Image output device, image output method, and program

Abstract

To improve an image security.SOLUTION: A read code generation unit generates a read code including storage area information indicating an image storage area newly created for each sequence, and an image acquisition unit acquires an image from the image storage area when an image stored in a user terminal is uploaded to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information as a result of the read code being read by the user terminal. An image editing unit performs an image editing on the image according to the user operation on an editing screen on which the image acquired from the image storage area is displayed as an editing target, and the print processing unit prints the image subjected to the image editing on a print medium. The present technology can be applied to an image output device that acquires the image stored in the user terminal, performs image editing on the image, and prints and outputs the image on the print medium as one sequence.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present technology relates to an image output device, an image output method, and a program, and more particularly to an image output device, an image output method, and a program that enable improvement in image security. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many techniques have become known for transmitting images stored in a mobile terminal such as a smartphone to a device having a printing function and printing the images.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming device in which the address of a wireless communication unit is sent to a contact or non-contact IC card of a mobile phone via a reader / writer, and the wireless communication unit receives image data sent by the mobile phone using the address. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-42264 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a system such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, if a third party obtains the address of the wireless communication unit, there is a possibility that the third party may be able to access the image data.

[0006] The present technology has been made in view of such circumstances, and is intended to improve the security of images. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The image output device of the present technology is an image output device that acquires an image stored in a user terminal, performs image editing on the image, and then prints and outputs it on a print medium as a single sequence, and is equipped with: a reading code generation unit that generates a reading code including storage area information that indicates an image storage area that is newly created for each sequence; an image acquisition unit that acquires the image from the image storage area when the image stored in the user terminal is uploaded to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information when the reading code is read by the user terminal; an image editing unit that performs the image editing on the image in accordance with user operations on an editing screen that displays the image acquired from the image storage area as the object to be edited; and a print processing unit that prints the image after the image editing on the print medium.

[0008] The image output method of the present technology is an image output method in which an image output device acquires an image stored in a user terminal, performs image editing on the image, and then prints and outputs the image on a print medium as a single sequence, generates a reading code including storage area information indicating an image storage area newly created for each sequence, and when the user terminal reads the reading code and the image stored in the user terminal is uploaded to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information, acquires the image from the image storage area, performs the image editing on the image in accordance with user operations on an editing screen on which the image acquired from the image storage area is displayed as the image to be edited, and prints the image after the image editing on the print medium.

[0009] The program of this technology is a program that causes a processor that controls an image output device that acquires an image stored in a user terminal, performs image editing on the image, and then prints and outputs the image on a print medium as a single sequence to generate a reading code including storage area information that indicates an image storage area that is newly created for each sequence, and when the user terminal reads the reading code and the image stored on the user terminal is uploaded to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information, the program causes the processor to execute a process of acquiring the image from the image storage area, performing the image editing on the image in accordance with user operations on an editing screen that displays the image acquired from the image storage area as the image to be edited, and printing the image after the image editing on the print medium.

[0010] In this technology, an image output device executes a single sequence of acquiring an image stored in a user terminal, performing image editing on the image, and then printing and outputting the image on a print medium. A reading code is generated that includes storage area information indicating an image storage area that is newly created for each sequence, and when the user terminal reads the reading code and uploads the image stored in the user terminal to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information, the image is acquired from the image storage area, and image editing is performed on the image in accordance with user operations on an editing screen that displays the image acquired from the image storage area as the image to be edited, and the image after image editing is printed on the print medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present technology, it is possible to improve the security of images.

[0012] The effects described here are not necessarily limited to those described herein, and may be any of the effects described in this disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of an image printing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image output device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image output device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the flow of a game providing process performed by the image printing system. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel monitor. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel monitor. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel monitor. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of an image printing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present technology (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in the following order.

[0015] 1. Image printing system configuration 2. Game provision process flow using the image printing system 3. Variations

[0016] <1. Image printing system configuration> (Image printing system overview) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an image printing system according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0017] The image printing system 1 in Fig. 1 is composed of a user terminal 10 and an image output device 20. In the image printing system 1, the user terminal 10 and the image output device 20 can perform short-range wireless communication with each other, and can also perform communication via a network NW such as the Internet.

[0018] The user terminal 10 is configured by a mobile phone (smartphone), a mobile PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, etc. Only one user terminal 10 is shown in Fig. 1, but in reality, multiple user terminals 10 exist in the image printing system 1.

[0019] The user terminal 10 has a built-in camera for taking pictures and stores images taken by the built-in camera. The user terminal 10 can store not only images taken by the built-in camera, but also images acquired via the Internet, other user terminals 10, or any image generating device.

[0020] The image output device 20 is configured as a print sticker machine that is installed in a store or amusement facility such as a game center, and that provides a game to a user by receiving a predetermined amount of coins (play fee). Specifically, the image output device 20 acquires an image stored in the user terminal 10, performs image editing on the image, and then prints and outputs the image on a print medium, which is executed as one sequence (game).

[0021] With this configuration, a user can play a game provided by the image output device 20, apply desired image editing to a favorite image stored in the user terminal 10, and print it on a print medium.

[0022] (Hardware configuration of image output device) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image output device 20. As shown in FIG.

[0023] A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 53 are interconnected by a bus 54.

[0024] An input / output interface 55 is further connected to the bus 54. An input unit 56, an output unit 57, a storage unit 58, a communication unit 59, and a drive 60 are connected to the input / output interface 55.

[0025] The input unit 56 is configured to include a touch panel that accepts user operations, a coin slot that accepts coin insertion, etc. The output unit 57 is configured to include a touch panel monitor on which a touch panel is superimposed, a printer that prints images on a print medium, etc.

[0026] The storage unit 58 is configured with a hard disk, non-volatile memory, etc. The storage unit 58 stores various information used to provide a game to a user, such as a program executed by the CPU 51, images acquired from the user terminal 10, etc.

[0027] The communication unit 59 is configured to include an interface for performing short-distance wireless communication and an interface for performing communication via the network NW.

[0028] The drive 60 controls writing of data to and reading of data from the removable medium 61 .

[0029] In the image output device 20 configured as above, the CPU 51 loads a program stored in the storage unit 58 into the RAM 53 and executes it, thereby performing processing for providing a game to the user.

[0030] (Example of functional configuration of image output device) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image output device 20. As shown in FIG.

[0031] The image output device 20 shown in FIG. 3 includes a short-range wireless communication unit 110, a touch panel monitor 120, a coin slot 130, a printer 140, a server processing unit 150, and a control unit 200.

[0032] The short-distance wireless communication unit 110 performs short-distance wireless communication with the user terminal 10. The short-distance wireless communication is, for example, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, or NFC (Near Field Communication).

[0033] The touch panel monitor 120 displays various screens and accepts user operations on the screens under the control of the control unit 200. An input signal representing the content of the user operation is supplied to the control unit 200, and various settings are made.

[0034] The coin slot 130 receives and detects the insertion of coins. When the coin slot 130 detects that coins equivalent to the play fee have been inserted, it outputs a print start signal to the control unit 200 to instruct the start of printing.

[0035] Printer 140 prints an image on a sticker paper stored in a sticker paper unit (not shown) as a print medium based on print data supplied from control unit 200. Printer 140 ejects the sticker paper with the image printed on it from a sticker paper ejection port. In this embodiment, the print medium is sticker paper, but it may also be a mount or card other than sticker paper.

[0036] The server processing unit 150 has a communication function for performing communication via a network NW, separate from the short-range wireless communication performed by the short-range wireless communication unit 110. The server processing unit 150 acquires images uploaded from the user terminal 10 through communication via the network NW. Furthermore, the server processing unit 150 has a server function for creating an image storage area for saving images uploaded from the user terminal 10, and saving the images in the image storage area. The server processing unit 150 creates a new image storage area for each game provided to a user.

[0037] Each functional block constituting the control unit 200 is realized by the CPU 51 (processor) executing a predetermined program. The control unit 200 is configured to include a read code generation unit 211, a request processing unit 212, an image acquisition unit 213, an image editing unit 214, and a print processing unit 215.

[0038] The read code generation unit 211 generates a read code including storage area information indicating an image storage area that is newly created for each sequence (game). The generated read code is displayed on the touch panel monitor 120.

[0039] The request processing unit 212 is triggered by the connection of the short-range wireless communication unit 110 with the user terminal 10 via short-range wireless communication, and requests the server processing unit 150 to create an image storage area.

[0040] When the user terminal 10 reads the read code displayed on the touch panel monitor 120 and uploads an image stored in the user terminal 10 to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information, the image acquisition unit 213 acquires the image from the image storage area.

[0041] The image editing unit 214 performs image editing on the image acquired from the image storage area in response to a user operation on an editing screen displayed on the touch panel monitor 120 as an image to be edited.

[0042] In response to a print start signal from the coin slot 130, the print processing unit 215 generates print data based on the image that has been subjected to image editing, and supplies the print data to the printer 140. Then, the print processing unit 215 controls the printer 140 to print the image that has been subjected to image editing on sticker paper.

[0043] <2. Game provision process flow using the image printing system> The flow of the game provision process by the image printing system will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The process in Fig. 4 starts when the start screen displayed on the touch panel monitor 120 of the image output device 20 in standby mode is touched with the user's finger or the like.

[0044] When the user touches the start screen displayed on the touch panel monitor 120, a connection screen 310 such as that shown in Fig. 5 is displayed on the touch panel monitor 120. A readable code 311 (two-dimensional code) that can be read by the built-in camera of the user terminal 10 is displayed on the connection screen 310. The readable code 311 includes identification information for short-range wireless communication between the user terminal 10 and the image output device 20. When the user terminal 10 and the image output device 20 communicate via Wi-Fi, the readable code 311 includes an SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​and a password.

[0045] That is, in step S11, the built-in camera of the user terminal 10 reads the read code 311, and the user terminal 10 starts short-range wireless communication with the image output device 20. As a result, the user terminal 10 and the image output device 20 are connected via short-range wireless communication. Note that the identification information included in the read code 311 differs for each game, and the number of terminals that can be connected to the image output device 20 via short-range wireless communication is limited to one.

[0046] In step S12, the image output device 20 (request processing unit 212 of the control unit 200) requests the server processing unit 150 to create an image storage area, triggered by connection with the user terminal 10 via short-range wireless communication.

[0047] In step S13, the server processing unit 150 creates an image storage area in response to a request from the request processing unit 212. A new image storage area is created for each game.

[0048] In step S14, server processing unit 150 generates storage area information indicating the created image storage area and supplies it to image output device 20 (control unit 200). Specifically, as the storage area information, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for accessing the created image storage area is generated and supplied to image output device 20.

[0049] In step S15, the image output device 20 (the read code generation unit 211 of the control unit 200) acquires storage area information indicating the image storage area created by the server processing unit 150, and generates a read code including the storage area information.

[0050] When the read code generating unit 211 generates a read code including the storage area information, an upload screen 320 such as that shown in Fig. 6 is displayed on the touch panel monitor 120. A read code 321 (two-dimensional code) that can be read by the built-in camera of the user terminal 10 is displayed on the upload screen 320. The read code 321 includes a URL for the user terminal 10 to access the image storage area.

[0051] For example, the URL included in the read code 321 is a URL for connecting to a web application for uploading images stored in the user terminal 10 to an image storage area through communication via the network NW (Internet). This web application (web app) may be realized by the server processing unit 150 or may be realized by an external web server or the like.

[0052] Here, if the connection between the user terminal 10 and the image output device 20 via short-range wireless communication is disconnected, the read code generation unit 211 invalidates the generated read code 321, and the connection screen 310 is displayed again on the touch panel monitor 120 instead of the upload screen 320. This allows only terminals connected to the image output device 20 via short-range wireless communication to access the image storage area during one game.

[0053] That is, in step S16, the built-in camera of the user terminal 10 reads the read code 312, and the user terminal 10 connects to a Web application (Web app) via the Internet. At this time, a selection screen is displayed on the user terminal 10 under the control of the Web app, allowing the user to select an image to be uploaded to the image storage area from among the images stored in the user terminal 10.

[0054] Then, in step S17, an image to be uploaded to the image storage area is selected on the selection screen displayed on the user terminal 10, and in step S18, the selected image is uploaded to the server processing unit 150 (image storage area). On the selection screen displayed on the user terminal 10, for example, four images can be selected, and the four selected images are uploaded to the server processing unit 150 in sequence.

[0055] In step S19, the server processing unit 150 stores the image uploaded from the user terminal 10 in the created image storage area.

[0056] In step S20, the image output device 20 (image acquisition unit 213 of the control unit 200) monitors the uploading of images to the server processing unit 150, and upon confirming that the images have been uploaded, acquires the images stored in the image storage area. That is, the image acquisition unit 213 acquires the images from the image storage area without connecting with the user terminal 10 via short-range wireless communication. At this time, thumbnails of the four images acquired by the image acquisition unit 213 (uploaded to the server processing unit 150) are displayed in the four image display areas provided below the read code 321 on the upload screen 320.

[0057] In this way, the images stored in the user terminal 10 are not transmitted directly to the image output device 20 by short-range wireless communication, but are transmitted indirectly to the image output device 20 via the network NW.

[0058] After the image uploaded to the server processing unit 150 is acquired by the image acquisition unit 213, the image is deleted from the server processing unit 150 (image storage area). The timing at which the image is deleted from the image storage area may be a period until the ongoing game ends, or a period until another user starts playing the next game.

[0059] Thereafter, in step S21, the image output device 20 (image editing unit 214 of the control unit 200) performs image editing on the acquired image in response to a user operation on an editing screen on which the acquired image is displayed as an image to be edited.

[0060] When the image uploaded to the server processing unit 150 is acquired by the image acquisition unit 213, the short-range wireless communication connection between the user terminal 10 and the image output device 20 is terminated. After that, a sticker design selection screen for selecting a sticker design to be printed on the sticker paper is displayed on the touch panel monitor 120. The sticker design is an image representing the overall design of the sticker paper, including the layout and shape of the area where the edited image will be placed and the color of the surrounding frame. The sticker design selection screen displays sample images of multiple types of sticker designs, and when one of them is selected, an editing screen 330 such as that shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the touch panel monitor 120.

[0061] The editing screen 330 has an editing area 331 for performing image editing on the image to be edited. The editing area 331 displays thumbnails of four images uploaded to the server processing unit 150, and also displays a larger version of the image selected from the four images to be edited. The editing area 331 also has a UI (User Interface) that accepts user operations for performing image editing on the image to be edited. In the example of FIG. 7, UIs are provided for performing image editing, such as changing the color or monochrome of the image and adjusting the image brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. That is, the image editing unit 214 performs image editing, such as changing the color or monochrome of the image and adjusting the image brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness, in response to user operations on the editing screen 330 (editing area 331). This allows the user to perform desired image editing on a favorite image stored in the user terminal 10, in the same way as with a conventional print sticker machine equipped with a photo booth.

[0062] When the user selects to end image editing on the editing screen 330, a coin insertion standby screen is displayed on the touch panel monitor 120, prompting the user to insert coins equivalent to the play fee.

[0063] In this state, when the user inserts coins equivalent to the play fee into the coin slot in step S22, the print processing unit 215 controls the printer 140 to start printing the image-edited image onto sticker paper in step S23. The image-edited image is printed on the sticker paper, arranged in the sticker design selected on the sticker design selection screen. When printing is complete, the sticker paper on which the image-edited image is printed is discharged from the sticker paper discharge port, and the game provision process ends.

[0064] According to the above process, a read code including storage area information indicating a newly created image storage area for each game provided to a user is generated, thereby improving image security. More specifically, only the user terminal connected to the image output device via short-range wireless communication can access the image storage area, so third parties cannot access the images, and images uploaded to the image storage area are deleted for each game (sequence). Therefore, it is possible to more reliably improve image security.

[0065] <3. Modifications> In the above-described embodiment, the image output device 20 is provided with the server processing unit 150 (image storage area) having a server function.

[0066] However, as shown in the image printing system 1 of FIG. 8, a server 500 having the same server function as the server processing unit 150 may be connected to the network NW.

[0067] Even in such a configuration, it is possible to improve image security by creating a new image storage area for each game provided to the user.

[0068] The above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or software. When the above-described series of processes is executed by software, the programs constituting the software are installed from a network or a recording medium.

[0069] 2, this recording medium is configured by removable media 61 such as a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (including a CD-ROM and a DVD), a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory on which the program is recorded, which is distributed separately from the device main body in order to distribute the program to the administrator of image output device 20. In addition to these, the recording medium may also be configured by ROM 52 on which the program to be distributed to the administrator is recorded in a state that it is pre-installed in the device main body, or a hard disk included in storage unit 58.

[0070] In this specification, the steps of describing a program to be recorded on a recording medium include not only processes that are performed chronologically in the order described, but also processes that are not necessarily performed chronologically but are performed in parallel or individually.

[0071] Furthermore, the embodiments of the present technology are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present technology.

[0072] The effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limiting, and other effects may also be present. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 image printing system, 10 user terminal, 20 image output device, 110 short-range wireless communication unit, 120 touch panel monitor, 130 coin slot, 140 printer, 150 server processing unit, 200 control unit, 211 read code generation unit, 212 request processing unit, 213 image acquisition unit, 214 image editing unit, 215 print processing unit, 500 server

Claims

1. An image output device that acquires an image stored in a user terminal, performs image editing on the image, and then prints and outputs the image on a print medium in a single sequence, a read code generating unit that generates a read code including storage area information indicating an image storage area newly created for each sequence; an image acquisition unit that acquires the image from the image storage area when the image stored in the user terminal is uploaded to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information by reading the read code by the user terminal; an image editing unit that performs the image editing on the image acquired from the image storage area in response to a user operation on an editing screen on which the image is displayed as an editing target; a print processing unit that prints the image that has been subjected to the image editing on the print medium; An image output device comprising:

2. a short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with the user terminal; a request processing unit that requests creation of the image storage area using a connection with the user terminal via the short-range wireless communication as a trigger; The read code generating unit generates the read code by acquiring the storage area information indicating the image storage area created in response to a request.

2. The image output device according to claim 1.

3. the image stored in the user terminal is uploaded to the image storage area by a communication different from the near field communication; The image acquisition unit acquires the image from the image storage area without connecting with the user terminal via the short-range wireless communication.

3. The image output device according to claim 2.

4. The reading code generation unit invalidates the generated reading code when the connection with the user terminal via the short-range wireless communication is disconnected.

3. The image output device according to claim 2.

5. a server processing unit in which the image storage area is created; 5. The image output device according to claim 1.

6. The server processing unit deletes the images uploaded to the image storage area for each of the sequences.

6. The image output device according to claim 5.

7. The image editing unit performs image editing by changing the color / monochrome of the image and adjusting the brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness of the image in response to the user operation.

2. The image output device according to claim 1.

8. The print processing unit starts printing the image onto the print medium when coins of a predetermined amount are inserted after the image editing is completed.

2. The image output device according to claim 1.

9. An image output device that acquires an image stored in a user terminal, performs image editing on the image, and then prints and outputs the image on a print medium in a single sequence, generating a read code including storage area information indicating an image storage area newly created for each sequence; When the user terminal reads the read code and the image stored in the user terminal is uploaded to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information, the image is acquired from the image storage area; performing the image editing on the image in response to a user operation on an editing screen on which the image acquired from the image storage area is displayed as an editing target; The image that has been subjected to the image editing is printed on the printing medium. Image output method.

10. a processor for controlling an image output device that acquires an image stored in a user terminal, performs image editing on the image, and then prints and outputs the image on a print medium as a single sequence; generating a read code including storage area information indicating an image storage area newly created for each sequence; When the user terminal reads the read code and the image stored in the user terminal is uploaded to the image storage area indicated by the storage area information, the image is acquired from the image storage area; performing the image editing on the image in response to a user operation on an editing screen on which the image acquired from the image storage area is displayed as an editing target; The image that has been subjected to the image editing is printed on the printing medium. A program for executing a process.

Images