselves or outsourcing it to a company.

[0004] This means that the workload of the secretary is extremely heavy.

[0005] In the case of memorial albums at funerals, the organizer will not know all of the deceased's friends and acquaintances, so there is a limit to the number of people they can reach out to, making it difficult to widely recruit supporters (participants).

[0006] On the other hand, if an attempt is made to widely recruit supporters (participants), it could spread in an uncontrolled manner to include unrelated people who were not friends or acquaintances of the deceased, raising concerns that unforeseen circumstances could occur, such as inappropriate or unpleasant images being included in the photo book for the purpose of pranks or mischief.

[0007] In most cases, the printing and binding of photo books is outsourced to a professional company, and the organizer, who is the contact point for ordering, incurs a financial burden of paying the costs in advance. In addition, it is time-consuming to collect the contributions from supporters (participants). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The aim is to achieve collaborative photobook production. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An information processing device according to the present invention that receives multiple images from multiple participants and executes processing related to the collaborative production of a photo book includes means for encouraging the participants to purchase the desired number of pages, means for encouraging the participants to select images to be included on the pages they have purchased and to layout the images, means for creating a layout page by arranging the selected images according to the layout, means for creating submission data for printing the photo book from the layout pages for all of the participants, and means for transmitting the submission data to an external printing terminal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an image sharing system including an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an information processing device 10 in FIG. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a photobook production project proposal process (1) performed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a photo book production project proposal process (2) following the process of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing display screens of Web pages (1) to (3) for proposing a photobook production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display screens of Web pages (4) to (6) for proposing a photobook production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display screens of Web pages (7) to (9) for proposing a photobook production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display screens of Web pages (10) to (12) for proposing a photobook production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display screen of a Web page (13) for proposing a photobook production project, which is constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a process (1) of participating in a photobook production project by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 11] 9 is a flowchart showing the process (2) of participating in a photobook production project following the process of FIG. 8. [Figure 12] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing display screens of Web pages (1) to (3) for participating in a photo book production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display screens of Web pages (4) to (6) for participating in a photo book production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display screens of Web pages (7) to (9) for participating in a photo book production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display screens of Web pages (10) to (12) for participating in a photo book production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display screens of Web pages (13) to (15) for participating in a photo book production project, which are constructed by the information processing device 10 of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, friends and acquaintances bring together images they have to create a photo book. The photo book is presented to a recipient. Here, the recipient is described taking the surviving family of the deceased as an example, but it may also be the graduates, bride and groom, retirees, and other individuals who have experienced various milestones in life. In this case, "surviving family" is interpreted as "the graduates, bride and groom, retirees, and other individuals."

[0012] First, the terms are defined as follows: Photo book production project: a project to collaboratively create a photo book using images provided by friends and acquaintances of the deceased.

[0013] Organizer: A user who initiates a project, such as a bereaved family member, a funeral parlor (corporation), or a friend or acquaintance (individual) of the deceased. In this example, a funeral parlor (corporation) is assumed to be the organizer of the photo book production project.

[0014] Participant: A user who participates in the photobook production project. Participants purchase pages in the photobook and post images they have provided on the purchased pages.

[0015] Photo book: A book bound together from multiple sheets of paper with images printed on them with ink or multiple sheets of photographic paper printed with a silver halide lab machine.

[0016] Submission data: This refers to a file in which one or more images are pasted onto each of the multiple pages that make up a photo book, and the entire file is converted into an image file format such as PDF, and is then handed over to the printing process.

[0017] User terminals 20, 30 and a printing terminal 50 are connected to an information processing device 10 according to this embodiment shown in Fig. 1 via the Internet (electronic public communication network) 60. The user terminals 20, 30 are information processing terminals such as personal computers, smartphones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), tablet terminals, etc. The user terminal (first user terminal) 20 is an information processing terminal related to the organizer of the photobook production project, and the user terminal 30 (second user terminal) is an information processing terminal related to a participant who takes part in the photobook production project.

[0018] The printing terminal 50 receives submitted data for a photo book from the information processing device 10. A printing device (not shown) is connected to the printing terminal 50, and the printing device prints the submitted data on paper. The paper on which the submitted data has been printed is sent to a bookbinding machine (not shown) and bound into a booklet. This completes the photo book.

[0019] 2, in the information processing device 10, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a storage unit 15 such as an HDD or SDD, an input device 16 such as a keyboard or a mouse, a display 17 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and a communication interface 18 are connected to a processor 11 via a data / control bus 19. The RAM 13 functions as the main memory, work area, etc. of the processor 11. The storage unit 15 stores a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) executed by the processor 11, an operating system program (OS), a photo book production project program according to this embodiment, etc.

[0020] The storage unit 15 also stores user management data in which a user ID unique to a user is associated with the names of organizers and participants, email addresses, project IDs of participating projects, etc., received from the user terminals 20 and 30. The storage unit 15 also stores project management data in which a project ID unique to a project is associated with the type of photo book, intended use, project name, recruitment text, file names of images for recruitment, recruitment period, user IDs of organizers and participants, etc., received from the user terminal 20. The storage unit 15 also stores image data received from the user terminal 30.

[0021] The processor 11 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processor 11 executes a program loaded from the storage unit 14 to the RAM 12. By executing the program, a plurality of means related to the process of proposing and participating in a photobook production project are realized on the processor 11.

[0022] In other words, when the processor 11 executes the program, A means for receiving a request for initiating a project to produce a photo book from a first user terminal 20 among the user terminals; A means for initiating a project according to the initiation requirements; A means for receiving a request to participate in a project from each of a plurality of second user terminals 30 among the user terminals; A means for receiving a purchase request for purchasing a desired number of pages from each second user terminal 30; A means for creating input data for a photo book composed of pages on which images are laid out; A means for transmitting the submitted data to the printing terminal 50 is realized.

[0023] In addition, the processor 11 includes: A means to create a web page for inviting people to join the project; A means for creating link information for linking to an invitation web page; A means for transmitting link information to each of the first and second user terminals 20, 30 is realized.

[0024] In addition, the processor 11 includes: a means for creating a payment Web page for requesting payment of an amount equal to the number of pages purchased multiplied by the page unit price for each second user terminal 30; A means for transmitting the payment Web page to each of the second user terminals 30 is realized.

[0025] In addition, the processor 11 includes: A means for laying out images provided from each second user terminal 30 on the page purchased by each second user terminal 30 in accordance with instructions from each second user terminal 30 that has accepted a purchase request is realized. (Photobook production project proposal processing) 3 and 4 show the procedure of the process of proposing a photobook production project by the information processing device 10. In FIG. After receiving approval from the bereaved family (S10), the organizer, typically a person in charge of the funeral parlor, sends a request to send the photobook production project solicitation web page according to the URL of the page from the organizer's user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 acting as a web server (S11). A file of the photobook production project solicitation web page is sent from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 (S12), and the photobook production project solicitation web page of FIG. 5(a) is displayed (S13). First, the cover of the photobook production project solicitation shown in FIG. 5(a) is displayed. After a certain period of time has passed, the screen transitions to a web page for confirming agreement to the terms of use shown in FIG. 5(b).

[0026] The Web page includes an "Agree" button. When the button is tapped (S14), data indicating that the user agrees to the terms of use is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10. When the data indicating that the user agrees to the terms of use is received, a Web page for personal authentication shown in FIG. 5(c) is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 (S15). The Web page for personal authentication includes an input field for inputting a mobile phone number for transmitting an authentication number (authentication code) and a button for requesting transmission of the authentication number. When the mobile phone number is input on the user terminal 20 (S16) and the button is tapped, a transmission request for the authentication number together with the mobile phone number is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 (S17). In response to the request, the authentication number is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the mobile phone (S18). At the same time, a Web page for transmitting the authentication number shown in FIG. 6(a) is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 (S19). In the user terminal 20, the authentication number received by the mobile phone is entered on a web page for transmitting the authentication number (S20), and when the authentication request button is tapped, the authentication number is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 (S21).

[0027] In the information processing device 10, as an authentication process, the authentication number received from the user terminal 20 is checked against the authentication number sent to the mobile phone (S22). When the authentication number received from the user terminal 20 matches the authentication number sent to the mobile phone and the legitimacy of the user is confirmed, the authentication process is completed. With the completion of authentication, the information processing device 10 issues a project ID (S23). With the issuance of the project ID as a trigger, project management data is created from the project ID and the organizer's email address. The project management data is stored in the memory unit 15. The project management data is updated as new information such as the following project themes is incorporated.

[0028] Next, the information processing device 10 transmits a web page for registering the organizing user information shown in Fig. 6(b) to the user terminal 20 (S24). The web page for registering the organizing user information is displayed on the user terminal 20, and the name, email address, password, and password confirmation are input as the organizing user information according to the user operation (S25), and the organizing user information is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 together with a registration request (S26).

[0029] In the information processing device 10, the organizer user information is registered in association with the project ID (S27). A completion notification of the organizer user information is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 (S28) and is displayed on the user terminal 20 as shown in FIG. 6(c). The completion notification of the organizer user information includes a button labeled "Send Photobook." When the button is tapped, a photobook creation request is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 (S29). In response to the photobook creation request, a web page for a photobook list, as shown in FIG. 7(a) is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 (S30).

[0030] The summary for multiple photobooks includes the book size, the minimum number of people required to complete a photobook production project (number of participants), and the minimum cost per person. Typically, a two-page spread per person is considered a unit (one unit), and the user can purchase one unit or any number of units (two or more units) as desired. Each summary includes a button labeled "Gift Photobook." When the button attached to the summary for any photobook is tapped, a request for details about that photobook is sent from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 (S31).

[0031] In response to the photobook details request, a Web page is sent from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 to explain the details of the photobook, such as the size, minimum number of pages, paper quality of the cover, paper quality of the body, printing method, finishing, binding method, etc., as shown in Fig. 7(b) (S32). The Web page for explaining the photobook details is displayed on the user terminal 20, and when the organizer user checks the photobook details and taps a button labeled "Gift this photobook," an order for the photobook is sent from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 (S33). The information processing device 10 executes order processing for the photobook (S34). A Web page for inputting project information is sent from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 (S35).

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7(c) and FIG. 8(a), the Web page for inputting project information has input fields for each of the following items: purpose of use, project name, recruitment statement, recruitment image, recruitment period, introduction permission, setting in case of failure, and check before bookbinding. The purpose of use can be selected from funeral, wedding, graduation, retirement, and others. Here, it is assumed that "funeral" is selected. As the project name, any character string such as the name or title of the recipient of the photo book is input. The recruitment statement refers to a statement for encouraging other users to participate in the project, more specifically, for encouraging other users to purchase pages, and any statement is input by the organizer. The recruitment image is an image displayed together with the recruitment statement, typically a face photo of the recipient, and is selectively specified from a plurality of images held by the organizer. The recruitment period refers to a period during which other users are invited to participate in the project, and any period is input by the organizer.

[0033] The introduction permission refers to whether the organizer allows a user (participant) who has participated in the project to invite other users who are his / her friends and acquaintances to the project, and is selected by the organizer. The setting for when the project is not established refers to a selection of whether the information processing device 10 automatically determines that the project is not established or entrusts the organizer with the final decision on the failure of the project when the number of users who have participated in the project does not reach the minimum number (number of people who will be established) required for the project to be established at the time when the recruitment period has elapsed. When the case where the organizer finally determines that the project is not established is selected, the information processing device 10 transmits to the user terminal 20 a notice that the project has not been established, together with a Web page for confirming whether or not the recruitment period will be extended. When the organizer issues an instruction on the Web page to extend the recruitment period, the project is not established and the recruitment period is extended. When the organizer issues an instruction on the Web page not to extend the recruitment period, the project is determined to be not established at that time.

[0034] When the pre-binding check is set, submission data for a photo book consisting of pages on which images are laid out is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 in, for example, pdf format, and when the organizer gives permission, the submission data is transmitted (submitted) from the information processing device 10 to the printing terminal 50, and when the organizer rejects it, the transmission (submission) of the submission data from the information processing device 10 to the printing terminal 50 is suspended. Note that the suspension is released when the deletion of inappropriate images is completed with the consent of the participating users.

[0035] In the user terminal 20, project information is input on a Web page for inputting project information (S36), and when a button labeled "Register Project" is tapped, a registration request is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 together with the project information (S37). In the information processing device 10, the project information is registered, that is, stored in association with the project ID (S38). With the registration of the project information, a project information registration completion notice as illustrated in FIG. 8(b) is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 (S39), and a project invitation Web page file for inviting other users to the project is created based on the project name, recruitment text, recruitment image, recruitment period, etc. registered in step S38, and is uploaded together with the creation of a URL (S40). The project invitation Web page file will be described later.

[0036] The project information registration completion notification includes a button labeled "Send Link" and a button labeled "Go to Top of Secretary Page." When the button labeled "Send Link" is tapped on the user terminal 20 (S41), a link sending Web page request is sent from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10, and in response, the information processing device 10 creates a link sending Web page for sending a link to the project invitation Web page to the desired user (S42). The link sending Web page is sent from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 20 (S43) and displayed on the user terminal 20.

[0037] As shown in Figure 8(c), the link sending web page includes an icon for launching the LINE (registered trademark) application and sending a link to a user designated by the user, an icon for launching the default mailing application and pasting the URL of the project invitation web page into the body of the message and sending it to the user designated by the user, as well as an icon for copying the URL, an icon for creating a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code (registered trademark) from the URL, and other icons for selectively launching other communication tools such as Twitter (registered trademark) or Facebook (registered trademark) to send the link to the user designated by the user.

[0038] When, for example, an icon for LINE (registered trademark) is tapped on the user terminal 20, the LINE (registered trademark) application is launched (S45), and the URL of the project invitation web page is pasted into the message. Then, a destination is specified according to a user operation (S46), and the message is sent (S47). A user who receives the message can display the project invitation web page by tapping the URL. The same applies to email. Also, the URL or QR code of the project invitation web page is copied and pasted into the invitation document. The invitation document can also be printed out to create invitations, which can be distributed to attendees at a funeral home or the like.

[0039] In this way, the organizer can send a link to the project invitation web page to his / her own friends and acquaintances to encourage them to participate. Also, at the funeral home or other such place, invitations with a URL or QR code that links to the invitation web page for the photo book production project can be distributed to attendees, so it is possible to widely encourage participation in the photo book production project not only to the organizer's direct friends and acquaintances, but also to friends and acquaintances of the deceased whom he / she did not know.

[0040] When a button labeled "Go to Top of Organizer Page" on the page shown in Fig. 8(b) or Fig. 8(c) is tapped (S48), a request for the organizer page is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10, and in response, the information processing device 10 creates an organizer page and transmits it to the user terminal 20 (S49). As shown in Fig. 9, the organizer page includes, in addition to the current number of participants in the project, a button for transitioning to a link transmission Web page shown in Fig. 8(c), a button for transitioning to the project registration page shown in Fig. 7(c) and Fig. 8(a) to check and appropriately amend the project registration contents, and a button for transitioning to the project invitation Web page to check the page.

[0041] In addition, a merge function will be provided on the organizer's edit page. This is a function that allows the organizer to add pages for the project, not for themselves, when they start a project. The contents of the entire project can be added to the beginning or end. For example, in the case of a memorial album, a page introducing the deceased person can be added, and in the case of a graduation thank-you album, a class photo and a page for messages to the teacher can be added. If the organizer selects this when starting the project, the cost will be added to the participation fee for each participant. Of course, only the organizer has the authority to edit pages.

[0042] (Photobook production project participation process) The message transmitted from the organizer's user terminal 20 is displayed on the user terminal 30 (S101). The message describes the URL of a project invitation web page. When the URL of the project invitation web page is tapped, a transmission request for the page is transmitted from the user terminal 30 to the information processing device 10 (S102). In response to this request, the project invitation web page file created in step S40 is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 30 (S103), and is displayed on the user terminal 30 (S104).

[0043] The project invitation web page file consists of three pages. As shown in Figure 12(a), the top page is the cover page of the project, and after a certain period of time it transitions to a page inviting participation, as shown in Figure 12(b). This page contains the invitation text entered by the organizer and the number of days remaining until the deadline for inviting participation, as well as a button labeled "View project details" for transitioning to the project details. Tapping this button transitions to a page displaying the project details, as shown in Figure 12(c).

[0044] The project details page describes the size of the photo book, a description of the photo book's features, the number of people involved in the project, the budget per person (the minimum cost per person), the current progress, the current total purchase amount, the number of people who will purchase, and the number of days remaining until the end of the recruitment period. The page includes a button labeled "Join this project" for confirming the intention to participate in the project. By tapping the button, a participation intention confirmation code is transmitted from the user terminal 30 to the information processing device 10 (S105). In response, the terms of use page shown in FIG. 13(a) is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 30 (S106), and is displayed on the user terminal 30.

[0045] When the user agrees to the terms of use on the user terminal 30, a button labeled "Agree" included in the page is tapped, and a terms of use agreement code is transmitted from the user terminal 30 to the information processing device 10 (S107). After the information processing device 10 receives the terms of use agreement code, the user authentication process is started. A web page for inputting a mobile phone number capable of receiving SNS messages shown in FIG. 13(b) is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 30 (S108). The user inputs a mobile phone number via the user terminal 30 (S109) and transmits it to the information processing device 10 to request transmission of an authentication code (S110). The authentication code is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the mobile phone number (S111), and a web page for inputting the authentication code shown in FIG. 13(c) is transmitted together with the code (S112).

[0046] The user confirms receipt of the authentication code on the mobile phone and inputs the authentication code on the web page on the user terminal 30 (S113). Then, by tapping a button labeled "Authenticate," an authentication request is sent to the information processing device 10 together with the input authentication code (S114). The information processing device 10 performs authentication processing, that is, checks the authentication code received from the user terminal 30 against the authentication code sent to the mobile phone in step S111 (S115), and if they match, the authentication is completed as the user is legitimate, and a participant ID is issued to the user (S116). Of course, if they do not match, authentication is not completed and a participant ID is not issued.

[0047] Next, a web page for registering participant information is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 30 (S117). As shown in FIG. 14(a), for example, a name, an email address, and a password are input as participant information from the web page for registering participant information (S118). The input participant information is transmitted from the user terminal 30 to the information processing device 10 together with a registration request (S119). In the information processing device 10, the name, email address, and password are associated with a participant ID and a project ID and registered in a participant database (S120). A registration completion notification, as shown in FIG. 14(b) is transmitted to the user terminal 30 (S121).

[0048] The registration completion notice includes a button labeled "Join Project," and when the user taps the button, a request to participate in the project is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 30 (S122). In response to this request, the information processing device 10 creates a project participation status Web page shown in Fig. 14(c) (S123) and transmits it to the user terminal 30 (S124).

[0049] The project participation status Web page includes a button labeled "Go to Photobook Production," and when the user taps the button, a photobook production request is sent from the user terminal 30 to the information processing device 10 (S125). When the photobook production request is received, a photobook production explanation Web page shown in FIG. 15(a) is sent from the information processing device 10 to the user terminal 30 (S126). The photobook production explanation Web page includes a button labeled "Go to Photobook Production Screen," and when the user taps the button, a request for the photobook production screen is sent from the user terminal 30 to the information processing device 10 (S127). In response to this request, the information processing device 10 sends the photobook production screen Web page shown in FIG. 15(b) to the user terminal 30 (S128).

[0050] On the photo book production screen, the user selects images (photos) to be included in the photo book from the images stored in the user terminal 30, and lays out the selected images on the page (S129). A button labeled "Preview" is provided on the page, and by tapping this button, a print image is displayed, allowing the user to check whether the layout is as intended.

[0051] After checking the print image, the user taps a button marked "Confirm", whereby image data and layout information are sent from the user terminal 30 to the information processing device 10 along with a photobook production completion code (S130). In the information processing device 10, the image data and layout information are stored in association with the participant ID and project ID (S131). Next, the information processing device 10 sends a cancellation policy explanation Web page to the user terminal 30 (S132). In the user terminal 30, the cancellation policy explanation Web page shown in FIG. 15(c) is displayed, and by tapping a button marked "Agree and go to payment page" on the page, a cancellation policy agreement code is sent from the user terminal 30 to the information processing device 10 (S133). In response to receiving the cancellation policy agreement code, the information processing device 10 calculates the total amount according to the number of pages on which the images were laid out in step S129, creates a payment Web page (FIG. 16(a)) including the total amount (S134), and sends it to the user terminal 30 (S135).

[0052] The participant (user) inputs payment information such as a credit card number on the payment web page (S136), and sends the payment information to the information processing device 10 by tapping a button marked "Go to confirmation screen" (S137). The information processing device 10 stores the payment information, creates a payment confirmation web page as shown in FIG. 16(b) (S138), and sends it to the user terminal 30 (S139). The user visually checks the payment confirmation web page, and sends a payment execution request to the information processing device 10 by tapping a button marked "Confirm purchase" (S140). Receiving this payment execution request triggers the information processing device 10 to execute the payment process (S141).

[0053] Similarly to FIG. 8(c), the information processing device 10 transmits to the user terminal 30 a link sending web page (FIG. 16(c)) for sending a link to the project invitation web page to desired users. Participants can send links to the project invitation web page to their friends and acquaintances to encourage them to participate. This invitation from a participant can be spread in a chain reaction. Participants can also distribute documents (invitations) on which a URL and a QR code for accessing the invitation web page are printed to their acquaintances and friends.

[0054] When the information processing device 10 determines that the period for inviting participants to the photobook production project has expired (S201), at the end of the recruitment period, the information processing device 10 determines whether the number of participants has reached the number required for the project, and if so, creates submission data for the photobook based on the layout pages of all the participants (S202) and transmits the data to the printing terminal 50 (S203). The printing company prints the submission data and binds it into a photobook. Typically, the completed photobook is mailed to the organizer.

[0055] If it is determined that the number of participants has not reached the required number, the information processing device 10 cancels the settlement process, does not create the submitted data, and does not create a photo book.

[0056] As described above, in this embodiment, a photo book containing many images collected widely from the deceased person or his / her friends and acquaintances can be produced, with many participants each paying the cost according to the number of pages they purchased.

[0057] In addition, invitation documents with QR codes printed on them that link to the participating website for the photo book production project will be distributed to attendees at funerals, etc. Friends and acquaintances who receive the invitation documents will be given the right to copy the QR code or URL after registering their personal information, and can then spread the information to friends and acquaintances of the deceased or the deceased person they knew via email or direct message with the QR code or URL attached. This makes it possible to recruit more participants and encourage the submission of more images, without limiting participation to the organizer's direct friends and acquaintances.

[0058] On the other hand, it is conceivable that the images may be spread indiscriminately to unrelated people who are not friends or acquaintances of the deceased, and that inappropriate and unpleasant images may be posted in the photo book for the purpose of pranks or mischief, but in this embodiment, an invitation system is adopted to recruit participants, so that such a situation can be effectively avoided. Furthermore, participants cannot post the images they have provided in the photo book unless they purchase a page, so that such a situation can be avoided even more effectively.

[0059] In this manner, in this embodiment, it is possible to strike a good balance between opening up the scope of people who are invited to participate in the photobook production project and restricting participation to a closed circle of friends.

[0060] In addition, the cost of creating the photo book is shared among users who purchase pages of the photo book, in an amount according to the number of pages purchased, so the burden is not concentrated on a specific individual such as a organizer, and the burden ratio is fair.

[0061] In addition, in this embodiment, a user who purchases a page in a photo book can decide the images to be included on that page and even the page layout, thereby better reflecting the user's own thoughts and feelings toward the bereaved family and the person themselves.

[0062] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10: information processing device, 20: user terminal (organizer), 30: user terminal (participant), 50: printing terminal.

Claims

1. a storage unit for storing a program for collaboratively creating a photo book; a processor that executes the program; an information processing device comprising a communication interface that communicates with a plurality of user terminals associated with a plurality of users via a communication network, The processor executes the program, means for transmitting a URL to an invitation web page for inviting the plurality of user terminals to the collaborative creation of the photo book; means for transmitting the invitation web page to the plurality of user terminals or the part of the user terminals in response to access to the URL at the plurality of user terminals or the part of the user terminals related to all or a part of the plurality of users; means for transmitting, via the invitation web page, to at least one user terminal associated with at least one user who has expressed his / her intention to participate in the collaborative production of the photo book, a production web page for the at least one user to provide images to be included in the photo book and to complete the page layout of the images; means for receiving image data and page layout data provided via the production web page from the at least one user terminal associated with the at least one user who has expressed interest in participating in the collaborative production of the photo book; an information processing device that functions as a means for creating submission data for the photo book based on the image data and the data relating to the page layout received from the at least one user terminal;

2. The information processing device described in claim 1, wherein the processor further functions as a means for determining whether the number of all or some of the multiple users who have expressed their intention to participate in the collaborative production of the photo book has reached a predetermined number of users at the end of a predetermined recruitment period, and for determining that the collaborative production of the photo book will not be completed if the predetermined number of users has not been reached.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the invitation web page includes a purpose for the photo book, a name for the collaborative production of the photo book, a message inviting participation in the collaborative production of the photo book, an image inviting participation, and a participation button.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the invitation web page includes a button for transmitting the invitation web page to another user terminal associated with another user.

5. A computer connected to a plurality of user terminals related to a plurality of users via a communication network, means for transmitting a URL to an invitation web page for inviting the plurality of user terminals to the collaborative creation of the photo book; means for transmitting the invitation web page to the plurality of user terminals or the part of the user terminals in response to access to the URL at the plurality of user terminals or the part of the user terminals related to all or a part of the plurality of users; means for transmitting, via the invitation web page, to at least one user terminal associated with at least one user who has expressed his / her intention to participate in the collaborative production of the photo book, a production web page for the at least one user to provide images to be included in the photo book and to complete the page layout of the images; means for receiving image data and page layout data provided via the production web page from the at least one user terminal associated with the at least one user who has expressed interest in participating in the collaborative production of the photo book; a program for causing the program to function as a means for creating submission data for the photo book based on the image data and the data relating to the page layout received from the at least one user terminal;

Images